Article

Seeing differently

Recently I’ve realised my vision is blurred. The way I see is distorted. I don’t wear glasses, and my optician said my eyes are fine. But sometimes my sight is a bit hazy. And, I think you might have the same problem.

The way we see the world has changed. From the moment we wake, to how we work, develop relationships, make plans and even study are now all mediated through a screen. But the device I hold in my hand, the screen which I use to increasingly make sense of the world, has in fact changed me.

I worry about whether my posts come across as too self-absorbed or too self-critical. I find value in likes, follows and comments. I’ve become my own personal PR consultant trying to optimise the worth of my unique brand, and it’s driving me a little bit crazy.

I don’t think I’m the only one. Last year, Youth For Christ released research which discovered that social media and YouTube were two of the top three things that make us feel bad about themselves – but they are also among the things we spend the most time doing.

Our screens reflect back to us what we post, the things we buy, the music we listen to and the articles we read… ‘If you like this, then you’ll like this’, ‘Other customers bought’. With fake news and the Facebook data scandal, we’re beginning to see how our social profiles can act as echo chambers, reinforcing our own prejudices.

The screen has undoubtedly changed us, for good and bad. But my eyes are blurry. I need a break. And maybe you do too.

Switch off to see differently…

Maybe we need to switch off and take time to see ourselves differently. To not simply see a reflection of ourselves or how we’d like others to see us, but to see how God looks at us so that we can see with genuine clarity.

New focus…

Jesus tells a story of a guy who is looking for pearls (Matt 13: 45-46). The man is searching and when he finds a pearl of great value, he sells all he has so he can buy it. This story isn’t about pretty gems, but about our focus. Jesus is saying that there is something bigger and better out there – something our screens can distort or block us from seeing.

Semira*, a teenager from Eritrea, understands what Jesus is getting at. Her dad was taken by police during an illegal prayer meeting. He was imprisoned and has no release date. But despite threats and intimidation, Semira hasn’t given up on Jesus. Her mum said:

“She was given three warnings from the school for sharing her faith and she was told not to talk to any children even during school breaks. One day some of her fellow students threw rocks at her. They regularly tell her that she doesn’t deserve to be their friend. Sometimes they also throw rocks at the house.

“My daughter is never scared of the persecution anymore. Even if they keep hurting her physically, she doesn’t care. She always says, ‘God won’t let me down. I am ready until death to follow Him.’”

Semira understands how God sees her. She’s found her pearl, and she’s prepared to give up everything for it.

‘God won’t let me down. I am ready until death to follow Him.’

Go screen-free…

The courageous and brave faith of persecuted Christians like Semira can be a real antidote to our blurred vision. The persecuted church can help us to see with more clarity, to refocus and identify what we really value and why.

At Open Doors we’re going screen free for 48 hours to to stand with persecuted Christians to learn from their courageous faith.

Switching off for a short period gives you the time to pause and evaluate, and to put our attention back where it belongs, on God, the pearl who is worth everything. It helps us refocus our eyes so that we see ourselves, not through our followers and likes, but as God does.

Join the Blackout

Join the Blackout by yourself or with your youth group. Switch off your screens for up to 48 hours. Stay off your socials, shut down the Switch or Xbox and turn off the TV. Instead, spend time praying for change and being inspired by the courageous faith of the persecuted church. Find out more and sign up at:
opendoorsyouth.org/blackout

*Name changed for security reasons…