Fads

Do you remember fads like bellbottoms, parachute pants, hairbands, high tops and more? Fads are fun and can create good memories, but they don’t just happen in fashion. Fads can touch all genres, including the church. Things come and go like music styles, presentations, style of dress, service order and more. Yet, Jesus remains the same through it all. In fact, He challenges us to keep the main thing the main thing.

In Matthew 22:37 & 39 Jesus says,

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind…A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37 & 39

This means to love God and love people!

This is easier said than done. Fads are opportunities to be distracted by stuff that is temporary, thus letting what lasts forever suffer. Our faith, family and friends go into eternity; therefore, what we do with them is huge.

It is so easy to get caught up with the latest fad in church: a certain style of music, style of preaching and more. When we do, we forget to love God and love people daily. According to Jesus, by doing these two things alone, we fulfill the word of God in our lives. When we purpose to do this, it’s simple yet complex.

So how do we navigate these fads? I believe these two things will help us stay focused.

First, we must be honest with ourselves. This means facing our fears, our struggles and our weaknesses. Our faith helps us to face our reality, not to ignore it. By acknowledging these things, we are empowered to open our hearts to Christ so that we love Him with all our heart, soul and mind! Honesty helps us overcome the good days and the bad days. It helps us stay balanced when things work out and when things go wrong. It keeps us progressing in our love for Him throughout our life.

Second, be honest with others. This means facing our pain and being in touch with how we feel. Acknowledging when we are disappointed or when we have hurt others. All of this empowers us to open our hearts to others so that we can love them as we love ourselves. Honesty helps us stay clean with people so that our love grows and we become more like Christ. There is plenty we deal with, so it’s paramount that our hearts stay open to love others as we move forward in faith.

Will you receive the challenge to love God and love people? Will you strive to keep the main thing the main thing?

Please don’t let fads distract you from what lasts forever: faith, family and friends.

Embrace the challenge and see what happens! The best is ahead as we love God and love people!

Have a great week!