I’m relatively new to Twitter, but I did just passed a milestone. This morning I sent out my 1,000th Tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/mhmcintyre/status/65411548939681796
In the grand scheme of things, this is not a huge accomplishment. But I do believe that social media are going to be around for a while and the Church needs to employ them to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ.
Happy Tweeting! SDG
In recent years, the business world has coined the phrase “elevator speech.” Sellers are encouraged to be able to explain their product offering to someone in the elevator in the 20 seconds or so it takes to get to their floor.
Most people who have been in the church for a while have been taught that the word gospel literally means good news. The question is, if someone asks you to explain the gospel, do you have a good explanation? Do you have an “elevator speech” prepared to explain the good news of Jesus Christ?
One of the best concise presentations of the Gospel can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)
This certainly does not explain everything, but it is a good starting point and I am committed to memorizing these verses to be ready to give an answer when required.
Psalm 43:3 (ESV)
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
As I read this verse this morning, I was reminded of Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world found in John 8:12, 9:5 and 12:46.
Since this is an election year, I am bombarded by political “debate” on the internet and radio. I am by nature somewhat cynical about politics and political debate. I struggle to believe that either of the major parties in America are seeking truth and light. I believe that they are both seeking power and will use whatever truth helps them to achieve their desire. Hence the need for “spin” and “spin doctors.” In the end truth is the biggest casualty and chaos the result.
Both parties seem to think that the light is only to be used to expose their opponents’ foibles. As a result we have “attack ads” to get the public to vote against the opponent.
In the midst of all this we are called to stand for the truth and lovingly shed light on what is really going on. What is really going on is that we have a government which seeks to be independent of God and his principles. The only source of information that is excluded from the debate is the Bible.
The time is coming when the true Church, the invisible Church within the organized church, will be forced to stand up and make a stand for Truth, for Jesus Christ. When this happens, it will be then that light and truth will be displayed for all to see and those who choose to follow will be brought to the dwelling of God and God’s holy hill.
One of the unfortunate problems with democracy is that we get the government we deserve. When we elect knuckleheads we get knuckleheaded laws. Corruption breeds corruption. We want to believe the lies and then feign shock when we discover them to be lies.
All this to say that the church better not look to the political process to solve the problems facing our country and our world. Jesus said it succinctly when referring to the blind leading the blind, which is what the political process offers at present.
What the Church needs to do is individually and collectively fall on our face before God and admit that we have willingly disobeyed the two great commands and have not placed God above all. Our great need is for spiritual revival which begins in individuals being willing to submit to God and allow him to revive their hearts. It is only then that the Church can be the light that the world sorely needs.
What the world does not need is a sanitized “Christianized” version of humanism which much of the church has offered in my lifetime.
Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD.
Over the years that I have been in and around the organized church in America, I’ve seen many different ideas as to how to make the church grow. Some are gimmicky, some are Biblically sound. Some give the appearance of working, others are miserable failures.
Many of the efforts to grow churches borrow methods from advertizing and marketing to determine what changes will make the church more appealing to her audience. Perhaps this is akin to Israel looking to Egypt for her help.
The only way for real growth to happen in the church is for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed so that men and women are brought into a growing relationship with Him. We must be faithful in proclaiming the message, God is the one who provides the growth.
I am not saying that the church should not seek feedback as to how effectively she is communicating the Gospel. I am not saying that modern methods of communication should not be used.
What I am saying is that the methods do not save anyone, God does. When the message of the Gospel is changed, or muted to make religion more palatable, when there is reluctance to talk about sin, Hell, judgment and salvation, then the message has been compromised. When the message is compromised, no good will result, no matter how large the budget or how full the parking lot.
When we go to Egypt for help, we may have larger army but it will not be an effective army for the purpose of storming the Gates of Hell.
