God and Facebook
First of all, thanks to all who commented on last weeks mental rant. I appreciate it - and I love your comments, whether in agreement or disagreement (and last week had both!) This week, I seemed to find myself in the midst of agnostics, and what fun it is. I had three conversations with self-proclaimed agnostics back to back to back. The reason I like it so much is because these men and women are saying, “I just don’t know.” It seems reasonable to me in the midst of the turmoil we are in, to say, “I have no idea.”
The intellectual evidence could make anyone human bi-polar. Just spend a day watching the History Channel. I just watched something on the history of alien activity on earth, and after that on the UC California channel a couple of moments about the latest thinking with evolution, and after that a movie on what Shell has done is foreign countries to find oil and the health ramifications upon poor natives. In the midst of that you can find a religion station that talks about the prosperity Jesus promises…
And now about the island of plastic out in the ocean? Have you heard about that? See it at http://popsci.typepad.com/popsci/2007/10/giant-island-of.html
I intellectually understand the agnostic position. I would gravitate toward it myself if I had not heard the call of Jesus, and experienced the love of God. The love of God and the mercy of God is what draws right?
It’s all about “missing.” Not missing the point, or missing the mark, but that act of missing someone. I have old high school friends that I “miss.” I just miss being with them. I believe this is close to the actual heart of God for all of us. He misses being with us, and he initiates with us - the love of God compeled Him to send Jesus.
Our problem is not the actual intellectual sharing of the Gospel - we have done that and will continue to do that. The problem is that we don’t “miss” old friends and new friends like God does. We don’t carry enough love in our hearts.
I am growing to love Facebook. I know that there all kinds of opinions about it. One is that it is not real community at all, or doesn’t really have anything to do with relationships. But here is how I see it - people do want to know and be known. The fact that they will put their lives out there, shows me that we are relational animals - and confirms the gospel message. We crave love, we want to give love. We just don’t know how to do it. I love even the possibility of a new friend.
Christ followers should just admit our need, and start leading the way. I often say that Paul shared with us this secret - that love never fails. Love is the only thing I know that never fails. Other things often fail me, and I fail at - but learning to be a good lover is never going to let us down.
Here is sadly what I feel - we are not with friends outside the walls of the church enough because we don’t love them. Short and simple, but a painful epidemic.
I think if Jesus were here - he would be on Facebook. I was even thinking of doing a page for Him myself, but wouldn’t want to get the biography wrong… He would be very interested in inviting new friends, creating groups, poking people, using super powers…
What do you think?
July 11th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
My random thoughts:
Bet he’s already on facebook! Survey…how many people have been introduced to Jesus on facebook? I bet it’s happened. I’m hopelessly low-tech, so I wouldn’t find Him or me there, but I bet more than one person has. (It’s a miracle I found my way to a blog at all.)
Yeah, the love thing. I have a hard time loving the people who aren’t missing the people that I love. It’s all so circular which is why we need Jesus in the middle of it because we are just not competent in the love arena on our own. Our love is so finite.
Lack of love is an epidemic because lack of lack love perpetuates lack of love and so on and so on. Someone has to start loving first - and face rejection - and keep on loving in the face of rejection - for the tide to change! Love is one of the hardest things for me and I think many people. Disdain and revenge come much more easily! Rejection is dangerous in the social order for us relational beings. Next thing that could happen is joblessness, homelessness, isolation, addiction in the attempt of running and hiding from the rejection, isolation and loneliness or addiction in the attempt to fit in to a group that will accept even if it’s not really in our self interest to do things against our own body. Isn’t that the angst of the teenage click. Be part of the group or face the danger of the scapegoat. Ahhh, but love. And, not the kind on the radio. That’s where the tide changes.
I have found in a couple of relationships with people who reject christianity but not the concept that there could be a God, that what they reject is their rejection from us. I’ve heard stories that make me sad. Of people being told they are going to hell because they aren’t christians. What a sad introduction to Christian love. I always say, “I’m sorry. I think they were supposed to tell you that Jesus loves you and wants you to know that.” I could be accused of having weak theology for this apology, I think.
Love requires forgiveness, but forgiveness isn’t first in the Jesus order of things. I believe it goes, first love, then forgiveness, then more love, then more forgiveness. Am I wrong on that one? Do I have my theology backwards. I forgive my children because I love them. I don’t forgive them first and then begin to feel love for them.
I miss hanging out with so many people I used to see often - all you Shafers included. That is how I know that I am not in heaven.
Sorry, if this is disjointed, I am being nagged off the computer by Webkins and three small children.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Thanks Heather for your thoughts, very honest and open. I do hope that we can be together more often. And, by the way, I think you should write as much as you can (I know you have precious little time to write as you raise your kiddos)… because you write beautifully and honestly.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Dear Jeff,
You may keep me from being an old fuddy duddy. You keep me hopping to keep up with your out of the box view. I am low tech. I think facebook keeps us from being face to face.
I think Jesus would be at Pershing Park.
Love, Ruth