The social media mannequin challenge

One of the least destructive trends on social media right now is the mannequin challenge, where groups of people take a photo of people stopping...freezing in place...and becoming silent. Oh, that we would decide as a global community to do that exact same thing on all our social media networks for a while. Stop. And shut up.

Social media management is part of my job. I have to deal with it daily. But some days --- especially since this election cycle began ----I loathe it. Social media has amplified what societies have been doing for ages -- the dehumanization of people. Because we can "anonymously" offer our opinions about every single thing in society without a personal confrontation, we feel obligated to do so -- in the most unloving and degrading ways imaginable. As a result, anger -- the easiest of emotions for us to feel -- is rising to the forefront in our society, exposing the age old sin of pride in each of us. Anger is easy because it our first line of defense to keep us from feeling fear, hurt, grief or any of the other emotions with which we are truly wrestling. Our dialogue is no longer respectful, and we actually show admiration for the crassest among us as we cheer them on to shame and humiliate people with whom we disagree.

The dehumanization continues with our culture's addiction to video games where we kill as many virtual people as possible --and on computer screens and soon-to-be robot companions where people have virtual sex -- and with the growing sex slave industry becoming ever more prevalent in our own backyards.

​Though not a new thing, dehumanizing our fellow man is becoming almost a game of sorts, rather than something we recognize or acknowledge as deeply sinful and ugly. As we sling mud back and forth, we are dehumanizing the very people God loves; the people for which He suffered and died.

​We need a Savior, not a President. God help us all.

-- Gina Adams

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