Don't Get Theology from Tiktok

 I enjoy TikTok, and I have made some videos, mostly on car stuff. I tend not to get too theological on TikTok. I do enjoy some content by some Christian creators on TikTok, but I have seen a lot of bad theology. I have seen some really, really bad theology on TikTok. I have come to one conclusion, Tiktok is not the place to establish your theology.

Here is the issue when we give everyone a platform. People will find some rare, obscure interpretation or theory or idea and then go on like they have the keys to the universe. They are going to show up and teach you something that no one has taught you. It is basically the theological equivalent of a conspiracy theory. They will pull some obscure references from a single translation, work some mental gymnastics, and tell you something "new".

Let's be honest, it's not new. Heresies began before the New Testament was complete. Judiaser, Gnotics, and Nicolatians all show up in the New Testament. Arianism, Antinomianism, and syncretism all appeared shortly after. Any time there is truth, someone will distort it for their own purposes. On TikTok, that purpose is usually to get views. They will call themselves "experts" or "scholars" and will often seek to debate others by chopping at logic focusing on individual trees and ignoring the forest.

The scripture is an interconnected book, and the 66 individual books need to be taken as a whole. Taking a part from a passage to make a point is a horrible way to do exegesis. We use the Bible to interpret the Bible, and pulling one verse or part of a verse out of a passage and using it as proof is what we call "proof-texting". It is exactly the same thing as finding a speech and taking a sound bite out as a "gotcha" moment. It is theologically inconsistent, logically flawed, and deceptive as best.

Remember, TikTok exists for entertainment. It does not replace church, study, or legitimate books, study aids, and commentaries. There are 2,000 years of Christian history filled with individuals looking for the truth. If someone shows up on TikTok who can "prove" or "disprove" based on some interpretation they pulled out of nowhere, they are just another in the long list of heretical false teachers who are looking to lead God's people astray. Don't fall for it!

Do We Get "He Gets Us"

 It has taken me a while to reply to the criticism of the "He Gets Us" commercial from the latest Super Bowl. In the video, it shows people washing the feet of individuals from different lifestyles. Some of the individuals were homeless or down and out, but others were involved in alternative lifestyles. The commerial ended that Jesus taught His disciples to wash feet, He didn't teach hate.

Several individuals have reacted strongly to the commercial, saying that Jesus does not condone sin. I want to unpack what I think this commerical is about, and then how we have missed the bus bigtime.

First, what is washing feet? Jesus washed the feet as a act of service. Washing feet is serving people. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, but those men all blew it that night. They betrayed, they abandoned, they denied. Jesus served humanity ultimately when He died on the cross. He died for us while we were still sinners.

Here is the bigger issue and where I think we missed it. People who are not Christians are spiritually dead. They cannot follow Jesus, they cannot act right, they cannot please God. They are dead. The only hope they have is to be born again. They don't do this by self effort, by living right, but not being part of an alternative lifestyle. They do this because Jesus loves them, died for them and rose again. They are saved when the power of the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin. They turn to Christ in faith and trust Christ. They cannot do this on their own, only through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes we expect people to "deserve" to be served by Christ. We want Jesus to only serve us, and not serve other sinners. Let's be clear, they are sinners, they are breaking God's laws, they are spiritually dead. We can't expect them to act like they are alive, we can't expect them to clean themselves us. They are dead. The Apostles were spiritually dead when He washed their feet. Jesus had not yet died on the cross, the disciples were not filled with the Spirit. They didn't change until after they day of  Pentacost.

Jesus serves sinners. Jesus said you in your sin. In fact, every person who got saved was alienated from God by sin. They are in need of redeption and regeneration. Every single one. To say that Jesus didn't serve someone because of their particular type of sin is a little arrogant. 

Should We Enbrace a Metanarrative

 In the year 2024, it seems that individualism has become king. People are focused on being the hero of their own story, so have we moved beyond the metanarrative? To begin, let me define some terms.

