Thursday, March 24, 2016

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…”

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 and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable puppy named Calvin. She teaches sixth grade at Silver Lake Intermediate School. Lexi serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.