Keeping a Good Testimony with Your Friends and Followers

As a pastor, it is my joy to help people in their daily walks with God. In recent years it has come to my attention that technology and social networking is a growing part of people’s everyday lives. While I am not an expert on these subjects, I obviously have a blog, and I am even trying to understand the value of Twitter and other such technologies.

Every day more and more people are becoming connected through technology. According to the book Killing Cockroaches by Tony Morgan, there are 175,000 blogs a day added to the Internet. Facebook has just added its 150 millionth member, and has signed up 374,000 people each day since August of 2008, according to Slate magazine.

With that in mind, allow me to share some thoughts with you that I recently shared with some of my fellow laborers here at Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College.

I. Potential Blessings of Social Networking

A. Witnessing
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

B. Teaching Biblical Principles
2 Timothy 2:2
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

C. Communicating with Friends and Co-laborers

D. Encouraging Others
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

E. Receiving Prayer Updates
This is one of the most valuable aspects that I have seen with Twitter so far.

F. Sharing Events with Relatives across the Country and around the World

G. Learning How God Is Blessing in Other Places
It is a blessing to see how God is working in so many different ministries. I want to rejoice with other Christians when they see a spiritual victory.

II. Potential Burdens and Pitfalls of Social Networking

A. The Scheduling Burden—Finding Time to Get It All Done
This is especially true for a pastor who prepares three or four new messages each week and for Christians who are staying busy in personal work and ministry.

B. Focus on Self
People who are heavily involved in social networking are often preoccupied with what they are going to say about themselves online.

“There is a danger that narcissistic tendencies are elevated in the life of a person who feels compelled to tell others about themselves continually.”

Mark 8:34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

“Another longtime friend tells me he has 3,200 Facebook friends: ‘I know maybe 50 of them.’ Facebook is a place that turns adults into teenage girls. ‘Instead of making things,’ he says, ‘We’re telling people how great Gossip Girl is. Would your grandfather go on Facebook? Probably not. I think we’ve become a country thirsting for attention. Facebook is basically Googling yourself for people who don’t have enough hits to warrant it.’ It’s all pointless.“—The Weekly Standard, March 2009

C. Concern about Your “Larger Audience” as Opposed to the “Audience of One”
Scripture tells us that in all things we are to please Christ, but there is a growing tendency to be concerned about “followers” more than there is concern about following Him.

D. Time Wasting
Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

E. Communication Interruptions
I have seen parents—who have been extremely upset with their children for texting—act just as obsessive with Twitter and Facebook.

F. Bragging
Bloggers and twitterers need to be careful about feeling pressure to act as though their families and personal lives are perfect.

1 Peter 5:5
…be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

G. Materialism
Many bloggers and twitterers focus on name brands and personal experiences to elevate materialism over stewardship.

H. Pressure to Sound Like an Expert
It seems like everyone on the Internet is accepted as an expert. I think we may be shocked if we saw the personal, family, and ministry lives of those we follow on the Internet.

A good friend of mine, Dr. Curtis Hutson, once wrote a book entitled Some Things I’ve Learned.  Most of us are trying to learn how to better our lives and ministries, but we are not necessarily experts.

I. Lack of Christ-centered Discussion
Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

All things includes web things.

J. The Permanency of Remarks on the Internet

K. Gossip
3 John 11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

THINK before Communicating
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?

1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

L. Potential for Improper Male/Female Relationships
“They then have access to each other’s web pages, and consequently to each other’s lives, quirks, photos, jottings, oversharings, and mental disorders, as well as to those ever-expanding universe of their friend’s circles, thus increasing the likelihood that you will either embarrass yourself or be embarrassed by someone whose life would never otherwise intersect with yours.”—The Weekly Standard, March 2009

M. Following the Wrong Crowd
I wonder if some twitterers would want to be listed as a “follower” of the people they are currently following. Biblical principles concerning those who influence us are still relevant to the Internet.

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

N. Virtual Philosophy Becomes Virtual Reality
Young men play computer games such as Grand Theft Auto, and the results are the increase of violence in our society. Adults who follow wrong influences on the Internet will find Internet associations to be just as influential in their lives.

Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

III. Spiritual Admonitions Regarding Social Networking

A. Blog and Twitter Humbly

B. Deflect Praise to God
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

C. Don’t Let Your Virtual Ministry Replace Your People Ministry

• At Church
• At Home

D. Don’t Let Your Virtual Ministry Replace Your Local Church Ministry
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

E. Beware of the “Marketing of Self”
Proverbs 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

F. Avoid Every Appearance of Evil
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

G. Beware Lest the Web become a Stronghold in Your Life
I am sure more could be said on this subject and, no doubt, more will need to be said as the Internet continues to become a greater part of our lives.

May we endeavor to walk in the Spirit and apply biblical principles as we use technology to glorify Him.

Any casual observer knows that the current trend in America is toward pluralism and away from our Christian heritage.  Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

Leaders today with a bent toward pluralism often give credence and much attention to religious and social beliefs that absolutely deny the teaching of the Word of God. However, in an attempt to show their broad-mindedness and acceptance of all people we are seeing a movement away from the name of Jesus Christ.

A few days ago President Obama spoke at Georgetown University’s Gaston Hall. A monogram IHS, whose letters spell out the name of Jesus, and which normally perches above the stage in Gaston Hall where the President spoke, was covered over with what appeared to be black wood during the  President’s address.  University spokesman Andy Pino said, “In coordinating the logistical arrangements for the event, Georgetown honored the White House staff’s request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols.”

