Why I am Taking a Break from Social Media

Dear FB Family – Please read my reasons for taking a break from social media):

Convinced that God’s plans for me (and you) exceed my current reality; extend far outside the proverbial boxes where I have dwelled and from without the places others have defined/confined me, I will be stepping away from social media for a period of time effective February 1.

What am I doing? I will be pursuing “God who sits high above the round ball of earth”.

I’m troubled by what I see and hear not only in the news but within the spheres where I am and have influence(d). It’s disheartening listening to the dearth of Christology being applied to the injustices damning humanity. Yahweh says "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” And Jesus echoes the same sentiment, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”.

I’m disconcerted not by those who haven’t confessed Jesus as Lord; rather, it’s the absence of a demonstrated commitment to Jesus’ commandment to “Love, the Lord Your God and Your Neighbor” from women and men confessing Jesus is their Savior. It’s disturbing, no heart wrenching to hear and see Christians cling to politics, xenophobia, patriotism, religiosity, denominational doctrine, etc. self-righteously walking by the women, children, and men who have been and are being attacked on the roads to Jericho (in the U.S. and around the world).

Jesus reminds his disciples “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Perhaps, we don’t understand what it means to “love” someone? 

Yahweh asks, “…what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”

One who “LOVES” acts! Imagine watching someone you love being attacked by cancer. Visualize cancer punishing your loved one (through their pancreas, lung, bones, breast, prostate, ovaries, etc.) and they didn’t do anything to “deserve” cancer nevertheless this disease robs them of life, decimates them physically, emotionally and spiritually. The “Love” you have for the one suffering would well up an anger, a discontent within you demanding something is done to preserve, save, protect, or deliver them from this unfair suffering.

Systems in our world are unjustly attacking people groups (poor, female, non-white, non-Christian, LGBTQ, "the Other", etc.) and strangely Christians are leading the vicious assaults. The example whom I’m striving to follow, Jesus the Christ, never condemned the unrighteous (sinners) but harshly rebuked those claiming to have “religion”. In Matthew, 23:11-30, Jesus declares “woe” over the church people (religious folk) who failed to practice His message of love, justice and inclusion saying :

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites” 

for failing to live out the truth of God.

Has the Body of Christ, the people of God sold our birthright for a mess of pottage (for denominationalism, Americanism, Capitalism)?:

John Wesley raises this concern for the future of Methodism – “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” 

Martin Luther King, Jr. offers this analysis - “The contemporary church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s often vocal sanction of things as they are.”

Have we Christians not known, not heard, not believed, not understood the God of our lives, the God of creation, the God of our church? Have we become consumed by our quest for the American dream and a perverted distortion of Christianity and the Church? Are we in the wilderness condemning the Joshuas and Calebs (they see and believe in the power of God) to the status quo? 

Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Upon Peter’s God inspired revelation, Jesus says: “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19).

In our quest to “grow the church” and build physical churches have we missed God?

With Peter’s revelation and belief, Jesus promises to give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Isn’t heaven, God’s perfect plan and place for all who believe? We pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – what is in heaven that we need God to release on earth? Have we given up seeking and discovering what Jesus meant and decided to build and worship golden calves (everyone and everything except Yahweh)? The kingdom of heaven sounds like a spiritual attainment, an other than earthly pursuit, one that has power and significance capable of circumventing and destroying sin and death. Is the church like the government intent on maintaining systems that rewards a minority and blinds the majority? It seems Jesus envisioned an outbreaking of the Paraclete (Holy Spirit) that would destroy the enemies of heaven and any attempting to thwart the kingdom come on earth.

If heaven represents the ultimate goal and can be had and experienced on earth, what does it look and feel like? We pray, “Our Father who art in heaven. . .thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” but what happens when God’s will is accomplished on earth as it in heaven? 

I have experienced glimpses of heaven on earth, my desire is to know and receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven. I remember the excitement and anticipation when I could finally drive and my parents gave me the car keys (to their Chevrolet Corsica and Chrysler Fifth Avenue), I believed therein lied my freedom and power. I have a hunch when I receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven, God will release dunamis which is miraculous power, ability and strength. If the keys to the kingdom of heaven are filled with such great power that Hades (hell and the devil) can’t overpower, why are Christians allowing the enemy of this world to rule the church, the culture, and the city?

Perhaps, we have not yet received or sought the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

I’m foolish enough to believe that Love loosed from heaven will terminate and abolish the sin(s) that plague humanity - idolatry, hatred of neighbor, covetousness, greed, etc. and all perversions which exalt creation over God.

In my absence from social media, I ask your prayers that I will hear revelation from the God of Love, Grace and Justice as to how best to submit my gifts for God’s glory and as useful to bring the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Pray that God strips me of religion and clothes me with God’s anointing, God’s righteousness, God’s Mercy, God’s Justice, God’s Grace and that God instructs me how to Love and lead others to the promised Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” and that I faithfully continual to share the truth of Jesus and the Gospel.

Thank you in advance for your prayers as I “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Inspired By Love,

Marcus