This is the fifth post in a series. It might be helpful to start from the beginning. Or not. Whatever works best for you.
I’m a pretty funny guy. Notice that I did not say that I’m a fun guy. There is a difference.
People who are funny crack jokes and make people laugh. They need an audience. Fun people, however, attract a crowd who enjoy watching them have fun, and then they quickly turn into participants. I’m terrible with converting these people into participants, but I’m learning to try and so must you.
Social media must be social, conversational, invitational. As Christians, we believe in, serve, and love an invitational God. The Trinity has eternally existed as a loving community, and through Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection, we have been invited to enter into their divine relationship—not as divine equals—as inheritors, via grace, of the eternal life.
At our very core, we must an invitational community that focuses on moving casual onlookers to a consistent audience to committed participants. This must be true of our churches and our social media platforms. No one gets to heaven by sitting in a pew; similarly, no one will show up at your church or event just because they liked your page. You need to draw them in.
How?
I don’t know, but having fun might be the first step.
What that looks like, of course, should reflect you, your church leadership, your church congregation, and should resonate with your community. Don’t engage in “fun” behavior that is discordant with what your church is actually like. Giving the impression on Facebook that your church is “lit” will be counterproductive if your church worship services are actually more akin to a funeral.
However, posting a joke of the week on Facebook can’t hurt. Similarly, posting a funny picture from the office and asking for captions can’t hurt. Maybe even do a series of funny YouTube videos with a silly plot line, and let your followers decide how the series should end in a “choose your own adventure” style narrative. Basically, don’t take yourself too seriously.
Take God seriously. Take hell seriously. But, in the end, hold your reputation lightly so that you don’t give others the impression that your convinced of your own self-importance or are too elevated to have a laugh. I’d rather see more church act silly rather than serious on social media, allowing their humanitarian and community service to establish their reputation. Jesus was friendly, invitational, but also powerful and He extended that power to others, reaching into their situations to bring restoration where needed.
How can His church be any different? We can’t, if we hope to be effective in the long-term. Let’s have fun, love others, and show them a glimpse of the celebration that awaits us in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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