Past Presidents and Presidents’ wives who have spoken at Georgetown have not requested the covering of such religious symbols.  Would the President, or any other governmental leader for that matter, go into a place of worship for the Hindu, the Muslim or another faith, and cover the symbols of their worship?  Then why a symbol that represents the name of Jesus Christ?

I understand it is not the responsibility of government to exalt the name of Christ above all other names.  That is the responsibility of the local New Testament church and the people of God.  Colossians 1:18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.“  It is our responsibility as believers to give Christ first place in our lives, in His church, and in all matters of our faith and practice.

On the other hand, the removal of the Ten Commandments, the removal of prayer from public school graduations, and the covering of Christian symbols does not settle well with my spirit. As pluralism rises, there will be an attempt to place the name of Christ on the shelf with the names of all the other gods.

As Christians, we must first do our part to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ around this world in these needy days!

Second, we must do our part to pray for our leaders and to take every opportunity to share the message of Christ and the uniqueness of His claims with each and every one of them.

And finally, may we pray today for revival in our land as we seek God’s face in this needy hour.

There is no greater miracle found in Scriptures than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event was the pinnacle event of all time and history.  It is His resurrection alone that offers true hope and separates Christianity from all other world religions.

After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Act 1:3 records, “he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs.” He are a few of the eyewitness accounts given in Scripture:

• To Mary Magdalene Jn 20:14-18;Mk 16:9
• To the women returning from the tomb Mt 28:8-10
• To Peter later in the day Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5
• To the disciples going to Emmaus in the evening Lk 24:13-31
• To the apostles (except Thomas) Lk 24:36-45; Jn 20-19-24
• To the apostles a week later (Thomas present) Jn 20:24-29
• In Galilee to the seven by the Lake of Tiberias Jn 21:1-23
• In Galilee on a mountain to the apostles and 500 believers 1 Cor 15:6
• At Jerusalem and Bethany again to James 1 Cor 15:7
• At Olivet and the ascension Acts 1:3-12
• To Paul near Damascus Acts 9:3-6; 1 Cor 15:8
• To Stephen outside Jerusalem Acts 7:55
• To Paul in the temple Acts 22:17-21; 23:11
• To John on Patmos Rev 1:10-19

Based on the promise of God and the record given in His word, we know that Jesus Christ is alive.  He literally conquered death and the grave.

Now, this awesome miracle is our greatest message. Two thousand years later, in the midst of spiritual and economic decline, we still have hope in the risen Jesus Christ.

This weekend, our church family will have the opportunity to present the gospel of Christ to our community through our resurrection musical and celebration services.  To watch these services live, visit www.lancasterbaptist.org.

May God bless you as you celebrate the resurrection of His Son this weekend.

It has become one of my yearly traditions to throw the first pitch for our church little league program, and this year’s inaugural baseball game for the ‘09 season took place on Saturday afternoon.

As I made my way out to the pitcher’s mound, I couldn’t help but think of how blessed our church family is to raise our children in a godly environment. We have an excellent group of coaches, assistant coaches, umpires, and scorekeepers this year who have come together to make this baseball league happen.

Yet, more than their coaching abilities or talents, I am thrilled with the godly example these men provide for the boys who participate in the baseball league.  I am thankful that the young people playing baseball will be influenced by godly men in a fun, yet Christ-honoring atmosphere.

We have tried to place an emphasis on the mentoring that happens on our campus, and as I walked out on the field, I became very thankful once again for those who serve as excellent mentors and teachers in the boys little league program.

As far as the first pitch goes, it was a low ball… in the dirt, actually.  Oh well, there is always next year.

I remember as a young boy working many summers on our family farm in Colorado. I enjoyed working, driving the tractors, and hoeing the bean field.  But what I really loved was dinnertime at grandmother’s house! We would sit down and have a meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, pinto beans, and cornbread—it was good! The best part of the meal was at the end when grandmother would say, “You know, I have some vanilla ice cream here, but it’s just not really good unless we get some raspberries from the fruit cellar to put on top!”

Now, these weren’t just any raspberries.  These were handpicked by my grandmother, placed in a Mason jar, sealed just right, and set on a shelf in her cellar. At the end of a meal like the one I just described, she would often look at me and say, “Paul, why don’t you go get some raspberries.” To which I always replied, “Yes, ma’am!” I would hurriedly run to the cellar, down the first flight of stairs, then the second flight of stairs and into the basement area.

When I got to the basement, however, my excitement began to fade momentarily. The cellar ahead was a scary space by itself. There was a moose head on one side of the basement and an elk head on another side. As a young boy, I thought those animal eyes followed me everywhere I went! I would sneak past the moose and the elk and put my hand on the cellar door to open it. Just about that time is when I would remember that all the ghosts and goblins in Colorado lived in that cellar.

There was a painfully obvious problem with the cellar—there wasn’t a light switch. The engineer who designed that particular room designed it in such a way that you had to take five steps into the room to pull a string hanging from the ceiling in order to turn on the light. Those were the five scariest steps I had to take in my life! (A few times, I walked in and the string hit me right in the face—I thought for sure I was a goner.)  I would creep in the cellar and pull that string as quickly as possible. The light would come on, and the fears I had were suddenly gone. I would then grab a bunch of those raspberry jars and run upstairs to enjoy a wonderful dessert.

Just as I needed the light to dispel my fears, this dark world needs the light of the Lord Jesus Christ to dispel its fear, worry, and challenges.

As Christians, we are not the source of the light, we are merely the lighthouses. The light that shines through us is the Lord.  John 8:12 puts it this way, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus is the source of the light, but we are to let that line shine, so others can see Christ through us.

As we go about our Christian lives this week, let us not forget to be lighthouses through which the world can see the Lord. Dispel the darkness of the world around you with a shining testimony for Christ!