First off, a metanarrative is an overarching story. It is putting individual stories together to form one big story. For our context todat, that is the story of us as people. In our context, it is modern Americans. This is the American story of the American dream. A man grows up, gets an education, gets a job, gets married, buys a house and a car, has a family, works hard, retires, and plays golf. That is the steriotypical American story, repeated over and over it becomes the story of the American dream lived by the American middle class. We add the rags to riches stories, the overcomers, throw in a few heroes and we have America. We combine the stories to tell an overarching story.

The purpose of the metanarrative is to give a national identity. It shows and perpetuates an identity and culture. What does American culture look like? We get them from our stories, and the easiest examples are tv sitcoms. They are family based, from Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best to the Simsons, Family Guy, Even South Park has this American family structure. It all revolves around this basic narrative and function.

In the America of 2024, does that narrative still fit? We still see it, and it is repeated. We are still focused on man finding a wife with shows like The Bacholer. We are focused on achieveing the American dream, success in buisness, building wealth, having a family. We have looked at different professions, differet ideas and methods, but the same core idea. Building a family, having a career, being successful, enjoying retirement. Does that metanarrative still fit?

The question we really need to ask ourselves is one of the most elusive questions. What are we hear for? What is the purpose of man? Is this all there is, or is there more? As time passes, many are dropping the metanarrative of America because it does not fit them. It doesn't fit their desires, their lives, what is happening. Is it the story that needs to change to match society, or does society need to move back towards the story? Is there value in that life? Should it be the desire of a young man to be education, obtain a good career, a wife, a family, a home? Should a young lady strive to be a wife, mom, have a career, get involved in the community? Should we be looking for something else.

We, as a culture, need to ask the questions. Even if we can't answer it, it is time we examine the stories that have been told and the story we are telling now. In the current story making people feel a sense of purpose? Are they fulfilled? Are they happy? Are people today in a better place than they were 20 years ago? 40 years ago? For all our advancement, are we in a better place as individuals, families, and communities? Is our country where it should be? If it is, we need to change the stories to reflect it. If it is not we need to change our communities to reflect the stories that bring the best results for all of us.

Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich

 Today, I talked to some students having a conversation about hot dogs. Is it a sandwich? This is a struggle, because hot dogs don't really fit the image of a sandwich. Several groups have weighted in, but I have come to one starting realization. A hot dog is not a sandwich, it is a taco.

That's not really what I want to talk about. Me telling students (who all agreed) that a hot dog is a taco was just an opportunity for me to talk with and invest in students. I try to be real with students, to connect with students, build bridges to students so they know they are cared about. I want the students to know that there are adults who care about them. Sometimes the best way to do this is telling them that a hot dog is a taco.

In life, we pass by people all the time. We pass strangers we might never meet again. We see people that we pass every day or every week. We see clerks at the store, the next door neighbor, the person who works down the hall. Each one of these contacts gives us an opportunity to show care and compassion. We need and should be connecting with people.

In our modern society, people have way too many connections on social media. It is easier to insult post hate on social media. Even on social media, we have the opportunity to show kindness and respect. We can engage with people in a positive way. When you are at the store, at work or school, or on Facebook, seek to be encouraging, uplifting, supporting and kind. We need more of that today than ever!

2024 Theme

It's a new year. New calendar year, as a teacher I also have new school years. So it's 2024. I'm not much into the "new year, new you" stuff, and I don't make resolutions. I make a theme for the year, a place where I need to focus my life. This year, it's "get the stuff done!"

Here are some places I need to get stuff done. I have two published books with little to no marketing done. I have a few things in place, but I haven't done the work. I think my books are helpful and worthwhile. That's why I wrote them. I need to b make sure I'm using them to invest in people. I need to get that done.

I need to get the engine and transmission rebuilt and back in the Mustang. I need to get some work done on it and get it on the road. I've done too little. I always have stuff come up, but that is always going up happen. Time to buckle down and get it done. 

Next this blog. I have neglected it too much. I used to have good readership, but my content shrunk and so did readers 

I need to write things for people to read, so I just need to get it done. Goal right now is twice a week. I think that is realistic with everything I have going on. 

Finally, I need to finish my Masters. I'm getting a 2nd Masters in English. My goal is to have most of it done before school starts next year. I need at least 18 credits to take over a class in the fall. I can't slack off or procrastinate. I need to get it done. 

That is my theme for 2024, feel free to share with me what you are working on!