Selfie World

 

It seems you cannot go anywhere without seeing a selfie. I suppose I should define what a selfie is before it gets misconstrued with something sensual. A selfie is urban word for taking a self portrait or more accurately a self picture. Usually the reason one would take a self pic is for a social networking site profile like facebook or Twitter. However, selfies have turned into something more than just letting everyone know what you look like. They are a status symbol as well. Celebs gather around commoners and takes selfies, so that the common person can post it and say, "look who I was with!"

Selfies have taken the internet by storm. People seem obsessed with documenting their latest hair style or situation. I remember when it was normal to take pictures of other people or if you took a self picture it was with a crowd or family members and for the sake of preserving the memory of the event. Now self portrait has evolved past posterity and has become a force for people to focus on themselves. Rather than just enjoy an outing or cherish the moment, people now feel compelled to take selfies and post them online.

The twin root reasons for this surge of self pictures is status and selfishness. Contemporary people have become Narcissus. Obsessed with their own reflection and demanding that others know about it. At least Narcissus only spent his time at the lake or looking in a mirror, the neo-narcissus or narcissuses want everyone else to look and awe. The selfie is endemic of the decline of our culture and morals. It is the manifestation of the selfish nature of people and how they have abandoned the selfless nature of Christ. I remember a movie called "While You Were Sleeping." In the film there was joke about Peter, the man in coma who has wallet full of pictures of himself. We are meant to laugh, because he is so self absorbed. Well now the joke is on us! People do not carry pics of themselves in their wallet, but they do on their smartphones!

Not all selfies are selfish. It is worthwhile to post a picture of oneself on a social networking site so that you may be recognized and update it on occasion. However, taking numerous selfies and changing your profile pic to show everyone is nothing short of narcissism. Why does anyone need to see so many pictures of your face? Its fine if you want to document a great moment like a wedding, an outing, and etc. Its great if it features your friends or family. But having plethora of self pictures and posting them is a surefire sign that one has become self absorbed.

We should not hate our appearance or act overly humble. God created us in his image, but I think it is fair to say He is not thrilled at seeing us so obsessed with our own image. Entire memories are being ruined because of the compulsion to share it with the world. What happen to the days when we took pictures for private use and to share with only our immediate friends and family? Now the motive for picture taking is to update a status or post it on a site like pin interest.

Christ called for us to be other centered. To care and show compassion on those in need. How can we even see a need or show love to others if we are busy taking selfies? The emergence of this new phenomenon is a fulfillment of prophecy. The Apostle Paul wrote of these times by saying, "in those days people will become lovers of self, lovers of money, abusive, disobedient towards parents, ungrateful, and unholy." (2 Timothy 3:2). It is evident that our world is becoming all of these things. As Christians we must hold on and fight the good fight of Faith. We will be the minority and with less selfies. Our goal is not to make ourselves known, but to make Christ known. We should be more concerned with sharing the Gospel of Salvation than obsessing over selfies.



Jesus Christ and Narcissus
Jesus on the cross is the ultimate symbol of God's love and caring for others at the cost of Himself. Narcissus represents the opposite, which is to be obsessed with self and to be self absorbed rather than care about others.