Untangling Ourselves from the Web of Lies

Most of us greet each day by scouring our phones as their beeps, alerts, alarms and notifications raise us into wakefulness. The pervasive world of entertainment marauds us day and night; texts, emails, social media alerts, television, binging, billboards, apps, movies, music, radio, and nightclubs all volley for our attention with inhuman persistence. We erect social media shrines in memory of ourselves, hoping to garner the attention and affirmation we need to fuel our souls. Yet with the passing of each hot new trend, each season of our favorite show, each social media post, we find ourselves anxiously scouring, scavenging for more. What is it that we’re looking for? Why is it that no number of messages, movies, or outings with friends can bring us what we need? Instead, the more our phones explode, demarcating our popularity, the more our brains explode with the stress of trying to keep up with it all.

Basing my well-being on these quick fixes and drugs was like mixing water with my fuel. Sure, it was all readily available, quick, and cheap, but it did not get me very far. I thought I’d found my cheat sheet, but I didn’t realize that by cheating I wouldn’t figure out any real answers to the questions or problems of life.[1] God has a joy for us that is real, a peace that is enduring. God can offer us so much more than these fleeting, deceitful, and empty fixes.

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. The light will shine on those living in the land of dark shadows. You will make the nation great. You will give them great joy. They will be glad before You, as with the joy of gathering time, and as men have joy when they divide the riches taken after a battle. For You will break the heavy load from their neck and shoulders. You will break the power of those who made it hard for them, as at the battle of Midian. For every shoe of the soldiers in the battle, and every coat rolled in blood, will be burned in the fire. For to us a Child will be born. To us a Son will be given. And the rule of the nations will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Teacher, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to His rule and His peace, upon the throne of David and over his nation. He will build it to last and keep it strong with what is right and fair and good from that time and forever. The work of the Lord of All will do this.”—Isaiah 9:2-7

“My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,” says the Lord… They all fool and defraud each other; no one tells the truth. With practiced tongues they tell lies; they wear themselves out with all their sinning. They pile lie upon lie and utterly refuse to acknowledge me,” says the Lord.” —Jeremiah 9:3,5-6

Discussion Questions

Do you think you’re addicted to your phone or any of the other things mentioned? How does it affect your life, the way you see yourself, or others?

What do you think it means that the drug life is as much of a social addiction as it is a mental and physical one?

What most influenced your decision to first try hooking up with someone else? Was it simply because you wanted to, was it peer pressure, was it just so common you didn’t think twice, was it because you thought it would make you look or feel better, elevate your social standing, or fill a hole in your life?

Does it surprise you that kids nowadays literally sit together and watch porn? Do you understand that if you don’t give your kid the talk, someone else will, and they’re likely going to glorify it, oversimplify it, remove it from its proper context, and lay siege to all healthy boundaries pertaining to it?

Has the context you are living in normalized sex and hooking up so much that you’re weird if you don’t do it?

What lengths have you gone to to try and fit in with others and feel cool?

This quote is also from chapter four