tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222582801377676376.post6856371202390639265..comments2014-01-08T21:30:16.491+00:00Comments on St Michael's Discussion Forum: Would Jesus have had a Twitter account (part 2)St. Michael's Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509868141938374407noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222582801377676376.post-54726451254109236622013-05-17T17:47:10.418+01:002013-05-17T17:47:10.418+01:00Steve
Thanks for your thought-provoking piece.
W...Steve<br /><br />Thanks for your thought-provoking piece.<br /><br />With regard to the question of whether Jesus would have had a Twitter account, I think it is interesting that he started his ministry in an obscure corner of the Roman world - he did not first travel to the centre of power, whether that might have been Jerusalem or Rome, and he also started by talking to people in a straightforward way by inviting them to follow him in person, and by talking to them. Then the number of followers grew and he started preaching to the crowds. He did not proclaim his message by posting notices or writing books or trying to set up an organisation.<br /><br />So I really don't know whether, had Twitter been available, he would have opened an account and started tweeting about the Kingdom of God.<br /><br />I suppose what I am saying is that he proceeded by way of real personal interaction that involves eye contact and listening - and I don't think you can get that on Twitter or Facebook.<br /><br />In terms of why we oldies find social media somewhat difficult, I think a lot has to do with traditional British reserve and not wanting to put oneself forward. In Luke 14.11 Jesus says that "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted" - and I think it probably seems to many of the older members of the congregation (perhaps wrongly) that much of the stuff that goes on in social media is a sort of self-promotion. This may not be so much a question of people saying "Here's what I am doing, am I not wonderful?", but rather people saying in effect "Here are my thoughts and opinions and I think they are worth listening to". That is one of the things that causes me to hesitate before taking the plunge into social media.<br /><br />It is in interesting topic - perhaps we can discuss at our next Outreach meeting why there is this reluctance.<br /><br />Thanks again for the post. Roger Sudburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05088594479846325905noreply@blogger.com