While driving home from a recent lunch meeting, a weird thought popped into my mind. What would Jesus tweet? (Maybe you’re familiar with the whole WWJD craze, which admittedly, has been quite cheezy at times. Catchy though.)
Let me say right off the bat with the disclosure that I’m not a theologian. I don’t pretend to fully understand the many great mysteries of the gospel. As Paul said, “I see through a glass dimly.” This post is meant to be fun and engage people in conversation.
By way of background and according to their website, Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick (140 characters or less), frequent answers (tweets) to one simple question: What are you doing?
People use Twitter for far more than answering that one question. Twitter has become an online gathering place. According to Tech Crunch, as of March 2008 Twitter had more than 1 million users who produce more than 3 million tweets a day.
Those numbers are growing rapidly.
Perhaps before I ask “What would Jesus tweet?” I need to first ask the question, “Would Jesus even tweet at all?” After all, Jesus’ lengthy “Sermon on the Mount” couldn’t be summed up in 140 characters. Jesus engaged in real conversations and in-depth teaching.
Sermon length aside, suppose Jesus would be an early adapter and therefore, would sign up for a Twitter account in the first place. After all, Jesus often related to people in ways that differed from the expectations of those in the mainstream. And He had followers. Lots of them. How would Jesus have used Twitter?
Clearly define purpose/mission:
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
I am the Good Shepherd.
I am the Gate.
I am the Bread of Life.
I am the Vine.
Additionally, Jesus was pretty good at cutting to the chase. He challenged and encouraged his followers then, as now:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:37-38)
- Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. (Matt. 20:26-27)
- With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. Matt. 19:26
- Your sins are forgiven. (Mark 2:5)
- You give them something to eat. (Mark 6:37)
- But who do you say that I am? (Mark 8:29)
- With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
- Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out. (Luke 5:31)
- Which is easier to say? Your sins are forgiven or rise up and walk? (Luke 5:23)
- Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27)
- Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. (Luke 7:47)
- I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
- A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)
What do you think? Would Jesus use Twitter? Why or why not? And if so, what would He Tweet? How can you follow His example to communicate clearly, in ways that make an impact in your business? In your life? In the lives of others?