Jesus has His own Twitter account. Well, actually, hundreds of them. Search for “Jesus Christ” on the social networking site, and you’ll find a plethora of twitterers all tweeting in His name—some well-meaning and many blasphemous. The most popular “Jesus” on Twitter has over 34,000 followers!
Hmmm. Would the real Jesus use Twitter? I wonder.
“Follow me,” Jesus said to those first disciples (Mark 1:17). Unlike the rabbis of His day, Jesus wasn’t looking simply for students—people who would sit at His feet and ponder the law. And although it was His core message to others (Mark 1:14-15), Jesus didn’t even call Simon, Andrew, James, and John to “repent.” He called them to follow. This was a greater call than mere belief.
“I will show you how to fish for people!” Jesus added (Mark 1:17). He had a vision for them, a calling that would change their identity—no longer “fishermen” but “fishers-of-men.” This was a call to change.
“And they left their nets at once and followed Him” (Mark 1:18). Jesus’ call claimed priority even over the disciples’ livelihood. This call would reorder their economic lives.
While crowds flocked to Jesus to receive healing (Mark 3:7-10), such people were not His disciples. Demons fell prostrate at His feet, but they certainly weren’t His followers (v.11). To follow Jesus meant giving up everything to do the will of God (Mark 3:35; Luke 14:33).
Would the real Jesus use Twitter? I don’t know. I do know that following the real Jesus means surrendering our dreams, jobs, identities, and finances to Him and choosing His plans for us (Matthew 22:37-39).
That’s not something you can do by simply pushing a button.
More:
“Follow Me and be My disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed Him (Mark 2:13-14).
Next:
What have you understood “following Jesus” to mean in the past? Have you ever slipped into “push button” following—believing in Jesus, but not necessarily surrendering your life to Him?
jstabel on January 24, 2011 at 5:16 am
Just pondering over the last few lines and how very often we ‘cry’ out in prayers so that our personal dreams and desires can be fulfilled without considering God’s dreams and desires for us.Follow Jesus…on twitter!!!
lindagma on January 24, 2011 at 7:44 am
We live in a world where electronics cannot be ignored. At 68 a grandmother of 6 and a great-grandmother of 7 I operate…with limited ability…in email, twitter & facebook…a marvelous way to stay connected with my loved ones. I recently went to a Christian business luncheon where we all give a little blurb of what we do and how we serve. One gentleman and his church have started a twitter network to reach the younger generation. Let’s face it…it is their world and how they relate to their world. If they reach a few…it can multiply to the “followers” in the thousands.
The key is to take the media we have and use it for the good…and not let it use us. God gave the knowledge to invent all of these electronics…why not use it to further His kingdom. You can bet satan will be using it to further his agenda…we can ignore the media and walk the streets in our sandles or we can use what God has given us in our day and age.
sheridan voysey on January 24, 2011 at 5:20 pm
As a wholehearted Facebook and Twitter user, lindagma, I wholeheartedly agree! I wonder how Jesus would use the medium to call us beyond simple click-button ‘followership’ to costly service.
Ruth on January 24, 2011 at 9:06 am
You know, just when I think I’ve finally gotten my spiritual life “together” I read a devotional like this one and I start to see my sin again. It’s easier to say to Jesus, “I give you my day, my money, my time-use it for your kingdom,” but it’s quite another to say that I would be willing to have my husband give up his secure job to follow Christ in another fashion. That’s scary! I need to start praying more about what God would have me give up instead of me choosing what to give up for His kingdom. Give Him free reign over everything in my life and I can’t possibly “lose anything.”
sheridan voysey on January 24, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Oh Ruth, you and me both.
tom felten on January 24, 2011 at 11:26 am
A reader just submitted this comment:
“Would Jesus use Twitter? I think so. What is this fear that we have that causes us to run and hide from innovations. I have it myself, but slowly I am learning that if we do not become versed in the things that the world uses to communicate, we will AGAIN surrender something that could have been constructive and used for the benefit of the church to the devil. This argument reminds me of when I was growing up and how we were told not to listen to rock and roll because it was the devil’s music. Rather than taking control of it and applying god’s lyrics to trendy music back then, we just let the world have music. We only recently started to make music that appeals to young people, and still in comparison to what is out there we are so behind. As a result, we struggle to find a radio station that is appropriate, let alone glorifies God. I say Twitter his message so the word gets out. If we don’t send out his message in a form that will be received our message will continue to be overshadowed by all of those that simply do not honor God. —Esther”
sheridan voysey on January 24, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Hi Esther,
I’m right with you! As a long-time broadcaster and (more recently) a user of social media I believe all media innovations can be used.
The point of the devotional wasn’t so much about Jesus not wanting us to use Twitter (far from it!), but the level of commitment he calls for. It’s easy to hit ‘Follow’ on someone’s Twitter account. It’s not easy respond to Jesus’ summons to ‘follow me’.
Sheridan