Social media and the pastor’s conondrum

Posted on by justinlewis78

I am not the most social-media-savvy pastor.  I don’t tweet pithy alliterations or wise mantras for the masses.  It’s not me and it probably never will be.  But I do try to stay aware and use the tools of social media to articulate hospitality and hope.  And yes…I occasionally post ridiculously cute pictures of my kids.  My struggle with these platforms is what to say or do when something political strikes a chord with us.  I fight temptations to say something so much that I want to scream but am silenced thankfully by a Spirit of peace and wisdom.

Dear reader, I can’t even give you an example of such an instance because I know that it could incite an unneeded debate…and let’s be honest, are those online debates even worth it?!   Some pastors and ministry leaders step into the mire and deliver heartfelt responses.  I get it.  I really do.  Perhaps it appeases a great number of their congregation, but it undoubtedly alienates some.  Imagine those readers hearing the words of their shepherd chime in on gun laws, civil rights, immigration reform, or alas, POTUS tweets and being hurt, misunderstood, confused or lobbied to a political perspective.  I have imagined it.  I have read them.  And I am heartbroken for either side who cannot stomach what they read from someone they trust to speak God’s Word.

In my battle, I continue to err on silence – usually after commiserating with my wife – but ultimately believing that if I don’t have God’s Word to speak on the issue, I am to be silent on the matter.  This idea was first communicated to me from Henry Blackaby who spoke at a conference on The Power of the Call.  When speaking of the call of Moses, he pointed to Moses’ inability to communicate clearly (really, just one of his many excuses) but to the soon-to-be-prophet heard this:

“Who gave human beings their mouths?  Who makes them deaf or mute?  Who gives them sight makes them blind?  Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”   (Exodus 4:11-12)

Blackaby’s point was that we are to speak what God gives us to speak.  He went so far to say we should only speak what God gives us to speak.  Woah.  What a radical call!  Imagine ONLY saying what God wants you to say!  The idea it intimidating and the weight of responsibility is immeasurable.  But at the same time, imagine the sense of freedom.  There is no worry of saying the wrong thing… because you’re just saying what God says.  It’s terrifying and beautiful.  And this world needs more mouthpieces of God, not more pithy tweets.   (And yes, I realize the hypocrisy of this post on a social media platform.)

In Moses’ story, he finally relents as God promises to speak through him and his brother, Aaron, and he sets off to deliver the message of freedom to Pharoah and the Israelites in bondage.  That should be my task: deliver God’s voice of freedom.  Perhaps that should be every pastor’s social media gut-check.

If I fail at this, dear friends, remind me to return to the call.  And if this encourages those outside of the vocation of ministry, then welcome to the mission of speaking life into the darkness.

Until It Becomes Your Own

Posted on by justinlewis78

Watching an infant baptism can be quite mesmerizing.  At a glance, it might seem to be another “church ritual”.  And depending on the tradition you grew up in, it might raise some theological questions.  Just recently we participated in such a celebration as one family (someone who grew up at Westminster and said her ‘yes’ to Jesus here) presented her child for this covenant-making ceremony.

This experience can be deeply impactful for our community.  There will be those who join this family in adult Bible study and volunteers and nursery workers who sing lullabies and whisper-sing “Jesus Loves Me”.  Some of you even will tell the Story of Jesus through Scripture-infused song and projects at VBS, coach and mentor with basketball teammates, guide and challenge at youth retreats, build trusted relationships through Community Groups. Through it all, they will see Jesus.

There is a line from a baptismal rite from the French Reformed Church that gets me every time.  After reciting the great deeds of heaven and mission of God to rescue mankind, the pastor says,

“…All of this was done for you, though you do not know any of this yet.  But we will continue to tell you this good news until it becomes your own.  And so the promise of the gospel is fulfilled: “We love because God first loved us.”

In these words, I am mindful that we enter a community experience like no other!  We are storytellers and keepers of the hope found only in Jesus Christ.  Every little child (and their family) who enters into this covenant shall be blessed by our watchful and tender care.  Every young person will be encouraged and challenged to nurture this lifelong relationship with a Savior.  Every adult – no matter how old or young – will bear the Name of Jesus and shine brightly in our community… all so that the next generation will discover life in Jesus Christ.

In doing so we are not participating in a “ritual”.  Instead, we are enjoying God and making Him known.

A vision for the Church

Posted on by justinlewis78

When I was 13, a friend and I rode our bikes from our neighborhood to the nearby store for some snacks.  We were rounding the corner back after crossing a bridge and I had just finished downing my 20oz. Mountain Dew.  Having no where to put the bottle and seeing no need to hold an empty container, I tossed it into the woods.  Seconds later, a park ranger and his truck cut me off and pulled me over.  After giving me a short lecture on littering, he had me hunt down the green plastic symbol of my foolishness.

For years, that’s how I saw God.  Watching always.  Jumping into the scene to mess with us.  Then disappearing for days and years upon end.  That view of God was nightmarish.  It’s oddly petty and diminutive.  It’s a picture of God who occupies occasional moments and not a forever-captivating, unstoppable, engaged, personal force.

The God we meet in Scripture…and the God I have known since I was 15, is not satisfied with a pie-charted slice of my heart.  No, he wants more than a corner.  He wants followers who chase down his restorative peace (shalom), who stand up for those who are too weak to stand themselves, to sit at his feet and be his, and through every part of life proclaim his unique and powerful Name to the world.

This is the dream he has for us.  This is what the Church could be.