Get off the Street Corners!

I have a few Facebook and twitter friends who deem it appropriate to tell their world of their so called “private” revelations and “quite” time with God. And I cannot stand them! I hate them (not them, the statuses)! I hate statuses which name drop churches, which sound like “ Had an awesome prayer sesh in car this morning” or  “ my heart longs for Him, I want more of You” or  “Love God so much!” or  “Making a bible reading plan, cant wait to bask in his awesomeness”  “totes got baptised in the holy spirit tonight shindalirahbalalahabshendarah boughtahondashouldofboughtayamaha”  (haha-totes made up that last one)….. I hate it!  For one simple reason-the statuses are not about God, they’re about the individual trying to prove some sort of righteous living. I guess its not always like that, but why, WHY OH WHY would you write  a status like that unless you wanted people to perceive you in a certain way.  God is not going to read your status?!  Who actually needs to know those details of your life?..... God and maybe best friend and/or husband/wife, but not 850 of your closest friends!  “oh but umm, I’m trying to evangelise and show the world that I’m different. I’m trying to be salt in the world” ...Well you are failing! If someone like me, who is a committed and passionate disciple of Christ hates those statuses, how much more will the world find you annoying and weird?

I bet that is what the Pharisees thought they were doing-being salt and light. But in fact they totally missed the fact that God was among them and near them. Jesus was never on the stage, never in the limelight, the KING OF KINGS born in a stable surrounded by hay and sheep poo.  Jesus is not about attention seeking.  If he were in a boy band, he’d be the one everyone over looked. He’d be the black jellybean in a packet of jellybeans. Jesus was like the brown pencil in the coloured pencil box or the green apple on sale next to the chocolate bar. He was an underdog. He (Jesus) was never about fame or glory for himself, and neither should we. He wanted to glorify, the Father. God is a private, very intimate God, he works with us individually and on a personal level.  Hence, all his works must be done in that same spirit.

Jesus has warned about this issue.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6)

Get off the 21^st Century streets corners (facebook and twitter) and hit the bedroom!