The Information Age

If we would take a moment to look around, we would see that we are in the middle of a period in history where information is being gathered, traded, and esteemed above almost everything else. We consume information at an incredible pace, almost at the point where our comprehension is at an all-time low.

Newspapers, radio, television, Google, Myspace, internet news sites. All places that are dealers of the new drug called ‘information.’ And my fear is that the church has also joined their ranks.

We laud the person who has memorized the longest chapter in the Bible, and ignore the one who is daily carrying their cross and following their Savior. We award those who can recite the 66 books of the Bible in order yet forget the ones who have embraced humility and crucified their pride.

An information overload in the church? It’s the newest sermon series or the newest book from our favorite author. And may I say, it’s the new blog post. These things aren’t bad at all. It’s simply more information about the same message. It would be easy (and hypocritical) to claim that we don’t need more books, blogs or sermons. But the truth is, we need more people to follow the Scriptures that have been taught and revealed for centuries. G.K. Chesterson was right when he wrote “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

I’m concerned that we have simply substituted knowing about something or someone with actual relationship. You can take someone who knows all your favorite things, what you think, what you like, and where you hang out. Inside of a great relationship where there are conversations and time spent together we call that person a best friend. But if that knowledge is gained outside of a relationship we call that person a stalker.

And I’m afraid that many of us are turning into God-stalkers. Doing, serving, attending, learning and knowing. These aren’t bad, but without a relationship they are meaningless. Relationships are two way streets that involve both people getting to know each other and that includes shared memories and inside jokes.

This is the crossroads we discover in Luke 13. Jesus is teaching about the narrow way and He teaches us that when the Master closes the door so that no one else may enter, those who are knocking are claiming that they have eaten in His presence and listened to His teachings. And His answer is one of the more sober phrases in the Gospels-

“I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:27)”

Did you notice that the question isn’t how well we know Him? His gauge is how well He knows us, which can only be measured by time spent together. And in the information age, time is a precious commodity because we spend most of our time consuming information. And we follow a Savior that in His omniscience knows all the information that ever has existed, yet values a relationship with us above all else.

Will we do the same and value our relationship with Him above all else? Can He say that He knows us?