How Would Jesus Use Social Media?

An unpleasant encounter on Reddit this week made me begin a process I had been avoiding - recruiting new moderators for the Moderation Team. I was avoiding it because I didn't know how to use the tools that Reddit provides for this, and there always seemed to be more urgent things to learn about Reddit. 

I drafted an application, posted about the need and then began to wonder about the criteria I would use to evaluate applicants. Moderation experience?  Location and/or time zone?  Knowledge about the group's subject matter?

I found the answer in the scripture that Rev. Donna chose for us this week.

John 13. 21-35

After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. “One of you is going to betray me.”

The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about.  So, being the closest, he said, “Master, who?”

Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

“What you must do,” said Jesus. “Do it and get it over with.”

Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God’s glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

We can speculate a lot about how Jesus would use social media if he moved into our neighborhood in 2026. The only thing I know for sure is that however he used it, he would use it with love and grace.  Love one another, he said.  In this world so full of anger, pain, and loss, sometimes the most important thing is simply to be kind.

As a follower of Jesus, I'm always looking for practical ways to follow in his footsteps.  There are lots of other reasons to attend worship on Sunday too - we'll be gathering at the Lord’s table of grace, for example.

Image:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ibrahim.ID