Tweeting, Facebooking, and Really Following

In this age of twitter, facebook, instant messaging, and blogging *cough*, it has become increasingly simple to stay informed. Click a button and you can have the weather forecast in Saint Petersburg (Guess what, its cold.), the box score from a rugby match in Australia, or the available show times of that movie you’ve been wanting to see even though all of your friends tell you it’s terrible (you know the one I mean). We feel connected to the celebrities we follow on twitter, or the far away friends we send silly pics to on facebook. In short, for many of us, following or connecting with someone has become an activity that requires next to no commitment beyond clicking a few buttons. It is a quick and painless information exchange involving little sacrifice and almost assuredly, zero blood. And while this is certainly not an inherently moral issue…I wish to suggest that it could have terrifying results if allowed to affect our view of following/connecting to Christ.

Let me explain a bit further before you condemn me as torch waving fear monger. Growing up right now is a generation that will not know a time apart from cell phones or the Net. Can you imagine that? They will never know the fear of being able to find a pay phone in time to let your mom know that you’re ok; or the pure joy of sending and receiving hand written letters in the mailbox.

ANYWAY, here is my real point: When it was time for Jesus to let people know what it would take to get from him what only he had give, he described in terms of being his follower. This was not unusual for Jesus, as a matter of fact, it was his normal way of speaking. He wanted then the same thing he wants now: followers. To Jesus, being a “Believer” is the same as being a dedicated “Follower”. Following Him isn’t as simple as clicking a button or creating an account with a secure password. Following Jesus means total commitment, soul searching sacrifice, and almost assuredly…some blood. It means Jesus must be worth “denying yourself”. Let me tell you that I’ve been a follower of Jesus for many years, but I am still only beginning to learn what that phrase really means. My concern is for a people who are only happy when the following is easy. They are only content when everything is neat and clean and simple. And yet there stands Jesus demanding EVERYTHING from his followers, and he doing so without any apology!

Examine your heart, my friend…look into the corners and the crevasses…see the ugliness, and the laziness, and the darkness that naturally attracts itself to you like a magnet…and then look at Jesus and beg him for the strength to “deny yourself” and to follow him. I promise you, it will be the best connection you ever make.