The advent of Facebook some years back caused quite a stir, and everybody wanted to get into the action. Fast forward to today, nobody is interested in Facebook anymore (other than some older folks). The new favors for the time being are Tik Tok, Snapchat, Instagram (also on the way out). I wondered to myself, how short is the attention span of people nowadays. Many are so engrossed in the content that has nothing to do with them or important enough to note, that they are willing to endanger their lives crossing the road with eyes glued to them rather than cross the road safely. To attract people the content in these social media gets more ridiculous and there is no consideration for morality. They are there just to catch eyeballs and to make money from the ‘attention.’ Selling your body had also taken a very different turn. Shame is no longer the consideration here.

In an affluent society, people get bored with their “entertainments” very quickly. They seek more excitement, and at an increasing pace. Many things have a very short “in favour” lifespan. Ultimately, the destruction of others (including finally self) becomes the most exciting. Less affluent societies have no time for such as they are too busy trying to keep subsistence level.

We live in an evil age where evil things are committed at an increasingly young age. The bible tells us that in the end times, the evil becomes more evil and the holy becomes more holy. It is not that one can become more holy but in the light of increased evil, the holy becomes relatively holier.

Are we the salt and light of the world as we should be? Or are we so immersed in the world that we are no different? Will the church still make a difference in the next few generations? Well, your guess is as good as mine. But we can at the very least make sure that we are not the one to lose sight of God.

For your careful consideration.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

当脸书在几年前崛起的时候造成了轰动，这令大家都跃跃一试。时至今日，没有多少人再对脸书有兴趣（年纪稍长些的人除外）。目前人们的宠儿是抖音，快照族和Instagram（也一样在失宠中）。我很诧异，今天人的专注力是极其的短。人们可以全神贯注於跟自己无干或不顾一屑的内容，甚至让自己的生命在过马路的时候置于危险之中，而不是安全的过马路。这些社交媒体为了吸引人，它们的内容只会越离谱和越离道德规范。使人目不转睛纯粹只是要吸引眼球和金钱。出卖自己的身体也不在意。羞耻不再是在这里面所关住的。

在富裕的社会里，人们很容易对自己的“娱乐”产生乏味。他们找寻更刺激和更快节奏感的。很多有利的事物是很短命的。最终，别人的毁灭（最后也包括我自己）成为了最令人奋性的。不富裕的社会没有时间给予这些媒体社交，因为他们忙于维持生计。

我们是活在邪恶事件越趋年轻化的一个邪恶的世代。圣经告诉我们，在末日，邪恶越邪恶，而圣洁越圣洁。这不是说你越来越成为圣洁，而是，在邪恶的日趋上升之际，圣洁的变成相对的更圣洁。

我们还当持守我本是世上的盐和光吗？还是我们也是浸淫在世界里跟世人没有两样？教会还能在前面的几代里明哲保身？你的猜测跟我是一样对的。但是我们至少可以确信我们千万不要对上帝失去信心。

给与你慎重的考虑！

上帝赐福。
在基督里同工的，

Barry Leong