I Know What You Did Last Sunday
A new Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) study, “I Know What You Did Last Sunday: Measuring Social Desirability Bias in Self-Reported Religious Behavior, Belief, and Belonging,” has concluded that Americans greatly exaggerate their religious affiliation and participation.
The PRRI study asked random samples of Americans identical questions on two surveys – one via telephone and the other online – and compared the results. Across the board, when shielded by the anonymity of the internet, respondents reported lower rates of affiliation and attendance than when engaged in personal interaction with a telephone interviewer.
Among the findings: 36 percent of telephone respondents claim they attend religious services weekly or more, compared to 31 percent of the online respondents, and only 30 percent of telephone respondents admit they seldom attend religious services compared to 43 percent of online respondents.
"Surprisingly," reports the PRRI, "the social desirability effects are strong even among the religiously unaffiliated."
If the religiously unaffiliated are tempted to pretend to be more religious than they really are, what about those who gladly affiliate themselves with the faith? As believers we must guard ourselves against the temptation to put on a show, pretending to be more spiritual than we really are in the eyes of others. We may fool our public, but we can't hide our duplicitous hearts from God.
"Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant" (Galatians 1:10).
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full" (Matthew 6:2).
Saved By A Spoon
Young victims of forced marriage have a new weapon against those who would sell them into lives of imposed matrimony. It's not a gun in a holster or a sword in a sheath, but a spoon in their underpants!
With the rising trend and trade of youngsters into forced marriages abroad, British authorities are stepping up their efforts to identify potential victims of this ancient practice which is itself akin to slave trade. Airport personnel are receiving special training to spot both traffickers and victims. And non-profit groups are stepping up their effort to help inform and equip victims in methods of intervention and escape.
One group, the Karma Nirvana charity, which supports victims and survivors of forced marriage and honor-based abuse, says they advise young people who suspect they are being transported out of the country and into a forced marriage to hide a spoon or other metallic object in their underpants. "When they go though security, it will highlight this object in a private area and, if 16 or over, they will be taken to a safe space where they have that one last opportunity to disclose they're being forced to marry," said Natasha Rattu, Karma Nirvana's operations manager.
Based in Derby, central England, Karma Nirvana reports that it fields 6,500 calls per year from around Britain, but in 2013 year-to-date they have almost already reached that point as awareness of the issue grows. Says Rattu:
When petrified youngsters ring, "if they don't know exactly when it may happen or if it's going to happen, we advise them to put a spoon in their underwear. We've had people ring and that it's helped them and got them out of a dangerous situation. It's an incredibly difficult thing to do with your family around you -- but they won't be aware you have done it. It's a safe way."
Trapped by cultural and societal pressures, young people are everywhere and everyday being pressured, nay forced, into unhealthy, unsafe, undesirable lifestyles and life choices.
Such pressure is not limited, though, to radical religious or fringe groups. Look around. At every turn young people are being pushed along by the swell of public opinion, peer pressure, and political correctness into an unwitting marriage with worldly, secular thinking.
Let's not make the mistake of assuming that they are all going willingly. Many, if not most, have no idea of the danger they are in. Some even long for a way of escape, but are afraid to buck the system. Like the British airport security personnel, we must be more vigilant to spot both traffickers and victims and step up our efforts to help inform and equip victims in methods of intervention and escape.
We must be ready to really hear their questions, their concerns, and be ready to offer them an alternative--not a spoon in their underwear--but a knowledge of the Savior who longs for them to be His bride.
"…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…" (1 Peter 3:15).
"For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband--Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT).
The Dating Stamp of Approval
Michelle Arshad, 24, from Toronto, Canada, has had it with traditional dating and trying to find Mr. Right, so she's taken matters into her own hands. Or, taken matters to others' hands. Or, well, something like that.
Ms. Arshad has decided to look for Mr. Right in her own, very innovative way. She now visits local bars and hangouts with an assortment of stamps with which to mark prospective "good dating" candidates.
The stamp of choice reads, "You're cute ... You should hit me up."
With the flick of the wrist, she places her stamp of approval on dating (and potentially mating) prospects.
She shared her strategy in a TikTok video which now has over 2.4 million views.
What could possibly go wrong?
Ladies, "cuteness" is a lousy criterion for dating material.
You want a man with a "stamp of approval," all right. But you want to be sure he carries the ultimate stamp. You want a man after God's own heart. A man who carries the Lord's seal of approval.
Next time you're out looking for a date or a mate, make sure the Lover of his soul has already stamped him with His own mark.
Consider 2 Corinthians 1:22. The New Century Version renders it this way, "He put his mark on us to show us that we are His, and He put His Spirit in our hearts to show us that we are really His."
The Message Version renders verses 20,22 this way, "Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. ... By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge - a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete."
Before you place your stamp of approval, look for the Lord's first.