Home Current Issue

Back Issues

FROM ST GILES’  

Do you like my selfie?  This year the word “selfie” (defined as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website”) was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.  Selfies have been everywhere in the press – a glittering array of Oscar winners; presidents and heads of state...even Muppets.

At our IGNITE sessions for young people on Sunday evenings we have been looking at self-worth.  Nowadays we can become reliant on how many people “like” our photos (including our selfies), how many people retweet our tweets or comment on our posts to make us feel we are of worth.  The culture we live in is very focused on the externals and especially on what we look like, when the truth is that our appearance is only one part of our identity.  There's pressure, whether in school or college or via the media, to be the right size and shape, in the right (branded) clothes or with the right gadgets.  It's hard not to be affected – if you don't tick all the boxes (or indeed, most of them!) it doesn't exactly boost your self esteem.  Even one of the Oscar winners in the selfie mentioned above, Jennifer Lawrence (star of ‘The Hunger Games’ series) has confessed to being worried about her shape and how she looks on the red carpet.

However a look at the Bible paints a different picture.  We are told that Jesus (contrary to every film ever made about Him) wasn't particularly special to look at.  In the Psalms we read that God sees us, whoever we are, whether we're a president or a street child, as “fearfully and wonderfully made” (what a great phrase).  We are also told that God does not look at the things people tend to focus on.  People look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.  Well, that's good to know.  At Easter we were reminded of how our hearts can be put right with God, thanks to what Jesus did for us on the cross.  It's good to know - whether you are an Oscar winner, a president, or perhaps even a Muppet like me, trying to get you to like my selfie.
Simon White (Youth Worker)

FROM THE URC ELDERS

An incredibly interesting diversity exists amongst people.  What some find totally acceptable, others find abhorrent; and what we choose to do, or not do, defines our personality and character.  Some people never think about the consequences of their actions; others get bogged down with worrying about what other people think.  This leads to a very wide spectrum, with those on the one hand who never consider any need for forgiveness and those on the other hand who cannot accept it.

For the second group, loving oneself can become increasingly challenging.  Powerful advertising often suggests that they are falling short in so many ways.  Those in work can be made to feel a real failure if they can’t always cope with heavy workloads and unrealistic time limits.  The failure to remain up-to-date with the increasingly involved electronic age and the demands of keeping on top of bills and legislation can be overpowering.

We are very aware that we don’t do a whole host of things we should but instead do lots of things we shouldn’t, so daily living becomes increasingly stressful for many people.  The demand to keep juggling everything can lead to a self induced ‘rat race’ and gradually values become distorted and a real sense of failure sets in.

Matthew’s Gospel in the New Testament chapter 11 verses 25 to 30 tell us about making it through the day.  Verse 28 says, ‘Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.’  God has never promised us a comfy, trouble free life but what He has promised is that once we follow Him, we find an inner peace.  We begin to understand the profound beliefs of life and the peripheral and shallow things take on less meaning and importance. 

God wants us to be aware of how we behave but He also allows us to be imperfect; otherwise we would all be living a life like Jesus.  Despite these imperfections we can be assured that there is nothing outside the realm of His forgiveness.  He has made us as individuals and designed us the way He intended. 

Let’s not be so unreserved and self assured that we fail to give a thought to the need for forgiveness; and if God thinks we are worthy of forgiveness, which He does, then so should we.  Easter, recently celebrated, is paramount to us as Christians because it centres on the encompassing love and forgiveness of God.  Let’s remember that.

Wendy Williams