- Well, O' Rambling Curate if you've been brave enough then so shall I be... we too watch Catfish and have from the outset many years ago now (Max is still my favourite presenter....there I've said it!). Through each series I've often questioned how people can be so daft, trusting, silly, hopeful, cruel and sometimes downright nasty. However on occasion and as you know, very rarely there isn't a Catfish', the person on the other side of the media screen is exactly who they say they are and for whatever reason - anxiety, shame about appearance, hurt - they've taken on another persona or just haven't been brave enough to show their true self. Your ramblings also made me think... God doesn't care what we look like, how we dress, whether we're wealthy or not, if we're carrying emotional baggage, He just wants us to love and serve Him, to be our true self, embrace Him and His plans for us. He wants us to proclaim Him as our Saviour and Redeemer, so we shouldn't hide away either. We shouldn't hide in our lives, our possessions, behind a screen or in life's activities and business/busyness; we should be honest and open both with our Father and others we meet through life. If God can love me and want what's best for me then He can love you too...nobody has to hide from God. Thank you Darren for this session of 'Catfish - a new way to look at what was previously a guilty secret'!! 😆😆😆
The Ramblings of the Curate!
Catfish
Please don't judge, I am coming to you and bearing all. I am confessing one of my 'guilty pleasures. "My name is Darren and I watch Catfish" There I said it, it's out in the open and for many of you, your thinking I thought Catfish was a fish what is this guy talking about?
This is a description of Catfishing and the show is about catching these catfish before any more harm can happen.
Catfishing:
is a deceptive activity where a person creates a fictional persona or fake identity on a social networking service, usually targeting a specific victim. The practice may be used for financial gain, to compromise a victim in some way, as a way to intentionally upset a victim, or for wish fulfilment.
So why am I confessing this to you all? While watching the last thrilling rollercoaster of emotions edition, I was thinking how Satan is the biggest and most dangerous Catfish.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Satan creates a persona to deceive others into following him. Therefore he has others that masquerade as teachers, priests and church elders, who also deceive by teaching false doctrine, unbiblical truths, and gospel that goes nowhere. This causes pain, suffering and does not create true disciples of Christ, resulting in sheep being led to the slaughter and walking away from Christ.
There are churches that teach lies concerning the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives, how we receive salvation, what true healing is and preach about loving self, asking for more money, better jobs, and health.
When people come face to face with their catfish in the tv show they can have closure and time to heal and move on, but when we come face to face with our catfish it is too late.
The catfish team does a lot of investigating to find out the truth, we too can investigate what we are being told. It's our responsibility to test, so next time you hear something, test it with the scriptures. What does the bible say about wealth and the longing after worldly desires?, what does the bible say about the gifts of the Spirit and for whom are they to benefit?
Scripture is our greatest tool to revealing those who are wolves in sheep clothing. We too can support one another by being accountable to each other and if we see another being lead astray let us lovingly speak words of truth to them.
Let's make sure we are not being Catfished.
Rev. Darren
St Andrews Church, Kinson