“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” (I Cor. 9:22b)
Do you ever wonder whatever happened to a certain friend? You were close to them during a particular season in your life and then you just kind of lost track? Perhaps you went to school with them. Or they were part of a group with which you were affiliated. Or you worked somewhere with them. Or perhaps you had a falling out and you never reconciled. Each of us has a history of friendships. Some we have remained in contact with (even if it’s just the annual Christmas card); others we have not.
Recently, I’ve gotten a kick out of the phenomena known as “facebook.” It is an internet website that connects – or reconnects – the user with friends. I first logged on last summer. And since that time, my “friends list” has grown to nearly 300 hundred. There are friends from many different seasons in my life: school classmates; professional colleagues; and extended family.
I’ve reconnected with classmates from Los Gatos High School, Westmont College, UC Irvine, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Some I haven’t spoken to in about 30 years. I’ve gotten in touch with former colleagues from various churches where I have worked and with members of those organizations (some are now abroad – from South Korea to United Arab Emirates – and it’s great to hear little snippets from them). The two youth choirs that I founded have their own web-pages and their own fan lists. It’s great to see how well they are doing. Many of the pastors of our Presbytery are on my list. I’m even on the friends list of Bruce Reyes-Chow, the denomination’s national moderator.
I’m able to keep up with my family, from my nephew stationed in Japan to my second cousins in rural Illinois. People post photos on their profile and I love to see all the new pictures of their children.
There are even members of FPCSA who are on my friendlist. It’s a fun way to see a different side of people. In fact, FPCSA has its own web page on facebook. If you’re on facebook, check it out: First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana. Become a fan! We’re going to try to include occasional updates through this site. Also, look me up. I would love to be on your friends list and add you to mine!
Some of you have heard me quote responses from questions that I have posted on facebook. It’s a casual way to request and receive input without being judged or condemned. There are several reasons I do this. First, people are able to keep up to date with what I am doing here at the church. Secondly, we have had quite a few people visit our worship service because of the facebook connection. And, in fact, last week I had coffee with one of my former youth group members who has not felt comfortable going to church since a certain incident caused him to go sour on organized religion; but because of facebook, he wanted to get together to discuss religion and our congregation. And, finally, people can give input and then feel a sense of connection if they hear themselves quoted in the sermon.
And so, the purpose of this article and the reason I use facebook becomes clear. It’s not just a way to stay connected with friends; it’s a way to draw people into dialogue and hopefully connect – or reconnect – them with their Maker. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” I wonder what “becoming all things to all people” looks like today. If he were alive today, I wonder if Paul would be on facebook. I think he would be. And I think he would be updating on his Blackberry from the local coffee shop. I don’t know why, but I think Paul would have appreciated a good cup of coffee.
It’s a whole new world out there. No longer can we build a church and wait for people to show up. We must reach out to them. And we must follow Paul’s example, using all means to reach out to all people so that some might be saved. The message we share is the most important gift we can offer. Let’s be creative and use of all means available to us.
May God richly bless you even as He blesses others through you!
In His Love & Service,
Lance
