Feeling Disconnected in the Age of Hyper Connectivity

Digital devices may be wireless, but their users are hard-wired. From phone to tablet to television, the hyper-linked are showing no sign of slowing down. 

The Millennials are the first generation to grow up so hyper-connected.  In a George Barna survey, they identified technology as that which distinguishes them most. But when asked what they feel is lacking in their lives, they identified “meaningful” relationships. It would seem that so-called hyper-connections are starting to fray around the edges—texters and tweeters are feeling under-connected in ways that matter to them!

Three thousand years ago, David discovered the ultimate connection: “face time.” “When you said, Seek my face; my heart said unto you, your face, LORD, will I seek… there is none on earth that I desire beside you” (Ps. 27:8; 73:25). Whatever generation we are, and whatever high-tech toys we enjoy, we must be careful not to get so distracted that we deprive ourselves of our most hyper connection.

Millennial Transparency

A recurring theme on this blog has been my concern for the next generation of Christians. But here's a hopeful bit of information. Millennials are being called the “Social Justice Generation” because of their concern for the poor and oppressed. But, as it turns out, not at the expense of spiritual needs. According to Barna research, evangelism by Millennials is on the rise. Faith-sharing of those under 30 increased in 2013, with 2/3's reporting they shared their faith with a non-believer within the past year (national average 50%). Why the difference?

Having grown up in the age of free-flowing information and sharing, Millennials value authenticity and transparency. Consequently, he or she will be more compelled to share his or her personal faith than the more private generations before them—Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers. If the Millennials keep this up, perhaps Jesus will find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8)!

Obama-Care Promotes "Hooking Up"

Back in the 1960s (when I was a teen), the “Hippie Movement” and its consequent “sexual revolution,” along with forces like Hugh Heffner, began to change the way the Western world viewed sex.  In hindsight, we can see it was the seed of a moral decline that has come to full bloom in today’s “hookup culture.” 

It seems we must have reached the zenith of this cultural phenomenon when even the U.S. government promotes casual sex, aka, “hooking up,” as a norm. Last week this advertisement appeared on various social media venues.

Since it's difficult to read the small pint, I will tell you what it says. An excited young woman appears next to a picture board of Ryan Gosling who says, Got Insurance? Hey girl, you're excited about easy access to birth control, and I'm excited about getting to know you. She [the girl in the picture] got insurance. Now you can too. Thanks Obama-Care. 

‘Born-agains’ that say "Whatever!"

Young American believers, according to a Probe Ministries survey, are moving away from a biblically-centered worldview. Specifically, only one in three believe Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. His survey also reveals that “born-agains,” as he calls them, have decreased by 22% since 1976. And, only 1 in 5 report they are wholeheartedly practicing their faith. Pretty alarming!?

But what is most disturbing is the suggestion that the two-thirds who do not believe Jesus is the only way are really born again. In Acts 16, Paul says to be born again one must “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Perhaps some did at first, but allowed this “whatever-culture” to lead them away from the truth. If so, they are dangerously deceived, but (I believe) born again. However, the “born-agains” who never confessed Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” are not. Rather, they under the spell of an ambivalent culture that says, “Whatever!”

Self-Discovery Day

All over the Americas today, it is Columbus Day. Some countries call it Discovery Day, the latter making me think Columbus’ death-defying passage was also a journey of self-discovery. Every healthy human travels this road called finding oneself, also known as individuation, or coincidentally, passages.

If you are over 18, you are already consciously aware of the journey. But if you are over 40, you are also watching younger adults—the millennial generation—make these perilous, but necessary passages. And what makes this journey particularly hazardous for the Millennials is the fast-changing, constant redefining of cultural norms and values.

On this day, let us pray for our Millennials to discover sooner than later the paradox their older generation has already learned (hopefully), “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 10:39). No one can find oneself apart from God:  Happy Discovery Day!

Angela Jolie probably doesn’t watch Duck Dynasty

In the front section of USA Today on Friday was a feature article, “Letting teenagers have their romantic sleepovers,” the point being it is better for parent/child relationships to let kids ‘do it’ at home. Angela Jolie is cited as one whose mother allowed her to have her boyfriend sleep over when she was only 14—and who plans to be just as liberal with her children (more fodder for TV programs like “Modern American Family”).

This is why I rejoiced to see the Robertson family making the rounds on TV last week, promoting their show "Duck Dynasty" (averaged 8.4 million viewers), along with their Christian values.  In an interview, one of the Robertson brothers, Jase, and his wife Missy, said their faith and family values were  the reason they chose to remain abstinent until marriage, and now see the same commitment in their children.

