We live in a culture of “like.” The
statement alludes to how people, who use social media, frequently check their
postings on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to see if they were “liked” by
readers or followers. Our culture seems obsessed by the approval of others. Recently
a great deal of commotion was created because an entertainment figure’s new
Twitter account became the fastest growing account to reach 1 million followers.
It surpassed the previous record held by the President of the USA. It was
assumed that such apparent approval must somehow translate into a person’s
significance. With this obsession for approval from others, how many life
decisions are being altered so that we will be liked, followed, or approved?
On July 4, 1776, how many signers of the
Declaration of Independence were worried about being “liked?” Those fifty-six
men were not obsessed by being approved for their decision. They clearly knew
that the British Empire would not approve. Additionally, historians indicate a
majority of Americans opposed the war in 1775 and believe only about a third of
all Americans supported a war at that time (USHistory.org). Their decision
focused not upon the approval of people but the conviction that their cause was
just. In the Declaration of Independence they lay out the reasons for their
decision and conclude the document with this commitment, “For the support of
this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
They realized there would be a cost to do what they believed. They did not focus
upon people’s approval of their decision but the approval of God.
History records that the fifty-six signers
all paid a price for their commitment. History’s record of the price they paid
may vary but the truth remains, their action was not based upon people’s approval.
They were convinced that what they believed was right. Courage in the face of
disapproval charted the course for our nation’s independence.
How is our approval obsession impacting
our current culture? Commercial advertising is geared to have us think that
what we do, wear, drive, eat, watch, listen to, and a hundred other choices
need the approval of others. Career decisions are being made with a focus upon the
prestige and approval a job or position will create. Coming into this election
season, politicians are hiring political pollsters to guide them in making
decisions that will be approved by the voters. It seems that we are infected and
driven by the desire for approval throughout our culture. There are notable
exceptions of people willing to march to the beat of a different drummer, but
it seems that the majority in our culture are captivated by the approval of
others.
The obsession has also impacted the
operations of many churches and numerous Christians. Chris Tiegreen notes, “We
[Christians] are prone to act more spiritual than we really are around other
Christians, and act more worldly than we really are to make an impression on
non-religious folks. We are, more often than we think, shaped by the opinion –
real or assumed – of those around us.” We are “chameleon Christians” altering and
adapting as necessary to find the approval of people rather than seeking the
only approval that really matters, God’s.
Christ is the supreme example of living
for the approval of God and not the fickle applause and approval of people. Jesus
challenged contemporary culture, bucked the religious establishment, and supported
and maintained the teachings of Scripture when others did not. He even turned over
the tables on people who were desecrating the standards of God. He did this not
to be controversial or unique, but because of what motivated his heart, “I
always do those things that please Him [Heavenly Father]” (John 8:29). His
single focus was the approval of God which would then qualify Him to then effectively
minister to people.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “When you fear God,
you fear nothing else… If you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” It
seems often the Christian community in the USA fears everything else. The
result is they are fickle in their faith and flighty in the way they live life.
The surrounding culture sees this and is a bit amazed. If God is who we say He
is, they wonder, “Why do Christians not seek His approval rather than
culture’s?” Instead, many churches look to polls for doctrinal positions,
popular cultural activities to determine their practices, and contemporary
philosophies for the content of their preaching. The assumption is this generates
people’s approval. Realistically it only engenders God’s disapproval. Leave the
western culture and we see the church rapidly growing in many parts of the
world where the church is more interested in God’s approval than people’s. Are
they ridiculed for their beliefs? Yes! Are they persecuted even to the point of
death? Yes! Are they having a significant impact in the world where God has
placed them? Yes!
Some time ago I overheard a conversation
with a non-religious young adult. He was asked why he was not drawn to a rather
avant-garde expression of Christianity. He responded, “Because that church is
just like us, and we are sick of ourselves.” He did not want something he could
approve of, but something that was authentic, life-altering, and otherworldly.
He wanted to hear about a Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the world did not
approve, but God did. He wanted a changed life his world could not offer, like
it or not!
