Thou shalt not…tweet?

Thou shalt not commit murder.  Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife.  Thou shalt not tweet in church.

Say what?

Quick question-WWJD?

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Wait a minute.

That sounds like Christians are supposed to let everyone they know or even come  across about God. They should be overwhelmed and filled with joy at the very thought of being able to spread the word of God wherever they can.  In the time of Jesus he walked from town to town and spread the word.  People told their friends, who rode on the backs of animals to tell their friends.  For thousands of years Christians have been trying to spread the word of God.  When your buddy has a bad day many of you will quote scripture.  Tough situation?  Read your Bible.  Some people just can’t hold it in–they’ll tell you about the love of Jesus while you’re sitting in the next stall in a public restroom.  Twitter though?

Some people seem to be of the mindset that it’s wrong to tweet from church.  Maybe they think it’s disrespectful.  Maybe they just don’t want to hear it.  Whatever the reason, some people are against it.

When you hear a good sermon at church do you leave and tell your friends about it?  When you disagree with your preacher’s thinking on a scripture do you elbow your neighbor and snicker or write notes? Do you sit and hold conversations with people about what you heard?  Chances are if you go to church you do.  Well, who’s to say that just because people are online friends (versus ones you’ve actually met) are any different?  Why wouldn’t you as a Christian want to share what you are learning with anyone you know?

Many of you share things.  You share your lives on your blogs, with your friends, on facebook, Myspace, and Twitter.  When it comes to Jesus suddenly there’s a right and wrong way to do it? You can approach me on a street corner, in a restroom, in the grocery store or when I’m broken down on the side of the road…but not on twitter? Sermons and religious services (and concerts) are podcasted, put on YouTube and broadcast the world over…but it’s rude to share what you’re learning as it happens? I think not.

Jesus didn’t say “Go forth and be timid”.  I don’t remember anything in the Bible about there being a right and wrong time to share the word of God.  Many times people I know simply feel led to let others know about God…and the timing isn’t always the best for them. Maybe they’re shy.  Maybe it’s sharing with an unbeliever.  You know what though?  I don’t think God chooses weak people to share his word.  He chooses the ones who aren’t afraid to be politically incorrect or stir up a little dust. If you think about it what Jesus did wasn’t exactly conventional in his time.  Who’s to say that in a digital age you shouldn’t share things as they happen with the technology we’re given?  I’m sure that not everyone on twitter goes to church.  Maybe, just maybe they might need to hear what’s being said.

Who’s to judge?

Not you.

Not me.

There’s only one who’s equipped for that job.

What do you think?

This was sparked by a discussion I had recently with @SugarJones and @RealLifeSarah.  @SugarJones was being chastised for tweeting from church.  What do you think?  To tweet or not to tweet?

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