Vaccinated Against the Gospel

This week when I was at the Doctor's office I was asked if I wanted to get my flu shot.  Of course, I am too chicken to get a flu shot, but it got me thinking about the whole process.   The idea behind vaccinations is to give you a little bit of the virus so that your body builds up an immunity to it and can fight off the infection should it come your way.  

I came home and sat in my favorite chair, picked up my computer and was checking my Facebook page. I found myself scanning my news feed, scanning over all of the "junk" and trying to see what I really look for on Facebook, what my friends and family are up to these days.   Then I realized just exactly what I was lumping into the "junk" category.     I scanned over some political statements and links.   I scanned over some advertisements that Facebook has began to add into my news feed that try to look like my friends post to fool me.   I also scanned over a lot of Bible verses, Christian video links,church updates, and  boast about what people had read that day in their devotionals.   I think I have been vaccinated by just enough religious sayings, that I have become immune to really "seeing" them.  If that is true for me who loves Jesus, I have to believe that it is also true for some non-believers who are out their in Social Media land.

Now don't get mad at me if you posted one of these things.   I also have posted them recently both personally and for our church.    I think we mean well most of the time.  But I wonder if we aren't hurting the gospel more than helping it?   I used to read through many of the links and thoughts because it helped to spur my own thinking....but it has become so much, so overwhelming, so common that I don't even "see" it anymore.   It reminds me of the signs I used to put up when I lived at the Baptist Student Center that said "Wash Your Dishes!"   At first, it worked at least a little bit.   People noticed it and washed their dishes.   But after a while, that sign may as well have just blended in with the back splash above the sink.  It was no longer effective.   Or, maybe it is like the teacher who screamed a lot to get her students attention.   At first it works, but after a while, the students become accustomed to her mode of communication and tune the screaming out.   It is no longer an effective way to get their attention.

I also wonder if it doesn't make us look like modern day pharisees who go to our Facebook temple and pray out loud something to the effect of "I'm so glad that I'm not like those other sinners out there!" (Luke 18)   And by sinners we might mean those people who are not of the "Christian" political party.   I'm not sure that God is honored by that, and I doubt that we are going to lead many souls to Jesus as a result of our pithy posts....or for that matter, change anyone's political views.  

Proverbs 10:19 says "Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues."  1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that "if we speak with the tongues of men and of angels but don't have love we are just a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal "(1 Cor 13:1) .  It also says Prophecy and speaking in tongues and special knowledge will become useless, but loves last forever. (1Cor 13: 8)

There is a quote that is out there that says "Preach the gospel always! If necessary use words."  I believe that we do this by living in a way that shows the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we strive to make Christ more and ourselves less.    That we have uncommon love for others.  That we are "doers" of the word and not only "hearers."....or Facebook posters. We also need to make sure that people feel the love of Christ by being his hands and feet (the body of Christ, the Church)  in this generation.    Maya Angelou says "People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

The irony is that I will probably post this blog on Facebook.  Hopefully these thoughts will also spur me to love and share Jesus in a more tangible way this week!    "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19: 14