Here I am, Lord send me. But first.... let me take a selfie.
Frankly, I don't even need to be sent. I have access to the whole world sitting in my pocket right now! Needing a word of encouragement? I can just browse through the Twitter feeds of my favorite mega-pastors! Haven't told anyone about Jesus recently? Simple, I have 140 characters to tell them how much I love him! Can't remember that great verse where Jesus said something pretty important? I've got my YouVersion handy! I can even give it to you in 22 different translations! My Instagram feed is equally inspiring, from #nofilter pictures of nature, to me artistically reading the Bible with an artistically foamed latte. Don't worry, I only take selfies if they have a deep quote attached to them.
I laughed too, until...
I realized I was kind of convicted. Which did I refresh more often, my Twitter feed, or my soul? Did I put more thought into how beautiful God's creation was, or what Instagram filter would make others think it was beautiful enough to like? In the last months, I haven't written anything on this blog. I didn't really have anything to say. But that changed as I thought about technology, social media, and Christianity today. Obviously Jesus didn't walk around Jerusalem surfing the social scene on his iScroll. I doubt the oblivious disciples hashtagged #SonOfGod when they told people about what Jesus had taught them. And I don't think that Jesus was prophesying about Twitter when he said "Come follow me." However, the question remains, what do we do with all of this amazing technology we have access too? There is a simple answer:
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
Do it all for the Glory of God."
~ 1 Corinthians 10:31
But what does that even mean? How do we do social media for the Glory of God? How do we use technology for the Glory of God? #wut
We're all alone together.
Riding public transit is an interesting thing. Depending on the time of day, I frequently find myself packed into a bus, uncomfortably close to complete strangers. But I think the most uncomfortable part is the absolute silence. Woe to the traveler who dares raise his voice above a low whisper. Fortunately it is easy to stay quiet when there is absolutely no one to talk to. I do manage to make this time quite productive though. I browse the bus, shopping for headphones in the sea of people drowning out the "noisy" environment, or check up on my neighbor's Instagram feed. Unfortunately when I get off of the bus it isn't much better. Just take a look around. Most people are lost in whatever song is currently playing through their headphones, and that couple over there are on a date, along with all of their friends and followers. To be fair, I have to admit I am a culprit too. After all it is a lot less awkward to throw on the headphones, avoid all strangers, in a world of my own. The thing is though, I see now that this is killing our generation. From the girl that gets 100 likes on every Instagram picture, but looks in the mirror and sees no beauty, to the kid with a 1000 followers, but no one to talk to about how he doesn't want to live anymore, somehow, we have gotten it wrong.
It seems that today we are more connected than ever before, but also much more lonely.
Counting By Ones
Today, society is all about numbers. Really it is no wonder it is so easy to feel like a nobody. We determine value based on likes, views, profits, and followers. Let's just be honest, you are not going to break Ellen's selfie retweet record. But more seriously, in our world full of totally connected, totally lonely people, maybe we should start thinking and counting more like Jesus -- One by One. Over and over he ignores the masses and focuses on the individual. In Luke 8:40-48, Jesus stops for the one woman in the crowd who was unclean and lonely, and he calls her daughter. In John 6:9-13, Jesus finds one boy in the crowd, and uses him to feed five thousand. In Luke 22:54-62, even as he is dragged away to be beaten and crucified, he picks out Peter in the crowd, and looks straight at him as he denies him. The list goes on and on, and the point is clear. I often feel like just one in a crowd, and I think a lot of us do. Isn't it awesome to realize that Jesus counts us one by one. He knows you and he loves you. And that is one thing you can say in 140 characters that just might change the world.
Go Unplugged or Get Plugged in?
What I am definitely not trying to say is to return to the stone age. You don't need to burn your phone. You don't need to drive a horse and buggy, and you don't have to delete every social media account you possess #Overkill.
I do have a challenge for you though. If you have gotten to this point without checking Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, you are on the right track.
In the next week, I challenge you to do three things to start changing your approach to technology.
1. Wherever you are, Be all there.
If you're meeting someone for lunch, turn your phone off. Make the people you are around a priority. Let them know you care more about what is going on in their world, than who literally can't even right now.
2. Say it to their face.
Lets just be real, it is a lot harder to tell someone you appreciate them, that they are really good at something, or that they looked beautiful, in person, but it is also way more meaningful. Try to do this once a day.
3. Snail Mail
This one is gonna be the hardest. Think of someone you appreciate a lot, or someone that you notice is going through something hard and write them a letter this week. Let them know you care, that Jesus cares, and that you are praying for them.
I'll take the challenge with you. Comment below if you are willing to try to help the lonely feel loved. Let me know how it goes! If you want, share this blog post on Twitter with the hashtag #ImPluggingIn
Prayer:
Daddy,
It is so easy to feel lonely and worthless.
This world wants us to believe no one cares.
Remind us that you care and that you know each of us by name.
Help us to use what we have been given to share that love with the lonely.
Make us a generation who love recklessly and inconveniently.
Just like you did.
In your son's name.
Amen
