Are You Ghosting God?
In 2015, Psychology Today magazine published an article about ghosting, or a relationship practice where “someone that you believe cares about you, whether it be a friend or someone you are dating, disappears from contact.” It used to be a rare occurrence, but now 50% of men and women have experienced it.
People who ghost are focused on themselves and their own emotional discomfort, and they don’t think or often care how the other person feels. Ghosting can result in “feelings of being disrespected, used and disposable.” In fact, it can be seen as an act of very deep betrayal. “Ghosting is the ultimate use of the silent treatment, a tactic that has often been viewed by mental health professionals as a form of emotional cruelty.”
But ghosting is not only prevalent in the secular culture; it is also used within the believing community in relation to the Lord or a local church fellowship.
Vibrant and dedicated people who were at one time pleased with the help and hope that comes through Christ and a body of believers, suddenly begin to fade away with little explanation. Usually the culprit is unmet expectations which are often unrealistic or just the presence of a new fond affection which takes priority.
To be quite honest, ghosting is not at all new. It is just a new semantic word that replaces that phrase “falling away.” It was revealed quite vividly by Jesus in the letter to the church at Ephesus when He said, “You have left your first love.”
This is not addressed to believers who feel led to dedicate themselves to another church as long as they don’t just fade away from active consistent involvement in a fellowship. But may God have mercy on them if they think it is wise to fade away from the only One who can truly save them, to fellowship with another god of comfort or convenience.
Don’t fade away but “faith your way forward” being honest from the heart to the Lord, others, and yourself.
Coming up next, “How to Faith Forward”
Reference: This is Why Ghosting Hurts So Much, Jennice Vilhauer Ph.D. November 27, 2015
