Selfies!
A legendary white-tailed buck suddenly disappeared in northwestern Grayson County, Texas. The huge deer was frequently seen by locals, and images had been captured on several county game cameras. It was estimated that the buck had a set of antlers that were at least 25”wide with 19 points. It would be a highly-prized trophy for even the best hunters. But the strict county laws protected the buck from being shot.
In a strange twist, state game wardens were informed that a local man had been showing off a set of antlers that looked amazingly similar to that of the missing buck. When confronted by authorities, the suspect denied that it was the same deer. However, when a search warrant was issued for his cell phone, a selfie was discovered of the suspect with the prized buck! He condemned himself with his own camera.
The current craze of taking pictures of yourself became popular when the iPhone 4 introduced the front-facing camera in 2010. Now, using Snapchat, Tumblr, Facebook, or Instagram, images can be manipulated and mailed all over the world in a matter of seconds. Selfies have become a video diary of minute by minute personal activities screening what you are eating, drinking, wearing, or riding. And PRESTO, you are in the center of every picture. How cool is that? And once you figure out the software, you can lose pounds or add extra glamour to your own photo. I am so cute!
We have all seen celebrities taking selfies of themselves at social events and awards shows. Most people remember the famous selfie taken by Bradley Cooper at the 2014 Academy Awards. The picture featured Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, Ellen, Kevin Spacey, Jared Leto, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Lupita Nyong'o and Brad Pitt. At last count, that one selfie has been retweeted at least 4 million times.
People have fallen over cliffs while taking a selfie. One woman was taking a selfie while speeding down the interstate when she lost control of her vehicle and was killed in a tragic accident. In 2015, a 62-year old Australian man was visiting Yellowstone National Park, when he spotted a herd of wild bison. Wanting the perfect selfie, he walked out within five feet of them, turned his back, and posed for the shot. Before he could focus, one bison forcefully butted him with its’ head and sent him flying down the trail. So much for hyperfocal distance and high resolution headshots.
For the most part, selfies are not a sin. Have fun and enjoy modern engineering. But please, try to not fall over a cliff.
That being said, it may be wise to consider where being self-oriented can lead. The Lord spoke in Jeremiah 10:1,3 KJV, “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; for the customs of the people are vain!” Could it be that “selfies” lean more toward vanity than humility? We should be doing all we can to keep Christ in the center of our lives. The Apostle Paul said, ““I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:10
Israel and New Breed wrote a great worship song that sums up this subject. The words are: “Nothing else matters, nothing in this world will do. Jesus You're the center, and everything revolves around You. Jesus You. Jesus at the center of it all, Jesus at the center of it all. From beginning to the end, It will always be, it's always been You, Jesus.” True?