Just know that I’m “preaching to the choir,” as the saying goes.
We live in a society that loves to share: photos of our food, our pets, our clothes, our children, and just about everything in between. It’s almost instinctive now to snap a quick picture and post it online for others to see. And that’s totally all fine and good. And while some might point to smartphones and social media as the driving forces behind this, the desire to share what we find meaningful isn’t new. Long before digital cameras, humans captured moments on film, canvas, and even onto cave walls. What technology has done is make sharing easier and more immediate, giving more eyes the chance to see and respond. I’m right there with you. As you might know, I love posting glimpses of my life too.
But as I reflect on this tendency to share, I find myself asking a deeper question as it comes to matters of faith: what do we choose to share, especially when it comes to sacred moments? I’ve seen it, you’ve seen it, people posting photos from faith-based events, concerts, worship services, or moments of personal spiritual experience. I believe it’s okay to wonder what Jesus might think of this focus on ourselves. As someone who loves the church and grew up in it, I find myself feeling uneasy when those holy moments feel more about visibility than reverence. It’s not that people intend to show off; often, their motives are quite sincere. But there’s a tension, a subtle shift from worship and service to personal branding, that can feel uncomfortable, especially when what’s sacred is turned into content.
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person– though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
—Romans 5:1-81
Scripture offers us a helpful perspective. Romans 5 begins with a powerful reminder: “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” Notice that our boasting isn’t about ourselves, but about the hope and the glory of God. The passage continues to speak of suffering, endurance, character, and hope, all of which are rooted in God’s love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is the heart of the gospel, divine love expressed in sacrificial humility, not personal achievement or recognition.
And while suffering and perseverance are indeed part of our journey, they ought not be for self-promotion. Instead, they shape our character, often in hidden places, away from public view. Much of the spiritual formation that molds us into Christ’s likeness happens quietly, in prayer, in service, and in repentance. The tension lies in whether we’re pointing others to God’s grace or simply drawing attention to ourselves. A fine and fuzzy line.
This leads us to the core of what Romans 5 emphasizes: our confidence is rooted entirely in God’s love and initiative. “God shows his love for us,” Paul writes, and the focus remains on divine grace. A genuine Christian testimony echoes this, highlighting what God has done, not what we have achieved or displayed. When sacred moments become content, it’s easy for our focus to shift from the humility and self-giving love at the heart of the gospel to our own image. The question isn’t whether we share, it’s whether that sharing directs our gaze toward Christ or toward ourselves.
So, perhaps before posting a moment from ministry or worship, we can pause and ask: What is this drawing attention to? Is it God’s work, the community of faith, or just me? Not every sacred act ought to be broadcast. Sometimes, the most profound acts of worship and service are those that remain known only to God and to those who are present. As followers of Christ, we can cultivate a posture of humility, celebrating God’s faithfulness without feeling the need to be at the center of every story. In doing so, we preserve the reverence and authenticity that make these moments truly sacred.
May God grant us the wisdom to recognize His presence both in the public and the hidden places of our faith journey.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer2
Luke Gambill 