Electronic Exposure and Post-modern exhibitionism
Topic: Gospel Bonds, Ministry Bonds|So did you ever feel “over exposed”. It is not a very comfortable feeling. Though a few trips down to the river where I live and you are convinced that such a feeling scarcely exist in Carlos Paz during the summer. Nevertheless, for most people with a conscience and a sense of propriety we try to keep ourselves and our lives “covered” as best we can… At least those parts of us which are least attractive. Maybe it is really generational or cultural more than true modesty that drives our fear of ”over-exposure” as individuals. Because we really don’t mind it so bad if the side people see of us is ”not so bad” or expemplifes our strength.
Even Paul had some words to say about how the body of Christ reacts to itself and its “weaker parts”, saying, “And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.” There is just something proper about how much or how little we let people see of our lives. The application to the church is one of giving equal honor to all the members of the body of Christ. But I fear some have used this to forego a “transparency” that the gospel requires and that humbles us to seek grace for one another.
Frankly, I have found that even the “blogosphere” makes some people feel very uncomfortable. The fear of “electronic exposure” can be pretty frightening to some. It can give them something of the feeling of waking around your downtown in bad spandex or a bikini to see your name in someone’s blog. Maybe those of us who blog are some of the more daring, but clearly, we should also be the most sensitive to the power of this medium.
Call me crazy, or maybe an “electronic exhibitionist” but I have recentely joined my name to the millions who are now using “Facebook” as their tool of electronic exposure. It is a great tool for keeping in touch with people close to our life and gaining an insight into the lives of others as well. For me it helps me separte family from ministry. For those who are more intrested in family and the people who I hang out with the most… go to my facebook ; but for you who, “just want the facts” about ministry and missions and occasionally the men who are most effecting the work we do, you are in the right place…
Honestly, for all that is written about the “ills” of this “post-modern” age, when it is all said and done, we may find that our society and this generation owes a great debt to postmodernism, because it may be that through their willingness to be transparent and risk over-exposure that they may lead us to face some realities about who we really are. That is it is really not “over exposure” that we are afraid of, but being seen and known at all beyond a very select group of people. See you soon!!!!
in gospel bonds,
Don
One Response to “Electronic Exposure and Post-modern exhibitionism”
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April 16th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Great post! It is funny that you just posted this. I was thinking about this soon before I read your post. My church has been going through a “down” time the past year or so without a pastor. In addition, some people who were some of the greatest “ministers” and encouragers in the church have gone to other ministries across the country. Those were people who I saw as people who were transparent with me and encouraged me to be transparent with them. It seems that we have crawled away from thought. I am not sure whether it is out of fear of being exposed, but we are all exposed before God. I have suspected the only people who we are truly fooling is ourselves. Thank you for this post. It was a great reminder and encouragement.