How do we bring people to Jesus?
I saw an article that identified Facebook as perhaps the largest untapped mission field. The writer suggested that churches ought to develop systematic ways to reach people through social media.
I’d suggest that most nonbelievers don’t get their impressions of Jesus from church programs and systems. Those folks aren’t following churches, pastors, and missionaries on Twitter. Their impressions of Jesus come from us, from the way we act and interact.
I wonder how different Facebook would look if everyone who follows Jesus asked one simple question before we clicked SEND or POST?
Will this attract someone to Jesus…or at least, will it not drive them away?
I like cat videos as much as the next guy. Okay, I really don’t, but I can scroll past them and the invitations to play games and the ads. I suspect most folks don’t care much about that stuff even if it irritates them a bit.
But when we fill our timelines with links to one-sided political rants, we make it clear to others that there’s no place at the cross for those who think or act differently. Certainly that’s our right, but is it the best way to open dialogue with others? Does it bring people to Jesus?
It’s not “the church’s job” to help people see Jesus. It’s yours and it’s mine, and it mostly doesn’t happen through fancy special programs or by spouting scripture.
People are attracted to Jesus when they see His friends serving others without strings, when they see us treating others respectfully, especially when we disagree.
Want to change the conversation on Facebook? Change your own timeline. Make sure it reflects love and grace. And imagine how different social media would look if the millions of people who know Jesus did the same and encouraged each other to avoid name-calling, labeling, and divisive rhetoric.
Church can’t do that. We can.
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