I can’t guarantee that you will like watching “Duck Dynasty” but we can all thank God that in a time when shows about selfish housewives are peaking, American viewers have fallen in love with a godly family who closes every episode at the dinner table giving thanks and honor to Jesus Christ. Angela Jolie and her children probably won't be watching.

The Voice of a New Generation: Please Love Me

Anyone born after 1995 is part of the newly labeled Generation Z. Never knowing life without instant connectivity, they were born Face-booking, texting, and tweeting—all tools to get people to “pay attention to me!” But early studies are showing these technologies are not satisfying the desire for connectedness. According to a recent George Barna survey, a major shift in the past decade is how Americans see themselves in relation to others. Ten years ago, one of 10 Americans self-identified as lonely. Today, that number has doubled.

Paul warned in the end times “people shall be lovers of their own selves” (2 Tim. 3:2). I’ve always thought this meant unabashed narcissism.  But now, I'm wondering if, in the end times, people will need greater affirmation and approval to validate insecure self-perceptions. Thus, the Facebook posting, texting and tweeting are not shouting “Look at me” as much as “Please love me.” Millennials and ‘Z's’ are the future. What does this cry for attention and love portend? Might it be a greater willingness to embrace anyone or anything that promises to fill the vacuum? And if not Jesus, then what?

A Famine in the Land

A recent Pew Forum study reveals that the average churchgoer is ignorant of people like Job, Abraham and Moses; he thinks Sodom and Gomorrah were a husband and wife; and that the statement “God helps those who help themselves” is in the Bible. Living in the “Information Age” doesn’t seem to have averted a dearth of Bible knowledge.

During a time of prosperity in Israel (just like today), the Prophet Amos predicted there would be a famine, not for bread or water, but for hearing the word of God: “Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day, thirsting for the Lord's word” (11-13). Why the emphasis on young people? Could it be they were the ones searching for meaning in life—something worth living for, or even to die for? Even though his prophecy is specific to Israel, it’s not hard to see a modern parallel.

Today’s millennial generation has more access to Bible knowledge, 'spiritual nourishment,' than any generation in history. But they also have more distractions to quench their appetite. God says, “My people go into captivity for their lack of knowledge—famished and parched with thirst… [but] blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; they shall be satisfied” (Is. 55:2; Matt. 5:6).

Who Do You Trust?

As a teenager, I used to watch “Who Do You Trust,” a game show emceed by Johnny Carson and his co-host, Ed McMahon. Three couples made up of a man and a woman who didn’t know each other competed for a small cash prize. While the show was mostly driven by Johnny’s banter, there was a quiz portion where Johnny would tell the man the category of the upcoming question, and the man would decide whether to answer himself or trust the woman to. While the show was hilarious, we all know “trust” is no laughing matter!

Since last year's geopolitical shake-up, we are witnessing a collosal collapse of trust between nations that used to have coalitions. And not only that, there seems to be an epidemic of distrust in society, in general—distrustful of one another, partisans are paralyzing government; the millennials no longer trust in the fidelity of marriage; and hardly a week goes by you don’t read about someone in a position of authority abusing those under his care. And as if that’s not bad enough, the failed trust of priests and pastors is so common it has become fodder for late night talk show mockery. Who can you trust?

Against this backdrop, it's hard not to be cynical.  But is it not all the more apparent to us that only God is trustworthy? “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man; it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes... I know the Lord is always with me; I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me."  (Ps. 118:8-9: 16:8-9). Who do you trust?

The Facebook Culture

In yesterday's San Jose Mercury, I read an article about “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement,” a newly published book by Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell. They address the narcissistic attitudes of the “Me Generation”—young Americans in their teens, 20’s and 30’s: now being labeled the “Millennial Generation.”

The authors attribute the narcissistic trend to a culture that builds a false sense of self-esteem by: enlightened ‘non-judgmental’ parenting; an education philosophy that rewards everyone equally; the Internet avenues of expression, like “Facebook” which allows anyone to create their own idealized persona; a celebrity culture (American Idol) that encourages the notion that anyone can be (and ought to be) famous; and easy credit which promotes instant gratification.

The authors say: “Narcissism is absolutely toxic to society: they feel entitled [but] don’t think about consequences." Twenge suggest that this 'entitlement' mentality might have helped cause America's economic crisis.

In light of this, look at the words [abreviated for emphasis] of Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-4:  But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, ungrateful … without self-control … reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.