The aspects of our character are what make us human, but those traits have changed many times throughout the years. Character helps us to communicate with one another with understanding, to express ourselves with respect, to identify ourselves with ideals we hold. These ideals shift often, and while sometimes this may be beneficial, there are other times that the loss of these can be viewed negatively, especially from a faith standpoint.  

Within Christianity, there are a few virtues that are shown in great importance. Alongside the Cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, there are some other ideals that are showcased within the Bible. One of these is selflessness, doing things with concern over others’ wellbeing rather than one’s own. This ideal has been seen less and less as years pass, and there could be many reasons for that decline, one being the popularity of social media. With everyone’s lives being on display, it becomes more apparent that some things are done solely for the reaction of others. However, in the Christian faith, acts of service are to be done in anonymity in Christ’s image, not one’s own. Social media takes away anonymity, causing one to help another solely for a like count or a post shared on a story. They volunteer for charity to get their picture on a newsletter, send a donation to post their name on the check. Serving is not supposed to be done in one’s name or to gain the attention of others, but to bring people to Christ by acting in His image.  

This loss of selflessness has been impactful to society in a general sense, seeing less people wanting to help if a camera is not readily available to document their actions, a lack of volunteers if a news report is not awaiting publication. Even with an action being done under premise of Christianity, hoping for the spreading of one’s name does seem to take out the faithful aspect.  

If serving others would become more commonplace, there would not have to be a post made for every volunteer hour spent. If society saw more people helping out, it wouldn’t be as much of a shock every time a person put in the effort to show the true love of Christ.