Love Has a Name

In today’s day and age we are so incredibly connected.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube, Pinterest, Flickr and the list goes on. A quick Google search reveals a website that boasts “60+ Social Networking Sites You Need To Know About.” There are vastly more than 60 sites, this was simply the 1st link I clicked.

Our world is utterly connected in ways that humanity has never before experienced. We can be in the middle of the jungle, on the beaches of paradise or in the urban centres of developing countries and still be connected. While there are some isolated places in the world which are disconnected, generally that is by choice.

Our generation has virtually no excuse to be uninformed and uneducated to the world around us. Our fingertips have unprecedented access to world events.

I admit that there are massive positives to this. For example, we can now stand up for and fight injustice on the other side of the world from the comfort of our local coffee shop. There may be arguments that this is not actually helping, but that is besides the point.

My point is this. We are obviously longing for the seemingly lost art of personal connection. From the beginning of man’s time on the planet we have always gathered. For dinner, in memoriam, in protest, in celebration. The power of the collective is just that, powerful.

So why then would it be any different for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Well, I argue that as the world is more and more connected online we have also disconnected in vital ways. Our face-to-face time with one another has decreased and our ability or willingness to intimately connect with each other is also dwindling.

Before I get into Scripture here is 1 example. I was scrolling through my Facebook feed a few month ago. Suddenly a photo and a caption appeared which detailed that one of my friends was struggling with her mental health. Immediately the comments were, “you got this”, and “I’m thinking of you”. These comments are good, but are they useful?

My friend who was battling the evils of mental health woes wanted someone to talk to. After a conversation with her it was evident that those friends who were reaching out most likely absolved themselves of responsibility to connect by posting on her Facebook status update.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure these comments were well-intentioned however I don’t think they accomplish the task to which they were unwittingly assigned.

Assuming the writers were attempting to connect and help soften the pain of my friend’s struggles, they did not achieve this. My friend needed someone to see, touch, hear and feel… in person. My friend just needed a hug and an embrace of a caring loved one.

So in turning to the internet for connection it is apparent that while the intentions may be good they are not always best.

As followers of Jesus we must not neglect our duty to gather and connect while offline. Here is 1 calling to community which also contains a type of warning in the middle of it.

^“24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV. (Emphasis’ mine)

You see, we are encouraged by the author of Hebrews to stir each other up to love and good worls, all the while “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” So I say to you, my readers, YES comment and throw a like on Facebook and Instagram, YES post videos and stories on Snapchat and Youtube BUT do not neglect the impact and value on facetiming each other outside the realm of the digital.

I use Facetime, see what I did there?, to stay connected with my friends, family and loved ones and have recently eliminated all of my social media platforms. I also live in Southeast Asia so there is no easier way to keep in touch with those dearest and nearest to my heart.

No Facebook, no Instagram, no Snapchat… nothing. I do use Youtube, however, it is for my viewing and not for sharing stories.

This post is going to strike a nerve for some. I have even challenged some people close to me to stop using social media for a certain period of time. Some times as little as 2 weeks. Their response? “Why should I if I don’t have a problem with it?” My response? “Why not if you don’t have a problem with it?”

These challenges I issue come not as a form of some type of, “I’m better than you” situation, but instead, to simply challenge my brothers and sisters to a re-prioritization of daily tasks, if that is needed. I’m certain for some it will be no big deal, yet for others, I know that they need to put space between social media and their lives.

I previously wrote and touched on idolatry and I believe social media is quickly becoming an idol for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ. You can in fact follow many Christian sites and threads on social media, all of which I’m sure are God however, they are not above God.

Finally, I want to assure everyone this is also no form of judgement. I myself have misused social media in many ways including idolatry, wasting my time and being tempted to sin. Eliminating social media from my life has increased the ability for me to put Jesus into those places. The choice then becomes do I put Jesus there or do I find another way to spend my time?

I will leave you with a picture which I believe accurately sums up my message.