In the community of believers, fellowshipping and sharing Jesus together and with others is where our growth is seen to be extended best. Yet, it has become the practice of modern believers to hide from this wonderful opportunity, and instead, share with the world-wide-web. Facebook has become the sounding board, accountability partner, instructor, educator, socio-connected friend that everyone is turning to. The local church, in action, together every day of the week, is the answer to all of these things and so much more! It is not merely a Sunday meeting, or a once a week house-group. It is defined so easily in Acts 2.42, 47, and in 5.42. They were together and demonstrated venting, accountability, correction, ease of communication, training, love, connection, direction, and clarity of purpose. What has happened? Well, we have allowed our present culture to rob us of our true church culture. It is not just about Sunday or making a show of things. This is the anti-anti-thesis of Jesus. He established his assembly to… assemble! I am neither protestant, or catholic. I am not a member of any buddy system. I am not a liberal, convention-guy, or a fundamentalist. I do not espouse to labels nor religion. This has become a stumbling block for the 21st century believer who would be a disciple of Jesus. It is distracting at the least, but worse, it has become deadly to the cause of Christ. All of these things have robbed us from our true church culture, as Jesus designed.
Social media has played a big part in this robbing as well. It has truly become more of a foe to the 1st century church model than a friend. To be clear, I am not a facebook hater. In fact, personally, I see it as I do my truck… a tool. My truck can be used to haul my neighbors landscape timbers home from the hardware store, or it can be used to run a crowd down. It is in the power of the driver to make that decision. So, it seems that the issue with facebook is the hand on the proverbial steering wheel. If the believer would be a disciple of Christ, they would use it as an opportunity to encourage others toward Christ and seek lost souls. Instead some use it as some sort of therapy. News flash— It is not therapy to complain about your personal struggles! In fact, it is NOT encouraging at all. The primary question here is: Is our communication on social media to serve us or others? As Jesus said in Matthew 12.36— “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Is that not applicable today to social media?
Is not my entire life bought out? Including my social media accounts? Are they not also an extension of me, just as my truck is? Am I not His servant? Servant in greek is the term doulos which only means a literal slave! Am I not to be surrendered in all ways at all times? Why would my social media outlets not also be considered an extension of myself and therefore an avenue for Him to use. Do I pray before utilizing their abilities? Do I seek His face and sense the conviction before hitting “post”.
We are free-will agents and therefore the choice is ours. We can run that truck into the crowd, but it is only done by the believer who choses to crawl all over the Holy Spirit to do so. How can we continue to throw a blanket (quench) on the Spirit without completely defiling our own consciences in the process? The choice is yours. Do you want to be His disciple in everything?