An observation about social media comment sections in light of the Witch Walk furor

Let's be honest, the uproar that ensued after this week's post on the St. Patrick Parish FB page about the Witch Walk brought out the worst in a whole lot of people.  Like many of you, I read a good number of the comments (before they were all restricted somewhere north of the 3k comment mark), and the vast majority of them revealed a level of anger, pettiness, and judgmentalism that we sadly have come to expect from the worst aspects of social media.

My follow-up post on the subject: What the furor over the Witch Walk in Franklin can teach us about Christian cultural engagement was received with much less rancor and positive interaction than the original St. Patrick post was written in response to, thank you to everyone for that.  Much of the difference can be attributed to the nature of the posts themselves, one inflamed passions and the other was trying to calm them, but I've notice a significant difference when comparing the comments that have since occurred about my post on my personal page vs. on 1st Baptist's page.

What's the difference?  For those who know me, at least well enough to be FB friends, the comments have been almost universally polite, even kind.  But on the 1st Baptist's FB page, where those commenting have been much less connected to myself personally (and my comments appear as the institution speaking, not a specific person), the comments have been significantly less gracious, with several veering off into being argumentative, even mean.  This same phenomenon held true when I posted the link to my blog post on someone else's thread, with those responding not being my own FB friends, but friends of that person instead, the end result was less civility, less grace.

{FYI, I've noticed this for years, as a person who maintains a blog, I share posts in relevant threads online from time-to-time, the reception of them there is almost always worse than when sharing the same content on my own feed only.  The level of misunderstanding increases, especially when it comes to people assuming that I have horrible motives behind my words.}

It is as if (and this is no novel observation), that lack of human relationship between people, even one as tenuous as a FB friendship can be, acts as a permission to be the worst jerky versions of ourselves.

As a Christian, this says something to me about fallen human nature, it echoes the lesson of William Goldin's Lord of the Flies that, "the beast is us," and it only takes the addition of a little bit of anonymity to unleash it.  It is a reminder of our universal need for a Redeemer.

When it is Christians, or at least those claiming to be Christians, who are using anonymity to behave in this reprehensible manner, it tells me something deeply sad about the health of the Church in America today.

But it also reminds me of something I've always known, something that buoys my optimism about the future: Relationships matter.  No matter how much of our daily lives gets sucked into our phones, social media apps, and anonymous interactions online, we crave real genuine face-to-face contact with people who know us and care about us.  We can't help it, our Creator made us as relational beings.  For this reason, I'm not putting stock in the future of online churches.  You can't get a warm handshake, even a hug, see someone else's smile, hear their laugh, when you're interaction is through a screen.  If your church, like my church, actually welcomes new people with kindness and genuine acceptance, you have something that people in this world need, and something that our society is leaving them more and more desperate for.

Long story short, we shouldn't be surprised that after the St. Patrick Parish's Witch Walk post went viral, and the majority of those commenting had no idea where Franklin is, what St. Patrick Parish is like (ie. that they run a food pantry that helps people in our community every month), or even the name of its priest, that the commentary became meaner, darker, and uglier by the minute.

Do yourself a favor, spend less time in front of a screen interacting with people you don't really know, and more time in the same room as people who know you, can grow to like you, and by the grace of God love you too.

Sermon Video: Jesus loved to the end - John 13:1

 Contemplating the Last Supper (in our celebration of Maundy Thursday) through the eyes of John's commentary at the start of his extended section regarding Jesus' passion. For all of John's deep philosophical and theolgoical material, this introduction to the culminating days of Jesus' mission on earth has but one theme: Jesus loved his friends. What was on Jesus' mind when Judas approached with the mob, when standing before the Sanhedrin, when being mocked and beaten by the soldiers, when hanging in agony from the cross? His love for his friends. A simple truth, but a profound one.

