Jesus Created Social Networking

 
We are grateful for the technology of social networking companies that allows access to one another. This connection spans the globe and instantaneously puts us in touch without any cost to us. Posting pictures, telling a story, griping about an unfortunate incident, or just wanting to make a statement, we are glad for social media that gives us this outlet.

This is nothing new. It just a new means of expressing a time-old tradition of communicating with one another.When Jesus gave us the "Great Commission" to "go unto the world" to make disciples, he was initiating what we would call, today, "social networking." I guess you could say that Jesus invented it...sorry Facebook!

I think the Great Commission is much like "Facebook" where we share our lives and our faith by everyday, ordinary means of communication and socializing with one another in verbal and visual ways. Helping a neighbor in their garden, giving a ride to a friend, saying a kind word to the cashier at Walmart, and giving directions to a total stranger who is lost and wants to know how to get back on the Interstate.

I also firmly believe that the "social networking" of our faith is sharing our lives with others. We are to be given to "hospitality" and being a loving neighbor. We follow the example of Jesus (such as with Zacheus) to also met the felt needs of others through fellowship.

Whether that is a dinner in your home or inviting them to church events outside of Sunday Worship such as the Men's Prayer Breakfast or the Ladies Food Mission or even inviting them along to see your child's play at the close of Vacation Bible School, there is a way to share your faith beyond just getting them into the Sanctuary on a Sunday Morning or walking them through "The Romans Road."

You don't have to "win" someone to Christ on the first encounter. Through the everyday, ordinary way of "social networking" of living in fellowship with our neighbor can be one of the greatest ways to instroduce them to Jesus and to introduce to them His wonderful plan of Salvation. Amen!

Matthias....Who?

Matthias the Apostle! No, I didn't spell that wrong nor did I actually mean "Matthew." Were you aware of the Apostle Matthias? This small notation in the book of Acts occurs right off the bat in Chapter One.

It is a troubling decision to make as Barsabbas (Justus) is also a prime candidate to be the newest Apostle. Here are two men with the credentials necessary to "take over this apostolic ministry which Judas left to go where he belongs." (1:25) As you know, Judas, is the one who betrayed Jesus for 30-pieces of silver and later committed suicide. The void he created must be filled.

The remaining Apostles cast lots and the election goes to Matthias. Here is where it gets strange. Matthias disappears from the very moment of his appointment. In other words, Matthias leaves the scene just as quickly as he entered. This is the one and only time in all of Scripture that we hear about Matthias.

Think about that....he just became an Apostle, so you would think he would at least have written something worthy of being in the Scriptures. But, no. There isn't any information on him at all. We know nothing about where he came from or what he ended up doing. Yet, he was a chosen Apostle and a hero of the faith.

That's when it hit me....I'm a lot like Matthias! Are you? That unsung contributor, who, "behind the scenes," is busy doing a "little here" and a "little there." The unsung messengers that works outside of the spotlight that cleans up, does research, makes copies, sets up the dessert table, prints and folds the bulletins for Sunday worship, and all those "other" things that never seem to draw a crowd or the applause of an audience. You know...we're the ones who never get an award or a medal...never chosen as "employee of the month"....the ones who can't even seem to earn a certificate of appreciation!!

The Bible is filled with names of those who marched on with their job, their life, and their ministry without so much as a mention or cheer for all they did in their lifetime. People such as Epaphroditus, Phoebe, Andronicaus, Junia, Ampliatus, and Persis. Can we add our name to the list?

No, we may not all become a Bishop or a Superintendent....nor may we aspire to becoming a famous writer, military general, or university president, but we can be, as Matthias, a "witness to his [Jesus]resurrection." [1:22] 

In other words, we can soar to new heights of sharing in the same calling as all the other Apostles to make Jesus Christ known to the world, our family, our neighbors and our community. Be a Matthias! Even if very little is known about you....even if you don't receive any recognition for what you do....be an Apostle...go out and spread the Good News of the Gospel!

"Untrammeled"

I inherited the "Liturgical" service when I arrived at my deployment location in Afghanistan. For those familiar with Military worship, the Liturgical service would be worship that is marked by formality, Scripture readings, repentance with the main focus on "coming to the Table" to meet Christ for Holy Communion.

