All the Rage…For Now
By
Lexi Ellis
“Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not
be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart
to be strengthened by grace…”
Hebrews
13:8-9a (ESV)
I consider myself a relevant teacher. Over
the years, I’ve drawn Angry Birds to demonstrate the distributive property,
played Justin Bieber to identify prepositions, and blasted the “Frozen” soundtrack
to display the necessity of sound waves needing a medium. Here’s my problem:
The “it” game, toy or movie is constantly and quickly changing. Silly Bands, Squeakers,
Minecraft, Rainbow Looms, Clash of Clans, Animal Jam at one point were/are all
the rage for my students. The moment I’m ready to multiply minions from Despicable Me 2, The Lego Movie comes out!
This isn’t a new thing. I think of the
classic 90’s toys I grew up with: Giga Pets, Fairy Flyers, Moon Shoes, zBots, Secret
Keepin’s, Hit Clips. Oh the things we collected! Pogs, Pokémon, Beanie Babies…it
was constantly changing. There’s only one in that list my kids know…and I’m not
that old!
Sometimes I see fads change in the Church. Big
foyers for a sense of community or smaller rooms to build meaningful
relationship? Bible study structured this way, or the complete opposite?
Missions emphasizing this or that
? Similarly, this isn’t new. It
extends even to theological emphasis. Sometimes, we were focused on saving
others from hell (yet did nothing to be an advocate for the oppressed). A
couple decades later, the pendulum swung too far the other way and we focused
exclusively on social work (yet never shared what fuels that generosity).
The point? Things all the rage right now
will soon pass. But what I love about our God is He is eternally above the fads
because He is constant. He is eternally above the “it” thing because He is
unchanging. He is eternally above the things that will pass because His love
and His grace are unending.
In the chaos of changing fads, we can read
His Word and find truths that are as applicable now as when they were written.
In the midst of change, our God is not “all the rage” just for now, one to be
forgotten when replaced by the next thing, but is forever our Savior.
Today - - and every day - - may we live
lives where we remember to rest in His “constant-ness.” May we approach His
Word with the respect that timeless truth deserves. May we marvel in His power
that means - - unlike Minecraft or Moon Shoes - - He does not change.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What
things in your life are “fads” - - things that will soon pass?
2. What
attributes of God remind you of His “constant-ness”?
FURTHER READING:
Lexi
is married to Andrew and has a cute, new puppy named Calvin. She serves with
Oakwood’s Children’s Ministries, teaches at Lake Country
Christian Academy
and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
