I had a conversation with an old friend the other day (as in he’s a friend from old times, he’s not that old … yet).
He was fairly sceptical of the rise in social media that meant that something said in a private conversation one minute could be broadcast over the internet within that very same minute. He was understandably concerned about the abuses that could lead to and the invasion of privacy that could result from it.
This feeds into some concerns others have about the level to which authorities can now find out everything about an individual. George Orwell wrote a book about the possible security state that we could end up in. a state where everything we did was monitored so as to conform us to a set standard. Of course that book was called 1984 and some 28 years later the world isn’t quite as grim as the portrayal suggested, but there are still worries over the surveillance society that we live in.
To an extent I can understand some of the fears. People prize privacy. They like the aspect that there is a part of their lives not open for discussion. Fair enough. I also think with that, however, that there is an element in which people want to hide some stuff they carry on with in private that wouldn’t make them look all that good if it were made public. Some people prize their privacy as a place to pour out some of the ugly, unseemly and ungodly that they secretly relish in.
The discussion of the Big Brother element, which thankfully wasn’t referring to a ‘reality’ show, got me thinking about the last time I came across something about a Big Brother,
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers (Hebrews 2:10, 11)
It remains a marvellous truth of discipleship that He who we refer to as Lord calls us brother. The One we call Saviour calls us friend. Remarkable. Note however the role of our Big Brother in this verse – He’s here to sanctify us. He has done that through His suffering and He has not left us alone.
As I think of never being alone I remember the scene out of a Family Guy episode. Peter’s dad has moved in with the Griffins and as a staunch, authoritarian Catholic he strikes the fear of god into Meg and Chris. Such is the fear for Chris that he is frightened of going to the toilet to conduct some heavy downloads because he is told God is watching him. At the thought of that Chris says that God must be some sort of weirdo or pervert.
Indeed the thought of an omnipresent being often leads to that thought. Looking beyond the gross-out nature of the statement, however, look what it says. It says the dirty, dark stuff we get up to we want to do without anyone looking and watching us. That is what we find so intrusive about a Big Brother figure.
In Jesus, however, we have a Big Brother who is looking for us to be made pure and to be go through that process He will do what it takes to get us away from revelling in the dirty and dishonourable to live lives of purity and integrity where whatever we get up to in private is just as edifying and praiseworthy as what we get up to in public. That might not rock certain people’s boat, some might prefer to let people carry on with whatever someone wants to do in private and leave it at that.
This is not the way of a follower of Christ. That is not to say the Christian life necessarily has to be public display like a reality show which gets high ratings but is actually enjoyed for the morbid thrill people get from the flaws of others. It is to say that a character like Christ’s is one that can overcome temptations and so not feel all that fussed about anyone’s intrusions if they go looking for muck, because all they will find is the character of Christ.
This sentiment of the Son who is able to relate to us and help us overcome is seen in the point of Him taking on flesh.
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has sufferedwhen tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17, 18)
I am growing to appreciate the ongoing presence of my Big Brother in my life. He will not leave me alone, which means He won’t let me wallow in the sins to which I’ve become accustomed. He won’t let me wander from the path of righteousness set before me for His Name’s sake. He will be there to guide me and encourage me, to cajole me and challenge me.
As m Big Brother He is watching me and that is not a bad thing. That’s a good thing.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 