Facebook Christianity

     Facebook Christianity... you probably know what this is, but if you don't, I will define it for you. Its when someone appears to be passionate about their faith through quotes and statuses and blogs that they post on various social networking sites. The irony in this is that many cases the words being typed onto a screen do not reflect the lifestyle that the person typing them is living.
My point is this: it is far easier to tweet about a bible verse or a evangelistic message than it is to live it. Now as I say this I want you to keep in mind that technology is a powerful tool. With the advent of social networks thousands of people can connect at the speed of light, and thoughts and ideas can be exchanged in an instant.
     Imagine if such ability to connect with people across the globe and share ideas had been possible in during the European Enlightenment Era, or the Protestant Reformation, or the Awakening... The world as we know it would be drastically different because great thinkers and theologians would have the power to conference and build on each others ideas, even share entire works of literature instantaneously. However, no matter how great or powerful and idea may be, it comes to nothing if it is not put into practice. Can you see where this is going?
     On the other hand, an idea put into practice can be revolutionary. Take for example, the recent revolution in Egypt. It started with an idea, a dream of a better home, a place for freedom and democracy, where all would have rights. The idea hit the web, appearing on Facebook and Twitter. In a short period of time the idea was viral among people the age of myself, the majority of my readers, and perhaps people a few years older. These young men and women began organizing protests via internet, posting political blogs, sharing ideas... starting a revolution.
     If they had just stopped there then it probably would have died out over time, just another idea in a long string of incredible but impractical ideas. But they didn't stop there, they put their ideas into action. That is what truly started a revolution. And their passion and perseverance made the revolution a success, they are now taking the first steps onto a long road of reforms.
It started with and idea, spread through instantaneous communication via social network, culminated in action, and ended in success. Do all revolutions that follow this path succeed? No. But I know of one that is guaranteed to.
     Because God has given us His Word, we know that the gospel will ultimately prevail.  That the work of sanctification that is being done in us will lead to our final justification when Christ returns, so long as we continuously put our faith in him. As long as we recognize our dependence on the Gospel, as long as we feed on it daily, and realize that we cannot save our selves, and live for the glory of God with joy (see Romans 1:15-18).... of course, that is another blog post entirely.
     What I mean in saying that is this: we have a task set before us, a commission to share the gospel with the lost and broken to the glory of God. It is a task that we do not have to be ashamed of because the gospel will ultimately prevail (Rom 1:16). Why then not start a revolution? Why not stand up and say that the direction society is going in is leading to self destruction, why not recognize that these trials and tribulations we face are the wrath of righteous and just God against unrighteousness, why not share the good news that their is hope and salvation in Christ Jesus, and that by the power of grace death becomes a gateway to paradise, futility and suffering become pathways to holiness, punishment is transformed into purification, and the power of sin is replaced with a growing love of righteousness. This is a revolution that cannot fail!
     A friend of mine wrote this on my last blog post, he said "Whenever I read what you say, I can only think of one much older and much more experienced. I don't know why. You just SOUND like a... religious leader, for lack of a better term."
     The fact that he put emphasis on sound works out nicely, because I want to point that out. Now, I don't believe that this is necessarily what he meant by this, but I'm making a point. I can write like a religious leader all I want, but am I living the life of a leader? Does my life reflect my blog? There is a radical love that we are claiming to know on our Facebook accounts, that we tweet clever sayings about, and yes, even write long redundant blogs posts about. The question is do we really know that radical love? Because a radical love cannot leave us unchanged. Are we truly allowing the love of Christ pervade our lives, every aspect of them? Are we truly living our lives to the glory of God to the extent that 1 Corinthians 10:13 commands us to? The very reason we were created?
     My challenge for you and I is this: Lets start our own revolution. The ideas are out there, God gave us a fantastic book as the final word, and there are thousands of theological resources on the web, get to really know God, really trust Him, and begin to develop a deeper relationship with Him. But lets not wait until we think we have all the answers. We will never have all the answers in this life, and we probably won't in the next either. Earnestly seek out truth, but the, the time is now to live radically for Christ. Not tomorrow or the next day. As a pastor friend of mine likes to say "Someday is the busiest day in human history." We will always be works in progress, but by the grace of God we have an opportunity even in the midst of our own brokenness to share the love of Christ with a lost and broken world.