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 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.
