We live in a culture of dependence.
We are dependent on so many things I think sometimes we’re not ever aware of it.
Here are some interesting statistics I’d like you to consider.
- Social Media | 68% of American’s have a social media page in which of those numbers 84% said they couldn’t leave the page— they are “dependent” on the connections made. Most people I’ve observed say they are “taking a break” from Facebook will inevitably be back on within the next week or so. Why? For most of us we seem to either be addicted or desire the content or connection it offers.
- Smart Phones | According to Pew Research over 3/4 all all Americans own a smartphone. Of those smart phone users, when asked what technology their smart phones offer that they could not live without they answered:
- Navigation Systems: Consider this one. If smartphones stopped working most people in America would struggle to get home from work. Most Americans would have difficultly finding their way to grocery stores, movie theaters, and everywhere else people drive. One Uber driver said to me a week ago while driving through downtown San Diego “I honestly couldn’t do my job without Google Maps; I barely know my way around my own city anymore.”
- Social Media: As mentioned before; we spend A LOT of time and energy on social media.
- Texting: Most people these days would rather text than call—a whopping 78% of people admitted this. If this tech stopped would we struggle communicating with people?
- Camera: I was surprised to learn that smartphones have actually become the death of the camera unless of course you are a professional photographer. Camera sales have drastically declined in light of the smart phone which has proven to be a great camera for the novice as well as those experts in camera apps.
- Internet: 62% of Americans use their smartphones for internet more often than their laptop and table top computers. And this shouldn’t be a surprise since this little gadget is constantly in our hands all day long. Checking email has become an obsession that is simply one click away. We can pay bills, check our at home security cameras, book a flight, and purchase anything our hearts desire all at the palm of our hands.
- Grocery Stores | It’s interesting to me that a grocery store that offers any food one could desire is, for most of us, a twenty minute drive away. We can have berries in and our of season, get grass fed or chemically induced meats, vegetables that are sprayed or not sprayed, and any kind of drink or processed food one could imagine. But consider for a moment that this is a fairly new idea when one looks at the history of the world. Grocery stores were birthed in the late 1800’s starting as tiny stores that offered canned goods and dry groceries One still went to the butcher and markets for meats and vegetables and fruits. The first store that serviced all three of these products together was the chain Piggly Wiggly in Memphis around 1916 which caused American’s to begin shifting how they viewed food. This shift caused a huge rise in the nation until in the 1940’s supermarkets offered most foods one would want. What I find interesting about this is the decline of small farms and people growing their own foods dropped significantly until today over 97% of Americans do not grow their own food which means we are completely dependent on store to offer us our daily food.
- Oil | Countries like Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Iraq are all dependent on oils sales for their countries well being which also means we the consumer are dependent on oil. Now I know some will say— yeah but we’ve got Tesla now. While I agree Tesla is great, the majority of us may never own an expensive Tesla starting at 37,000 to 124,000. For most of us our transportation is totally dependent on our vehicles all run by gasoline. I remember after 9/11 the gas stations were sold out as people were scrambling to get their gas out of fear that there might be a gasoline crisis to follow. Imagine if there truly were a gasoline crisis, how would people get around?
- Water | This goes without saying but think about it. Where does your water come from? Who supplies it? What would happen if that supplier lost their supply? If the water ran out? There have been many moments in history when water shortages were the caused of rioting and looting, theft and violent acts. Anyone living in Southern California will tell you they are always one earth quake or water shortage away from pandemonium.
I give this list not to scare but to share a deeper realization; we are a dependent culture. We depend on the government more and more for safety, medical needs, food regulations, etc. We continue giving away freedoms in order to feel a sense of safety in the midst of this fear leaning more and more on a government funded by the very people profiting from our dependance.
We depend on a lot— and most of these companies and organizations depend on our dependance.
Manufacturers depend on us always needing more.
Pharmaceutical companies would go extinct if people stopped getting sick.
If people started growing their own food grocery stores would be obsolete.
If everyone became a Do It Yourself er — we’d not need the late night plumber fixing our overflowing toilets.
And here’s the kicker. Religious structures — they’ve become experts at this as well.
Consider most religious structures.
Think about their message first and foremost.
You are sick — inherently bad — this sickness has made you cause for some serious issues between you and God— he’s actually holding this against you — and Jesus — well he died BECAUSE OF YOU— which has created some added guilt and shame — now you will feel all these emotions unless —
Unless you choose to accept OUR message–accept OUR community and traditions.
You are sick but we have a cure. And here’s the interesting thing — knowing that this idea that you are bad and that Jesus needed to die in your place was never actually a Jewish idea — it begins to make sense. Roman Christianity created the disease and then promptly offered you a cure that only they can give.
How fortunate for them right?
And consider the message from the community if someone does leave their church community.
They’ll say things like, “They’ve left the fold — pray they come back.”
“They are lost” lost? Lost without the community, traditions, and structures?
Think about that one— we created this space and belief structure and anyone that doesn’t believe what we believe is LOST— as in— they are eternally damned and if you believe in HELL then they are eternally damned to be punished the rest of their lives.
Talk about creating dependance!
And the pastors typically are very similar to most self-help gurus out there.
They’ll offer you their books— their advice — and it never really ends does it? They will always write another book– always have another sermon.
Imagine if someone bought the book from a pastor — or listened to a sermon that week and this person went up to the pastor and said— “You know what? That’s the message I needed to hear! I think I’m free— I don’t need anything else now— I have everything I need to go out and begin living this thing! Thanks!”
The pastor may scratch his head— “but you’re coming back next week right?”
“Why— I got the message— now I’m going to live and share it!”
“but, but… you still need me!!!”
Yeah— I’m postulating of course— but I think you get the point.
Churches don’t celebrate human graduations — when someone has outgrown certain beliefs — that would be terrifying because it would mean you no longer NEED it. You no longer NEED them.
And this is where I consider Jesus — Jesus was so unlike most of the speakers and community leaders we see today.
Jesus, after sharing his life teachings with his disciples — he leaves!!!
Can you imagine — the speaker or pastor getting up to the podium on stage and saying— “Well— I’ve given you all the tools you need. Now it’s time for you to start building this thing for yourselves — see ya later!!!”
Yeah— it would be unheard of right?
But this is essentially what Jesus does in John 14: 12— “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”.
See, a real teacher — a real life sustaining message doesn’t push dependence — doesn’t need you to be weak and dependent — a real teacher — a hopeful message will tell you— “Alright — you’ve got the tools— I’ve taught you everything you need to know— now go fish!!! Go live!”
What we often have happen is the helicopter scenario — the odd parent tells, shows, and then pushes the beginner cyclist — they start pedaling — BUT— the parent never lets go. Imagine this poor kid at age 15 riding with his friends to school, and who’s there next to them as they’re talking about girls or riding to the game? Mom is! Mom is holding the seat in order to keep little Bobby safe.
Real life giving teachings are applicable — they are to be lived and learned.
Christianity doesn’t need more helicopter communities that shame the kids that learn to bike on their own — begin asking difficult questions and start jumping curbs. Christ followers need grown ups, responsible teachers that will celebrate people’s freedom FROM their dependance — freedom to LIVE FULLY the teachings of Jesus — to practice — fail— get back up— and try again.