"What are those" is a meme
where, from what yours truly learned of it recently on ESPN radio, someone
points at your shoes and says (or maybe shouts?) to
indicate they're not "cool." (If you're reading a blog you likely know
what a meme is :-), but in case you didn't it's a saying or pictures
that
becomes part of Internet culture like a catch phrase, and can spread to
the outside world. People say it many times for the same reason a catch
phrase is repeated at random, including in one famous recent one when it was said to Michael Jordan.)
Things
like this spread like wildfires and disappear just as fast sometimes, a
sign of the rapid chagnes of society which I mentioned in the last post. However, this will only touch on the speediness of 'Net culture. (There is actually a culture of sneaker collecting, "sneakerheads" as some call them in some areas, which this is supposedly tied to, in fact.)
It
also isn't to dwell on the need for compassion for those who may be too
poor to afford good shoes. However, it should be said that the original
is *very* rude and inappropriate, given who was being interrupted at
work. (Granted, it could have been set up, but still sends a poor
message) On the lighter side, though, the idea that anyone would say it
to Jordan, who can presumably afford the very best shoes and made them a major industry with his, is quite funny.)
Instead,
this is meant to discuss how rapidly we should be spreading positive
things, and can be - not to draw attention to oneself but to God.
Not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ
People
love to be noticed. This 'Net culture has allowed those who had no
voice to suddenly be heard by anyone. They are sometimes very funny, but
other times they are simply bizarre or downright disgusting. Too many
lists of most popular videos on Youtube exist to mention just one, but the mere title implies that it is a channel for everyone.
Of
course, there are those who can't figure out how to upload - yours
truly included. The Gospel can surely be proclaimed in many ways - even
a vine could have 6 seconds of writing/symbols, such as the Gospel bridge, though 140 characters seems impossible - or is it?
Of course, even if an explanation is hard, John 3:16 itself would be doable putting "4" for "for," etc..
The
point is that it's very simple and easy to explain the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God in flesh, as having taken the
entire punishment each of us owes for our sins. Of course, the hearer
should see evidence of that in the life of the one presenting it, so
they can see a reason to believe. But, you don't need to worry that you
don't have an amazing testimony. Actually, since it's the Holy Spirit
that really works in a person to get them to come to Christ, it really
only requires that you hand out a tract or give someone a Bible - or post
something online.
Of course, there you still have to
avoid being a negative example, but these are ways you can easily reach
people without knowing them. For instance, if you leave a tract at a
restaurant you should also leave a good tip.
The point
is that we should never be ashamed of God's love for us. It's so sad
that, with all God has done for us, that we don't share the Gospel more.
Greater Canton Youthquake,
which is the ultimate sponsor of "Quest for Truth" since we are a
ministry of Youthquake's, is dedicated to not only sharing the Gospel
but also to helping disciple young people so they can better share the
Gospel through their actions as well as their words. We often tell our
young people that they may be the only Bible someone will ever read.
That is a huge responsibility, of course, but we are not fighting that
fight along - believers have the Fruit of the Spirit, indeed the Holy
Spirit is there to be a constant Comforter, guide, helper, friend, and
so much more for the believer, just as Jesus was for Hid disciples when
he walked on the earth. And, many of our young people need that because
the ones we minister to are not being reached by churches, sadly many
are not hearing the Good News of the Gospel around this country.
But,
if we have people who are willing to just randomly shout out memes such
as "What are those," then we should also be just as willing to go up to
someone and being a conversation. Even if it has to start with
something silly like, "Did you know there's this guy who began a blog
about God by talking about that "What are those" meme? (And if you get
sidetracked, just work your way back to the Gospel as fast as you can.)
hey, we're human just like the rest of humanity we do goofy stuff.
in fact, we should have the most fun of all - good clean family fun - because we are redeemed from our sin.
That
Gospel is so simple. One must simply Admit they're a sinner - they come
short of God's perfect glory - Believe that Jesus Christ, God in flesh,
died to take the punishment for that person's sins, the just dying for
the unjust, and Call on Jesus Christ by faith to forgive them, repenting
of their sins and choosing to invite Jesus into their hearts to make
them new inside. "For if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old
things are passed away, all things are become new."(2 Cor. 5:17)
So,
one's testimony doesn't have to be amazing - just that God has saved
them from their sins and that they have a relationship with Him now, and
He helps them each day through the problems of this world, giving them
much more peace, love, hope, etc., than they could have imagined.
Because He promises, "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of
good cheer - I have overcome the world.(John 16:33)
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