“Get Over Your Selfie”

We’ve all taken them – “selfies”- fast photos usually of ourselves with others taken with our cell phones quickly at some event or activity that we want to text to those who were not present… a seemingly harmless action.

A recent Opinion Editorial in the August 19 issue of the Wall Street Journal takes “selfies” to a new level offering a compelling perspective of the “all-me-all-the-time” immersion into the current cultural trend. This trend is epitomized by Kim Kardashian’s New Selfie Book “Selfish” which offers a 352 page collection of pictures she took of herself.

The op ed article “Get Over Your Selfie” reminds us that the alternatives to living only for your “selfie” are as compelling as being a committed “selfie. There is an invitation to opt out – to live and think differently. For starters, you must have a cognitive awareness that we/you/me are not the only ones on the planet, nor is our moment in time isolated from everyone else’s moments in time from the beginning of creation.
 
An individual story cannot be separated from the story of the community. People are only one character even in their own story (Daniel Taylor Tell Me a Story).

We are all a part of a bigger story – a metanarrative if you will. Each of our stories is a part of the Larger Story, an Epic, as John Eldredge calls it. This metanarrative is the overarching, all-embracing story of humankind into which all the particular stories fit. For a Christian the biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption and new creation is the narrative of all humankind. In this sense the biblical narrative IS the metanarrative.

Contrast the “selfie” viewpoint with the viewpoint of a new book- “The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.” In this short, punchy book, Timothy Keller shows that gospel-humility means we can stop connecting every experience, every conversation with ourselves and can thus be free surprisingly from self-condemnation.

Keller states, “the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or less of myself, it is thinking of myself less. In fact, I stop thinking about myself…comes the freedom of self-forgetfulness and the blessed rest that only self-forgetfulness brings.”

A “selfie” world view stands juxtaposed to Paul’s offering in the New Testament -“do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look out not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-3)

Paul goes on to say, “not to estimate and think of themselves more highly than they ought to think – not to have an exaggerated opinion of his or her importance; but to rate their ability with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given them…” (Romans 12:3). This follows with an explanation of the gifts God gives each person who is a follower of Christ. Each person is important in God’s family. Each person is interconnected with others. They all need each other and the gifts each one has separately.

The irony is the more you forget yourself the more fulfilled you are.

Who knows what motivated Kim Kardashian to produce her book? It does reflect the popular, cultural trend and if we are honest we all crave the illusive stamp of approval. Seeking value, affirmation, attention are common ego quenching pursuits even if we do not publish a book of 352 “selfies”.  But, we also all know it is never enough. This search does not deliver. The hungry ego as Keller refers to in his book always demands more.

Freedom comes in realizing the verdict is already in for a follower of Christ. A continued effort to fill your resume’ and work harder to gain status and value was taken care of at the Cross. We can rest in the work of Christ – lay down our “selfies” and enter into the enjoyment the life of self forgetfulness. 
   
When all is stripped away what is left of your “selfie”? What will be left? What will you, I, be remembered for? When all the accouterments are laid aside – in illness, dying or death what remains?

Consider what Jesus said was priority in Mark 12:30-31 " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.And the second is this, Love your neighbor as yourself." That is all and that is enough.

online.wsj.com/articles/ryan-dobson-get-over-your-selfie-1408490565?KEYWORDS=Dobson