There is something joyous and yet absolutely demoralizing about free WiFi on airline flights. On the one hand, I won’t be bored, nor will I be charged for something to watch because Hulu is ready and waiting. On the other, it’s frustrating because the only place that requires people to disconnect from the world is now letting you reconnect.

This weekend, I realized how much I check my phone for texts, or log onto Twitter and Facebook to see if anyone has tried to contact me. If there is one area in my life (and perhaps all of ours at that) that is the epitome of narcissism, it’s social networking.

Ultimately, we check our email, walls, @replies/tweets, texts and the like because we want to see who is talking to us–– or about us. When we’re not doing that, we’re busy stalking other people.

The real status updates

I think it’d be hilarious to see live status updates on people’s unspoken thoughts:

• Joe is “secretly hoping no one sees him eat chocolate and watch Gossip Girl tonight!”

• Samantha is “having trouble holding back those bodily functions after eating chili.”

• Mark is “checking out Samantha.”

• Jenny is “popping acne in the shower hoping it goes away before her date tonight!”

In reality, we often post way more information than necessary. We have the “look at me and be jealous” status, and the even-worse “look at me and feel sorry for me” status (with a touch of relationship banter no one ever wants to read):

• Brooke: “I’m so thankful for those who can make me smile, when all I want to do is cry. Boyfriends are a wonderful thing, you should try it out!”

• Taylor: “Hates her job. Need a new one!!”

Later on…

• Taylor: “Why isn’t anyone hiring? I’ll take any job!!”

But, my favorites are the spiritual enlightening updates:

• Ben: “Today sucks, there is absolutely nothing good about it, and I just want to complain. But oh, God is good, even when I feel bad, He is still good.”

Something tells me praying is a lot better than broadcasting your message to your friends on Facebook.

The social network between me and God

We all know that for us believers, God is good amidst trial and heartbreak, and yes, all we should do is praise Him. But, if your only means of evangelizing and praise is via social networking…it’s time to reevaluate the life.

For those unbelieving friends of yours, or even those fellow brothers and sisters who are struggling, reading those statuses don’t usually help open their hearts to Christ. It’s funny how many ignorant things we do as believers because we think it is “helping the cause,” when really, if we asked those who we are trying to reach, they would say quite the opposite.

Narcissism expresses itself many ways

This is going to be a tangent, but bear with me. Let’s look at homosexuals for one example. A close friend of mine said that a girl in one of his classes said this: “I just don’t get homosexuality. Why don’t they just…get it? I just want to preach Jesus to them, so they can get it and come to Christ!”

Good thing I’m not in charge of God’s justice department or that girl would get served. What ignorance. Being gay may be “wrong,” but it is no more a sin then struggling with addictions to porn, drugs, premarital sex and pride. Hasn’t Christ commanded us that it’s what’s on the inside that counts? Don’t you get that we all do wrong?

We should understand that narcissism is an issue of pride and insecurities…and one thing that irks me, as you may have read from me in the past, is people who check themselves out 24/7.

Not to be cliché or anything, but maybe next time you’re doing your makeup, I can “preach Jesus to you, so you can get it and come to Christ.” Ironic isn’t it?

“Getting” it as the body of believers

One of my mentors and friends is a pastor at Door of Hope Church, in the Hawthorne district (trendy/hipster/gay community) of Portland, Ore. He was telling me a great story of God’s grace of a woman in his small group.

Three months ago she was a married lesbian. Now, she comes to Door of Hope and the small group weekly, left her wife, and is pursuing Jesus. By the grace of God, a church gets it. By the grace of God, they were able to reach out and share love with her because they didn’t cast a judgmental eye and condescending sneer her way.

Instead, they reached out their hands and embraced her regardless of her sexual orientation. Because of them, she is now a sister in Christ. I wonder how long we will continually miss the point of God’s grace being extended to everyone. Am I perfect? I’ll reaffirm the fact–– no way Jose. But I’m starting to get it.

We’re always being watched – what we say, do, or how we act – and the world is always ready to criticize us (see Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills wide receiver). Let’s not stoop down and start the problems. Let’s be an example and solve it.

What will it take, Biola?