“Twitter”-de-dum

 

 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5;13

Them: You have to be on Twitter. If you want anyone to visit your website or read anything you write, you have to be on Twitter. Fifteen minutes a day, that’s all it takes. (My interpretation)

My response: Grumble, grumble, growl! I already waste too much time in a day on Facebook. Why do I have to do this?

I know that I am grumbling like the Israelites in the desert as they were leaving slavery in Egypt, The truth is that I don’t “have” to do this at all. But anyone who knows anything (“SuzyQ” and “The Platform” by Michael Hyatt have been my advisors) about getting people to read a blog or hire speakers or authors of books, knows that the current way to “build a platform” is on social media and especially Twitter. Sigh.

Over the weekend I heard some teaching on freedom in Christ. The speaker pointed out that the Israelites complained about God’s taking them out of the slavery they had been subjected to in Egypt for four hundred years. Of course that means that the current generation only knew slavery. They had no idea what freedom felt like. Quite frankly, as they wandered in the wilderness because they would not obey God, slavery looked good. They had known what to expect, they had a routine, they had three meals a day, and no decisions to make. Slavery sounds like prison but for them it was comfortable because they knew what to expect.

The freedom that we have in our salvation does not mean that we are free to do as we please or make ungodly choices. Our freedom is the freedom to do the right thing and the things God calls us to. The Israelites were not encouraged to live godly lives by the Pharaoh of Egypt who had enslaved them. Only as God took them out of Egypt to the Promised Land would they be able to follow God whole-heartedly.

This is where I feel like we get in ministry for the Lord. With all my heart I believe God has called me to teach for Him, “to go where He calls me to go and speak what He tells me to speak” (Jeremiah 1:7). He has freed me from many other responsibilities over the years so I have time to teach. He has given me endless hours of study in His Word so I am prepared to teach. And He has prepared the hearts of my husband, friends and family so they encourage and support me as I go.

Now I would like God to drop speaking opportunities in my lap with no effort and draw many people to my blog by just having the Holy Spirit prompt them. (What pride!). I think as though I were an Israelite in the desert after Egypt — I want it to be easy.

So, why is Twitter so objectionable to me? Why is it so hard for me to start something that so many wise people have advised me to do.  Pride and fear. Pride because I hate to look foolish and I don’t know what I am doing on Twitter and fear of what others will think of my foolishness. I do know that these are not godly traits. Father, forgive me.

The Promised Land for me is a few more speaking engagements than I am doing now and completing a book on mentoring and Christian friendship.  Clearly, even the Christian advice is, “get a Twitter account and let people know you are out there”.

The fear of man can keep us stuck in a place from which God intends to move us. I want to live in the freedom and abundance that God promises. Fear will keep me where I am, stuck in the slavery of Egypt. Bold faith will take me into the Promised Land.

I do not believe that Twitter is the Promised Land itself, but neither is it Egypt, it will not enslave me unless I let it. My hope is that it is one-step closer to that Promised Land than I am now.

If you want to see how it goes, you can follow me there.