"Everyone You Know Will Be Able to Rate You on the 'Yelp for People'"

“’There are no private affairs,’” one of the “bright people” says to the “big ghost” in C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce. Believers know the reality of that statement. And it is probably something that everyone really knows, but suppress the truth in unrighteousness. In fact, our culture leads us to believe we can create our own reality. We can fashion all of our affairs just the way we would like our closest 542 friends to see them on our social media account, painting the pictures of our life stories.

 

But still, there’s something missing. We need approval, accolades, admirers even. As our likes pile up, maybe we are tempted to post according to what we know will pull in the most favorites (In which case, I need to ditch the theological links on Twitter and stick to posting about peanut butter). Still unsatisfied, some people actually stoop to buying likes, or trading off for likes. 

 

Well, it turns out, people still want more. The likes just aren’t fulfilling the currency that we are looking for. This is where the upcoming Peeple App would like to step in. On this app, described as the Yelp for people, you can rate your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and dates with a correlating review. That couldn’t go wrong, could it? 

 

Apparently, the announcement of this app has angered the internet crowds to the point where the CEO, Julia Cordray, is doing some back-pedaling. She has now announced that this is a “positivity app,” that you opt into. No one can create an account profile for you, and you will approve all the reviews before they are posted. However, the company does recommend that you allow some of the negative reviews in to show a more “balanced” profile. You know, because it has to be believable and all. Hmm. 

 

So now basically, this is a way for you to see what people think about you, and to display a customized resume about what people are saying in front of your back. At best, this is a pretend-land where you can make believe you have been sifted through judgment and come out for the better---publically. All the while, you have the confidence that your private affairs are still private.

 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I can’t imagine there won’t be fake accounts that will hurt many people. But the fact that this may become a thing, that people may participate, maybe a lot of people, points to the truth that we all know---there is a judgment for who we are and the way we treat our neighbors. 

 

Ah, but if only it could be left to that. There is a judgment coming before a holy God, One whom we have all offended. Without Christ, we could not bear to even hear this judgment, much less take the time to decide which parts we will keep and publicize and which we will keep to ourselves. There are no private affairs. And no social network makeover will help us when we are exposed for who we truly are.

 

Don’t be fooled into thinking your own self-righteousness will make the cut. Don’t be fooled into believing what others say about you either. God’s judgment is the only one that counts. And in his mercy and love, he has sent his Son to do what we could not and would not. The perfect Son, who fulfilled all righteousness, bore the sin of his beloved in judgment. It was a public affair, as will be his return. By faith, he leads us to true repentance and a new life in Christ. And all who turn to Him look forward to hearing that approval they so desperately need from the only One who can give it, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”