Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

We’re Facebook friends. And even at that, I would call us Facebook acquaintances. I don’t know her well, except we greeted each other in the school halls and during field trips. Our kids were in the same grades at the same school before we moved three years ago. 

Her theology and politics are light years from mine. And occasionally, I think it’s time to purge. But I’m strangely drawn to her messages. Hers is a faith lived out in real time, with all of its mess and drama and beauty. She isn’t afraid to name and thank God for the good. And she praises God too for the bad, for the opportunities for growth and change.

She beseeches God for strength while her husband recovers from a serious illness. And she posts a picture of his hospital wall, with a handwritten passage from Isaiah: “Be not afraid.” Apparently a doctor and some nurses asked about the sign, and together the couple offered their witness.

They traveled to Romania on a mission trip and have sold their house so they can be more responsive to God’s call for their lives.

I’m not sure what denomination of church they attend. Not Episcopalian, for sure. Way too many altar calls and out-front talk of the transforming power of Jesus.

I love our denomination. Its rich tradition connects me in powerful way to the apostles, to the dusty Upper Room, to the saints who grappled with doubts and questions. I love our focus on the three-legged stool, of discernment through scripture, tradition, and reason. I am proud of our progressive embrace of those on the fringes.

But we have room to grow. And this Facebook friend models a way. 

I’m not naïve to think that we can move from frozen-chosen to effusive evangelism. For most of us, that’s not our style. But we can and must be more willing to talk about our faith. Not just in Bible studies and yoga sessions, but in all of the communication venues of the 21st century. I’ve heard people say that if your church doesn’t have a website in today’s world, then it doesn’t exist. The same might be said about your faith on Facebook (and Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) If you don’t mention God in your social media, then have you relegated your faith to analog only? 

We can take baby steps toward this type of public witness. Instead of writing that we’re lucky, we type that we’re blessed. When the house sells, the kids win a race, the blooms of the Dogwood light up our yard, we can thank God. And when we need intercession, for healing, for forgiveness, for patience, we ask for it, sometimes publicly.

God calls us to go and make disciples. We can’t answer that call unless we’re willing to risk, to be vulnerable, and to make our faith front and center in all we do.    

Don't miss a blog post! Subscribe via email or RSS, using the grey box on the upper right.