Sermon Video: Isolation from, or Engagement with, the World? 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Having corrected the error at the Church of Corinth regarding the reality of the resurrection to come, the Apostle Paul concludes by reminding them that, "Bad company corrupts good character." Is it true that, "One bad apple spoils the bunch"? Or can a bunch of good apples help the bad one? Which was does influence flow? Good to bad, bad to good, or both? As Christians we have an obligation to be engaged with the world, building friendships and connections to non-Christian people for the sake of the Gospel. How can we be the salt that Jesus commands us to be if we stay safe in our salt shaker of isolation? At the same time, we must retain our salty nature by ensuring that the weightiest influences in our lives are ones that are righteous and holy. This is a balance between isolation (from the world's corrupting influences) and engagement (for the sake of the Gospel) that each Christian and each church must maintain in order to be effective. We do need to be salt (righteous influences upon those living in darkness), and we also need to surround ourselves with enough other grains of salt (mature Christians) that we never risk losing our saltiness.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: Jesus and his friends - Luke 22:14-16

Less than twenty-four hours before his brutal death upon a Roman cross, Jesus celebrates the Passover with his chosen disciples; his friends.  He tells them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  For Jesus there was immense value in this time with his companions before he walked the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) alone.  Jesus' friends bolstered his courage and his hope, helping him find the endurance to complete the Father's plan and drink the cup placed before him.  We too require Christian fellowship to fulfill the tasks assigned to us by the Father.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

The value of friendships with fellow ministers.

As of this June I will have been ministering here in Franklin at First Baptist for 6 1/2 years.  Aside from the usual comments about how quickly the time has flown, after all Clara is now 3 and she didn't come with us from Michigan, comes an important question: What has made my time serving here effective, and what has made it enjoyable?  To be able to say that it has been both is a blessing from God, I know that many of my fellow ministers would be happy with one of the two as they toil in the field of the Lord.  Much of the credit beyond that given to God, the obvious first choice, and my congregation (both those who were here when I arrived and those who have joined us since then), lies with the fellow ministers that I have had the privilege of working with here in Franklin and Venango County.

When I arrived 6 1/2 years ago I was the new guy, and even though I was in my mid 30's, the "young" guy.  As I was working to understand what my priorities needed to be here at this church, I was approached by Pastor Jeff Little from First United Methodist, the church literally across the street (we share an intersection).  I don't remember that first interaction all that vividly, but from that point moving forward, Jeff has been my (and my wife's) best friend here in Franklin, and a partner in many a ministry endeavor.  The local ministerium, which meets at Christ UMC (half a block away) was also an opportunity to be a part of something I had never experienced before, a regular gathering of ministers.  At my previous pastorate in Palo, MI there were only two churches in town and both myself and the Methodist minister were bi-vocational; attending ministerial meetings, even if there had been any locally to join, would have been impossible.  Here in Franklin, by contrast, there were about ten ministers who met each month to not only discuss common ministry efforts (food pantry, Good Friday crosswalk, a Central Help Fund), which alone is an amazing thing to have as an asset, but also to simply spend a morning each month in each other's company.  At those monthly meetings we began to build not only trust and a cooperative spirit, but also friendships. 

Of what value is it to know that as a minister you are but one of God's workers in this field, and that the others who labor alongside you are not your rivals but your friends?  It is of immense value, beyond calculation. 

Of the group that I joined back in 2012, sadly this July I will be the last regular attendee to remain.  Mother Holly (St. John's Episcopal), who befriended my wife and thus earned much credit in my book, but who also had a tremendous heart for the poor, left a few years ago to a new opportunity in AZ.  Pastor Scott Woodlee, the intellectual of our group, and a whiz with ancient languages, left for a new opportunity near Pittsburgh.  This month Pastor Jim Leichliter (our longest serving member) is retiring from the First Church of God.  At the end of June, both Pastor David Janz (2nd longest serving member, Christ UMC, and a man I consider to have been a mentor to me here) and my friend Pastor Jeff Little are being transferred to a new charge (UMC pastors are itinerant, they are moved roughly every seven years). 

When the ministerium reconvenes after our summer hiatus in September, the faces around the table will be entirely new since I arrived.  Because the Franklin area churches have a long history of ecumenical service and worship, I fully expect our collective efforts to carry on as before, but even as I attempt to forge new friendships around that table it will be fairly stunning to have gone from being the new guy to being the old guy in under seven years. 

Of what value are the men and women to me who gather together as the Franklin ministerium?  Priceless.  To those who minister in a community without an effective ministerium, I say this: Find one, create one, do what you need to do to forge relationships with those who like you serve the Church of Jesus Christ in your community.  It may not be easy, and you'll never get everyone to participate, but it'll be worth it; over and over again, it'll be worth it.

Sermon Video: The Passover before the Passion - Luke 22:15

In this abbreviated Maundy Thursday message, the words of Jesus before he institutes Communion with his disciples remind us that Jesus was relying upon outside support as he prepared himself to endure the passion that would begin in only a few hours.  The Passover meal itself was a reminder to Jesus of the faithfulness and power of his Heavenly Father, something Jesus would need as he placed his walked toward Calvary to willingly sacrifice his life.  Jesus chose to eat that last meal, with all of its symbolic reassurances for him, with his friends.  These eleven men had traveled the dusty roads with Jesus, had learned from his teaching and aided his ministry, but more than that they were his friends.  Trusting in God, and leaning on your friends, a wise choice from Jesus as his time of trial began, and a wise reminder to us about the value of the family of God in our own lives.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: The early ministry of Saul - Acts 9:23-31

Do thinks that start poorly, always end poorly?  In our lives, and throughout history, we see examples of things that didn't start well, but in the end were a success, the ministry of the newly converted Saul is no different.  Three years after his conversion, Saul is in Damascus, but he has somehow worn out his welcome with his fellow Jews who have now decided that they should kill him.  Saul manages to escape Damascus and flee to Jerusalem, but this isn't exactly a stellar start to the career of a man that God has designated as his "chosen instrument".  In Jerusalem things aren't any better, the disciples are afraid to meet with Saul because they can't be sure that his conversion is genuine and not a trick.  It appears as if Saul's second attempt to serve God will also end in failure.
At this moment of potential despair, a man steps in who will become a life-long friend and missions partner of Saul, Barnabas.  For reasons we aren't told, Barnabas decides to risk his own reputation by vouching for Saul.  Not only does Barnabas take Saul to the apostles, but he testifies on his behalf that his conversion and preaching in Damascus were genuine.  Thanks to Barnabas, Saul finds acceptance among the original disciples of Jesus, perhaps things are finally looking up for Saul.
After preaching in Jerusalem to the Grecian Jews, Saul once again faces death threats.  This is the second time he has tried to preach to his own people about Jesus, and the second time the response has been rejection of the message (by most) and a desire to kill the messenger.  Is the problem with the people Saul is witnessing to, or is the problem with Saul?  If violence follows you wherever you go, wouldn't you start to think that you might be taking it with you?
Unfortunately for Saul, the apostles have had enough of the violence associated with this fiery preacher and they send him back to his hometown of Tarsus.  The text of Acts seems to flow quickly, but much time will lapse before we see Saul again.  In fact, it will be nine years until Saul is once again asked by the apostles to be a part of their missions efforts, until then he's on his own.  There is, however, a word of encouragement in that message for Saul when it finally arrives because the messenger who will bring to Saul word of the work that needs to be done in Antioch will be none other than his friend Barnabas.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: "Friend, your sins are forgiven" - Luke 5:17-26

As Jesus once again heals the sick while he is teaching he is faced with a paralyzed man lowered through the roof by his friends.  Upon seeing their faith (the plural is intentional), Jesus tells him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven".  The religious leaders are rightly offended by Jesus' usurpation of God's sole right to forgive sins, and wonder who he really thinks he is.  To back up his claim, Jesus does the easier task, he heals the man of his paralysis.  Only God can forgive, Jesus, declaring himself to be the Son of Man (acc. to Daniel's prophecy), has just laid claim to being God...This episode beautifully illustrates how we can help those in need find faith and forgiveness, as we ourselves did at the foot of the cross.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video