One of the things that has stumped me comes from my denomination the Free Methodist Church. In our "Distinctive Principles," in regards to worship, is an interesting statement that says that our form of worship is "characterized by simplicity and freedom of the Spirit, untrammeled by elaborate ritual."

Just what does that mean? I can't "do" formal, liturgical services? No! The word "liturgy" simply means "worship." So, to ask "can I lead a liturgical service" is about as silly as asking "can I lead a worship service?"  Yes, I can do that in simplicity and in formality.

I like what my Superintendent, Dr. Mark Adams, of the North Central Conference told me. He said, "B.T. Roberts (founder of the FM Church) feared a formalism that would sap the enthusiastic energy of a heart on fire, but insisted that at MINIMUM, Free Methodists practice a form of Eucharist that would respect the historic ties to Methodists-Anglicanism-Catholic- 4th Century practices of worship."

There was a time where I feared that I had to "give up" all formality, all rituals, or any sense of "holiness" in worship to be a Free Methodist. I was bothered that I may have to succumb to "basic worship" patterns that did not include following the Church calendar, Lectionary, having Holy Communion every Sunday or being able to use stoles or vestments with the colors of purple, green, white or red.

But, in the end, all I ended up doing was the very thing I was trying to avoid which was restricting and hampering the very form of worship I was seeking. I can be a "formal Free Methodist" and still follow the Church calendar and colors, read the various Lectionary readings, and have Communion every Sunday with simplicity that follows a format that gives each worshipper a meaningful experience of meeting Christ the Lord each Sunday in worship.

I don't have to follow a "set in stone" long, drawn-out "ritual" that suffocates and frustrates church members. I don't have to go through a lot of exhausting phrases and statements that I don't fully understand just because "that's what's written" for "Holy Communion" in the Common Book of Prayer. If I "modify" or "simplify" the ritual for worship or for Holy Communion doesn't mean I didn't "do it right" or that it won't be "pleasing to God" or qualify as a "real worship" or "real Communion" service.

It's not "all the words" that make the service "the service." It is sinners, such as I, accepting the invitation of Jesus Christ to come and worship...to seek forgiveness for my sins....to come to His table that made my forgiveness and salvation possible. I come as I am...and worship as I am capable. I am glad that God desires for me to do that "untrammeled by elaborate ritual."

God is WHAT?

One of the joys of reading the Scriptures multiple times is "finding" something different each experience. It is most noted when, despite numerous readings, something "jumps out" that I never "caught" before. Almost like an epiphany, I think to myself "why haven't I seen this before?"

Well, another one of those moments occurred as I was reading Luke 6:27-36. It is the discourse on "how" to treat our enemies. Yes, we know that if someone is an enemy, we love them. If they happen to curse us, we bless them instead. Even if they out-right hate us, we do good to them in return. The hard part (for me at least) is that when they obviously go "out of their way" to hurt me, I am supposed to pray for them. Why, because Jesus instructs us to love them...unconditionally as he loves me. So, we "get the picture" on our enemy. Or...so I thought. This is the "ta-dah" moment.

Tucked away in the final sentence of verse 35, there is the "how come" and "what for" answer as to "why" we treat our enemy in this degree of love and concern. "For He is kind to the unthankful and evil." GOD IS WHAT?? Yes, God is KIND even to the unthankful and to those who are evil!

God loves all of us regardless...even if not all of us love Him in return. It is God's desire that we always respond in the way that He would...in love. I think we need to reverse our current trend of "making things worse" by retaliating or seeing that an offender "gets what they deserve" in a punitive sense.

God is kind to the ungrateful, the unthankful, the evil, selfish, self-centered, egotistical maniac....you know, like me...and you, possibly? That's why I get a lump in my throat when I begin to sing about God's "Amazing Grace" that "saved a wretch like me."

Everyone is equal and on level ground when on their knees at the foot of the cross. His love knows no bounds or limitations...no labels, no classifications...just love...period. He died for me, for my enemies, and for those who are "unthankful and evil."

How can I model God's example towards my enemies...those I can't stand...people that are hard to get along with...those who are annoying, mean, vile, crude, and down-right hateful? You know...all those people God loves! :)