Navigating the world
Social anxiety, feeling nervous about social situations, can be focused on an individual or a greater cultural expression. COVID was cause for a lot of social anxiety. Elections are notorious for causing social anxiety. Wars are a great cause of social anxiety.
Over the last year, there has been and continues to be a high level of social anxiety. Much come, as does a lot of anxiety, from the possibilities around the future, what might happen, as much as current realities in which we live. Religious leaders, politicians, talk show and podcast hosts, and many others have weighed in on how they believe society should function and what a future should look like. They offer their vision of a future they would hope can become reality. The problem arises when competing visions clash and our faith is caught in the middle. Social anxiety is a reality; so how do we navigate it?
If we choose to see the world through the eyes of Jesus, then we have at least one good way to navigate life. Through the lens of Christ, the world is viewed with compassion, love, mercy, empathy, grace and a willingness to help the “least of these,” to quote Jesus. When other worldviews press against us, we are called to remember that Jesus came to bring creation closer to God the creator. Jesus came to empower us to live lives rich in the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to remind us of our nature to be self-focused, greedy, harsh and hateful can be redeemed and transformed. Jesus invites us to be expressions of a transformation that literally changes the world.
Can we be anxious? Absolutely. However, let us not allow social anxiety to shut out the hope that is in Jesus. Let us not allow movements of hate to transform us but let us transform others through the expression of the core elements of the gospels. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemies. Help the needy. Do not judge unless you want to be judged. Finally, treat others the way you yourself want to be treated.
This should help us navigate the world as believers in Jesus Christ.
Steve Lewis