Month: October 2017

Social Media Survival Guide

/ Jim Hewitt / Leave a comment
I’ve been on social media for a while and I have figured out a few rules. These rules are not hard and fast, but are an excellent way to make sure that you are doing the Dale Carnegie thing and winning friends and influence people. These rules are especially true if you are trying to be like Jesus.
1 – There is no room for differing opinions, if you do not agree with everyone else 100%, you are an idiot and should be called all the vile names. You are barely above a cave dweller. Especially if your opinion is contrary to the ever-changing landscape of socially acceptable norms.
2 – You will NEVER change your mind through well-reasoned discussion and thought, your prior convictions (especially if not based in fact), can never be changed.
3 – You must never believe the motives of a person are pure, they are always secretly out to destroy you, so you must respond back with as much venom and vitriol as possible.
4 – You are defending the rights of whomever you are supporting to the death. Key Board Warriors are required. If you cannot be one, you are not ready for social media.
5 – Important issues must be pushed aside to discuss and debate the immaterial, like if someone thinks its OK to stand or sit.
6 – Sharing about how  you are praying for something is just like actually helping.
7 – God really cares if you share stuff about him on Facebook and do not live it out in real life. The meme that says you have to share if you aren’t ashamed of Him IS REAL LIFE PEOPLE.
8 – This is life or death people. Engage and defend. This will really make a difference in people’s lives!

Are We the Children of God?

/ Jim Hewitt / Leave a comment

If you go to church for any length of time, you will inevitably hear a sermon series on the “Beatitudes.” The first time I heard this word I was a bit freaked out, because that is not a word. However, I quickly learned that church people make up words all the time, and this was no more egregious then many of my personal inventions. The Beatitudes are the first few verses found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was teaching people about the Kingdom and trying to make tangible something that was completely foreign to humanity.

Favorite preacher passages are ones like “Blessed are the meek…Blessed are the poor in spirit…Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” because their applications are direct. The meek gain strength in the Lord, the poor in spirit get the Kingdom, and those who hunger and seek for righteousness are satisfied by their pursuit. One of the more difficult “Beatitudes” to preach is this one “Blessed are the peacemakers…” Why is that so hard? It seems like Christians should want to be peacemakers. Jesus brought peace to humanity by becoming human, and dying a criminal’s death. That’s what Christian believe. However, it seems that in this day and age peacemaking is not only tough to preach, but it’s extremely tough to live. In this modern day of hot takes, indignation, outrage at all disagreement, and the need to paint everyone we interact with on social media as either Satan or the Second Coming, we have lost the desire to make peace. The gentle answer that turns away wrath. The ability to lovingly disagree or better yet, NOT engage (It’s an unwritten maxim of social media that the best fights are the ones not entered into). The ability to look at someone we love, who is representing beliefs we absolutely abhor, and recognizing we still love them and want to build peace not relational destruction. Is there ever a time when peacemakers were more needed? In this divisive and binary climate, don’t we believe that Jesus would want that from His people?

Maybe it’s just the circles I run in online, but I find that “His “people” are some of the most nasty, intolerant, and totalitarian people out there. My friends, how can that be? How can we not lovingly make peace in a world where making peace would be an act of radical obedience? The promise Jesus gave for the peacemakers was this: that they would be called Children of God. Was Jesus saying that His real people would be those who fostered peace, not conflict? Jesus did advocate conflict, but only for the sake of the Gospel. Too often we stoke the fires of rage in others for politics, or feelings, or social awareness; and we miss the point of engaging with the Gospel (which is love and peace, and the only answer to the human condition).

I know it’s difficult, especially when confronted with those who are so virulently against all things godly. However, for Jesus’ sake, don’t hit send on your “pièce de résistance” of a post that will cripple your opponent; give them the love of the Gospel instead. If we are really His children, shouldn’t that be our normal response?