We live in a day and age when connecting with family and friends has never been easier. Social media is a term we hear constantly. We call, we text, we tweet and we Facebook. For many if not most, we carry a device in our pockets whereby we can connect with the universe of information and people.
How many of us have lost the connection to God because of our connection to everything and everyone else? Or is Social Media being rebooted by the new social interaction as this article Social media rebooting religion suggests. In the article the author asks “Are Facebook and Twitter changing religion? It seems clearer and clearer that the ever-growing dominance of social media – especially on mobile computing devices like smart phones and tablets – is bringing religion back into the daily lives of many, while challenging religious institutions to revise notions of spiritual identity and community in both online and face-to-face worship.”
Perhaps there are those for whom the hyper-social interactions are increasing their connection to religion. But are those interactions producing a closer relationship with God?
The religious noise I hear via Facebook and Twitter are the extremists shouting from the roof tops. They are those who give the impression they wish to create great divides in the body of Christ. They rant and rail against anyone who would dare to question their conclusions. I have little or no doubt they would be the first to condemn those who appear different and had the audacity to attend ‘their church’. The part ‘they’ missed is that it isn’t ‘their church’ it is Christ’s Church.
Luke 19:10 tells us that Jesus came to came to seek and to save that which was lost. I am here to tell you that we have seen that which was lost and it is us! We are the lost ones. The question my friend is who is we? Am I more lost today than I was 30 years ago? Yes. Am I more lost because of my sexual orientation? Yes, but not in the way you might believe.
I am not more lost because God loves me less. I am not more lost because I am living as God created me. I am more lost because those who would lay claim to Christ’s Church have created a hostile environment whenever I attempt to come into the fold.
In June of 1987 Ronald Reagan challenged the world to ‘Tear Down this Wall’ as he encouraged the world to eliminate the divide between East and West Germany. It was a powerful and motivating speech; one that came with results, a mere twenty-nine months later, in November of 1989 when ‘the wall’ was indeed removed. I have no illusion that I am nearly as powerful as Mr. Reagan. My suspicion is that I am more of a lone voice crying in the wilderness. However, my message is the same. Tear down this wall! Fling open the doors. Create an open and welcoming environment. It is what Jesus would do!
