What Would Jesus Tweet?

You see, at just the right time,........ Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

 

 

 

 

Advent Blog; Day 18

"Verily, verily I tweet unto you" .....Do you mind if I interject here Jesus? You've only got 140 characters and you've already used up 31 without essentially saying anything!

 

Is an imaginary scenario between Jesus and a disciple, had he had his time on earth in this modern age. I have heard talks in the past that speak of how the apostle Paul would have used any means going to communicate the gospel. I guess this comes from Paul's own assertions that he would become all things to all men to reach them for Christ, or his "indifference" to those who preached out of false motives, just so long as Christ is preached. I think its fair to say that Paul was all about getting the message to as many as possible. I personally agree. I think Paul was a communicator and would have jumped at the opportunity to capitalise on the mass potential of the Internet and of social media. Paul has some great teachings and some profound statements but he doesn't strike me as naturally tweetable. With Paul you should follow his arguments right through.

 

 Jesus is eminently more tweetable. He has entire teachings you can reduce to soundbites and slogans.  For example, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged," I have had many non church goers quote that one to me.

Or how about "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Or maybe "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? "

 

You see Jesus lends himself to simple and profound images. He is very concise and visual. He wants his teachings to stay with you. How about Jesus version of the ten commandments

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.
 

That one almost tweets (I tried it) but its certainly memorable. Jesus was all about creative and innovative ways to communicate. The lords prayer and the beatitudes spring to mind as well, not to mention the parables.

But would Jesus have joined twitter in the first place? Interesting question. While he was all about communication he was far more about demonstration. Jesus greatest "sermon illustrations" were the  healings he worked, were the people he embraced and the authorities he challenged. I take you back to my blog of two days ago where James, the brother of Jesus, paints a picture of a man saying "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed" but doing nothing about the needs. Jesus, make no mistake, is a man not of words only but a man of action and of Gods power.

Jesus did not seem to reject totally the adoration of the crowds but I think it was because of the purpose it served (and because he loved people). However he was far from a celebrity. He was a wild card and a dangerous dinner guest. He slept rough and spurned the promotion offered by others. Feathering his own nest seemed to be abhorrent to him. He did not seek the praise of others. I have a feeling twitter may not have been his thing. Maybe his disciples would have tweeted directly from his teaching sessions. Who can say.

Jesus, however, came at just the right time. The Roman empire, which served as an oppressor of Gods people, was poised to serve Gods purposes very well indeed. The Greek language was a first century equivalent of English, a trade language spoken through most of the empire. The trade routes throughout the empire crossed at Israel to go to Africa, Europe and Asia. Why did Christianity fare so well? Because there was a common language with which to communicate the gospel, because there was transportation into the farthest reaches of the largest empire and because it was all part of Rome it was all accessible, without borders. Jesus came at just the right time.

Like the early Christians we need to utilise this age of communication. Today we can cross the globe in less than 24 hours, we can reach virtually anyone anywhere from wherever we are. Technology may, in ways, be a bane but it can be used for good. Jesus charge to his followers was to go into all the world and make disciples. Its wide open. What excuse do we have?

And yet the far deeper challenge is to be a people of substance. People of action as well as words. To be people offering Gods love with our words, our resources and our  availability. If not, then what are we discipling them to? Gods timing in history is perfect and he put you where you are "for such a time as this". What would Jesus do?