Social Jesus

[Brad Fox]

I’m often intrigued by what I perceive as an addiction to social networks.  I’ve noticed that many of the 30 and under crowd will interact with me in a conversation, only to slowly “check out” in order to access their facebook page.  Although still physically present, they often lose track of the conversation we’re in, and can even progress to text their latest response to what they just read.  It’s awkward, to say the least.  I’m left waiting for a response to my thoughts (or intending to respond to theirs) and feel rather left out of their sphere of attention.  I’m also amazed when youngsters will respond to their ringing phone and totally leave the conversation with me.  It often seems that the virtual world has a powerful grip on them; more powerful than the physical presence of the person standing in front of them.  If you don’t believe me, go on a vacation trip with teens and observe how frequently some of them access their social networks.  Every 5-10 minutes is not an exaggeration.

I remember as a teen, being somewhat uncomfortable talking to adults and looking to end conversations that didn’t have a whole lot of meaning to me, but the thought of abruptly leaving a conversation with another person wasn’t realistic; you just didn’t do that kind of thing.  As I remember, it was a matter of regard for others’ feelings; a sense of respect.

Now mind you, I’m no novice when it comes to engaging youth in conversations.  As a long-time jr. high teacher and sr. high church youth program volunteer, I have learned to speak their language and relate to their culture.  I am pretty verbally and philosophically engaging and I can read their lives and dreams pretty well.  Youth often seek me out for conversation, not just me seeking to talk to them.

That may be the crux of the phenomenon; they may feel so comfortable with me, that they don’t hesitate to treat me as one of their own.  I have observed over the years that youth often cycle between real-time and virtual conversations.  Everyone in their age group understands; it’s important to stay connected in a larger global sense as well as a personal sense.

Still the kids themselves marvel at shows like “Catfish”, where adults get into long-term “dating” relationships in virtual space, only to find out that their romantic interest is not only a fantasy, but a cruel joke.  Witness the Notre Dame football player who conjured up a hypothetical girlfriend with a fatal disease.  How twisted can you get?  Where’s his reality?

Currently, at my school we are struggling as educators to respond to online bullying by 13 and 14-year-olds using facebook.  This is a legally touchy area, as students have First Amendment rights outside of the classroom to say whatever they want.  We have learned the hard way that a teen’s virtual image is at least important as their physical image, and probably many times more so.

Why so?  Because the world sees their virtual image.  When some bully or enemy confronts them at school in person, they only have to deal with that one, and they can rise to their own defense.  But when mean or threatening words appear on facebook, a student can be humiliated in front of the whole school or community, sometimes anonymously.  Damage control may be painful, or even impossible. 

This phenomenon got me to thinking recently.  What would Jesus do with a smart phone and social media?  The thought came to me of a particular scene from his life.  He had just been approached by the Jewish priest of the local temple to come save his dying son.  Imagine that Jesus has just posted his location and then received a text from the leader.  What language would the priest use; text shorthand?  Would he CAPITALIZE his words to emphasize the urgency of his request?  Would Jesus understand the gravity of the situation in a 134 character Tweet?  As Jesus encounters the priest in the crowd, would he then stop to post his status so that his “followers” would admire what he’s doing?

And what about that pesky woman crawling on her hands and knees seeking healing for her bleeding disorder?   As she strains to touch the “winged” sleeve cloth of his robe, would he stop to fully listen to her plight, or would He be tempted to check the number of “likes” for His latest status?  Or maybe answer the phone call from the family tending to the boy.

Yeah, I know.  It’s kind of crazy, right?

It seems to me that Jesus was keenly focused on each person who was directly in front of him throughout His life.  He didn’t ignore the social environment; He just adjusted it so that it blessed and restored such people.  Jesus wasn’t just available and approachable; He was fully engaged in the deepest aspect of each and every person He met.  Nothing could distract him from an emerging relationship.  Although society (“the world”) was screaming “disqualified, unclean, unrighteous, unworthy, broken, filthy” at his followers, He spoke powerful words of healing and acceptance into their lives.  He not only “undid” all the damage, but He restored them to the healthy, happy, meaningful persons He intended for them to be.

Social Jesus?  Yes, but not more concerned about society than the individual.  Jesus realized that societies are made up of individuals.  As the individual lives go, so goes the society.  So would Jesus use a smart phone and social networks?  I believe that the works of His life and the words of His heart could only be perfectly expressed in a person-to-person manner, just as He did it.  Ask the people who discovered His empty tomb…