Day: March 25, 2025

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Indeed, man in his sinfulness aspires to be seen and heard. Some 6,000 years of human history serve as a testament to the fact that he is willing to go to extreme (!) lengths to ensure his presence and voice are protected. It was precisely this outlook that led apostate Israel and pagan Rome to conspire to kill the Lord Jesus Christ! Having silenced Him on the cross and hidden Him in the tomb, they supposed they would retain power and remain at the center of attention (Psalm 2:1-3; Acts 4:23-28). Their subjects or citizens would keep their eyes and ears on them—and Jesus would (hopefully) be forgotten. Lest we believe this is but “dead history,” we consider our present-day.

Myriads of applauses are in progress this very moment. Furthermore, someone is receiving a trophy, a certificate, or a medal for an exemplary achievement. Another person is delivering a long-winded political speech or scientific lecture, one soon to conclude with a standing ovation. Yet another is uploading to the internet a video featuring a dangerous stunt or “good deed.” Onlookers stare in awe… completely infatuated with education, sex appeal, wealth, scholarship, piety, and so on. What is ignored is Christ living in people who believe sound Bible doctrine. No one cares to see, hear, or think about that—for then man would have to close his mouth and step out of the spotlight!

Certain individuals have an opinion about everything, and thus will not withhold making public comments—even if such topics are way out of their area of expertise. You can find these individuals at protests and parades and rallies and conferences, before cameras and microphones, moving their lips and bodies in “activism.” Howbeit, they can offer us no intelligent reason as to what they support or why they are even there (see Acts 19:32)! Tragically, young people who want to improve their world are often drawn into participating in such events because their egos are exploited.

Again, we must beware and renew our minds….