One of the major roles of a pastor is to communicate, which I do through my Sunday sermons and weekly writings, and over the years I have conveyed well over 1,000 such messages for public consumption. And throughout all of those various communications, one of the most common pieces of feedback that I receive from folks is this notion that I was communicating directly with them. Somewhere in the message were details or themes that seemed to be directly linked to something that they were experiencing, leading them to wonder if I had perhaps known about them, and had tailored my message just for them.
It’s easy to understand why someone might think that I’ve been reading their emails or listening to their conversations before coming up with a message. With the increase in “smart” technology, there has been a significant shift towards personalization in the American consumer experience. The online world is taking this to new heights, where your browsing history, your watching history, and even the amount of time that you spend on individual posts is fed into the infamous algorithms to discern who you really are. All of a sudden, advertisements pop up for things that you had been talking about, and entertainment choices are recommended for you, creating this notion that the virtual world really does revolve around you. And while that might seem to be helpful when you want to buy something, it might seem offensive if you think that the pastor has targeted you specifically for a public message, particularly if the theme was about unflattering behavior.
My work in the real world is based upon thoughts and themes that are derived from my scholarly pursuits as a Christian combined with my life experiences as a resident and member of a small island community. My goal is to convey these ideas in a way that hopefully enriches people on the receiving end of these messages. For that reason, these messages aren’t about you, but they are written for you.
This is ultimately the same truth about the Bible. No matter what parallels you may see between your personal experiences and the experiences recounted on the pages of Scripture, the Bible was not written about you. It was, however, written for you, because the ultimate author of Scripture knew that there was nothing new under the sun, and that our trials and tribulations that seem deeply personal and unique to us have been experienced by countless others over the history of mankind. Therefore, when something in the Bible strikes a little too close for comfort, know that God didn’t write it about you. But He certainly was hoping that you would receive the message.
So if a message hits close to home, don’t be surprised. While technology may have changed, the basic human condition hasn’t. We’ve just found new ways to experience the same sorts of issues. And yes, your smartphone and your smart tv are most likely listening to your every word – but I promise you that I am not (unless we’re having a conversation, at which point I’m all ears).
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron