In some respects, I should apologize for recycling this title from the last post. But I won’t because its the same words, but a totally different approach – social networks.

Many people enjoy the idea of being on or using social networks as part of their outreach components. And this isn’t a bad thing as social networks have taken storm worldwide as virtual meeting places for all types of people within all types of social circles. The problem becomes when people in the Body, start facing the social network more than they are facing God thru Christ Jesus.

For instance, there are over 300 million people on Facebook – that’s more than the total population of the United States. Of those 300 million active users, there are a number of groups, walls, and fans of all kinds. Many ministries are using Facebook as engagement platforms for their endeavors – such as Digital Disciples. The thing is, its only an engagement – the relationship has to go forth after that so that the network remains within the social times.

As believers, we have to constantly check ourselves within the use of these social networks towards making sure that we aren’t just engaging people within these spaces, but that we are literally facing the commission as it was given to us. We don’t just engage with people, but we also find a ways to get both them and us to face the Book so that the work of Christ has a place to take root. If you will, be Jesus with skin on to people, don’t just pass them a business card with His name and address on it.

Its easy to fall into this while going out and about online. But I want to encourage you to not be lax in this aspect of your calling. And when you do make those discipleship relationships, treat those persons with the same grace and gentleness that you were given. You never know when it would come back to you, abounding in pages and pages of grace.