American Psychologist Jane Loevinger noted, that in post-modern living, people tend to conform to what the majority are doing without even critically understanding the situation or reason. She said, “We are living in a conformist world.” In the world of digital technology, plus today’s pop culture, we call it: #trending.
A trend (usually with -ing) is the concept of “currently popular” in society—mostly the digital community or techno-society. This becomes a lot faster to communicate or make something known through social media. The transmission of the trend is usually mediated by the prominent figures in the digital media also called influencers.
Indeed, this cultural reality is evident nowadays, in a sense, inevitable. Even during the time of Jesus, the sense of conformity to the cultural trend was already present. Hence, Jesus reminding His people of the well-known Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7). Even Paul warned the followers of Christ, in Romans 12:2,
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Cultural trend (digitally or not) needs some critical assessment before embraced.
We do not do or conform for the sake of validation, belongingness, or a just-going-with-the-flow attitude. Our identity is already in Christ and the Spirit already validated us through His sealing (Eph. 1:13-14).
In the same way, we do not reject or abhor the cultural trend; instead, we analyze, study, and learn from it. In the digital context, David Murray (Ph.D.) noted, “Sound digital theology is the answer to digital technology; the oldest truths are the best rebuttal to the newest challenges.”
Come, let us think together.
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John&Paul's Reflections 