Try IRL, Not URL

Think with me for a moment, just how quickly you are misunderstood, or misunderstand another person, while talking with someone... wait for it... face to face.

Almost hard to comprehend, when it seems every time you connect with someone in real life and close the conversation touch base with me later, it's through technology.  Facebook me or I.M. me. Do you have Skype? Message me on Twitter or accept my invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Or my favorite. we don't even ask people for their phone number any more with the intention of "when's a good time to call".
No... not even close. Just send me a text.

Seriously? First off all, you can't multi-task and text at the same time (even if you can text one-handed.) Unlike talking on the phone... which is why, eventually the entire for market switched to cordless!  And cellular, "wireless". 

Same difference.

If something can get "lost in translation" from one's mouth to the others' ears, how much more difficult on social media?

Extend this train of thought to yesterday's post on church and community.

Perhaps no two groups are more "at odds" than people who follow Christ and those who follow "no man" at all or someone other than Christ.

There are many groups of differing sides of a conversation that do every thing they can to understand each other, yet at the end of the day, simply agree to disagree and go on with their life, elsewhere with their business and far away from any reminders of the matter, should it come to that point.

Not so for Christians. Every group has people that, taken as a snap-shot, don't reflect well on the rest of the group, and ultimately for the believer, it's a reflection on Christ. So it's perceived the whole group is "bad", even though it's just more evidence of man's need for Christ. Our hearts tend towards self, even after salvation, which is why sanctification (becoming more like Christ) is a daily process. We must daily deny self.

But to the unbeliever... we are off-base, out-of-touch, evil, hateful, close-minded, intolerant...and the list is... far too long.
Talk about misunderstood.

No matter where you are in your relationship with God, you recognize you can't live life without Him.
No matter where you go in this world, you should recognize all the more, as you interact with those who still need Him, that sharing your faith and communicating effectively who Christ is and why He is needed in our lives now more than ever, is something you cannot do on your own strength and understanding.

Nothing gets by God without His knowledge or allowance. So whatever challenges the believer faces in their interaction with an unbelieving world, remember, God is aware of the struggle. He is actively at work in your life. He's allowing them to make their response, whatever it may be; however pleasantly dismissive, morally objectionable or surprising open to the possibility of Christ it may be. Just don't rely on your abilities.

Communicating the message of Jesus Christ requires the power of God to be active in the life of the believer, if the believer has any hope of rescuing the souls within their circle of influence from a Christ-less eternity.

Pray, this #effectiveSunday, in days where people are so easily misunderstood, words so quickly taken out of context and body language removed from the story altogether (thanks to on-line instead of in-person), pray a spirit of grace as communications take place; whether about faith or "just life". May the church realize and remember, how one talks about non-eternal subjects affects their credibility when they have opportunity to share Christ. Pray for those quick to dismiss Christians statements and opinions on any subject, based on experiences gone wrong in the past, either from previous Christians, previous churches or life circumstances that have "closed their hearts and minds" to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Pray a fresh anointing upon the church for the times that lie ahead. Pray for this world, all too quick to point out the lies of others, but deny an absolute truth and the absolute, unconditional love of God.

Trust in God. Rely on Him. Call on Him. That this world would return to Him.
The next breath of ever person starts and ends on God's schedule.

- PNC

---