The Harvest is plentiful...on social

but the workers are few

If you saw my post last night on Instagram or FB, it deals with the inhumanity of ending birthright citizenship: Of which my husband is one of those. I will not go into detail here, but I asked people to look at my husband and our family when they are posting memes and supporting a president who signed off to end the second amendment. For a people very into defending their 14th amendment to own guns, saying YOU CAN’T TAKE OUR AMENDMENT AWAY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, they lack that same energy for Amendment 2: People born here to anyone are citizens. But this is a great way to lose thousands of followers in 15 minutes. I’m also tired of the comments so I turned them off on FB and Insta and don’t recommend wasting your one wild and precious life on them.¹

That’s because proximity to what you are against begs humanity. People say, Oh we like Jami and her husband, they are good people. This is more nuanced than I thought². In the same way those who weren’t for gun reform until they lost a child from a school shooting or know someone who did. Those who go to the border and hear stories find themselves softening, “Oh, if that was happening to me, I would endure dangerous conditions to bring me and my child to the US.” It’s the same if you’re in a realtionship with a mom who has a kid that is LGBTQ and is ostracized in the church. It’s gut wrenching. You soften towards them, you pray, and you love them. This is not a conversation about truth and who’s right or wrong or what you would do in their shoes. You aren’t in their shoes, you wouldn’t choose that for yourself actually, but you have to be near it and see it and feel it. And you remember you are not in charge of making sure they make right choices but you are in charge of how you show up with love or indifference or hate.

Proximity is annoying because none of us want to have compassion for the other side, naturally. But proximity holds up a mirror and says, “Will you love even me? The least of these? Because I’m right here in front of you.” And it’s uncomfortable because it puts you in a position to have to decide something. Or to look in that mirror and not like what you see in the reflection. This moves people to change or it moves them to dig their feet in. When we don’t have proximity to the poor, the prisoner, the orphan, the foreigner, the least of these, then we can easily dehumanize. It’s us against them! They don’t matter as much as we matter! But more than proximity, it’s that we don’t know what God actually says.

Christian nationalism did a number on people because of this and it was effective! My goodness, was it effective. It swept the nation like a wild fire. That’s because social media is a mission field and people will be evangelized for something, if not God, something that looks religious. And people are on this crazy information highway for 6-8 hours a day. There are people of every tribe and nation there and Christians are ignoring the desperate need to show up on the field with the love of Christ and His teachings. In fact, Christians have been sickened and mostly abandoned these fields. I think, especially FB. But it is hoping’ and bopping’: false prophets with pulpits spreading outrageous propaganda in pretty religious boxes and people are being deceived by the minute. People don’t know what Jesus says about the poor but they know what capitalism says. But Jesus, He saw them and had compassion on them, like sheep without a shepherd. No one needs our condescension or memes, they need a shepherd.

Matt 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Social media is a ministry and it matters. The way to resist false prophets is actually to take a note from their successful playbook. The people need fed God’s word, and you can bring it to them. Be shrewd. Be clever. Do not be mean spirited, condescending and political or divisive. The only cure to this information mess we find ourselves in, are that people feast on God’s words and not the murky, mud field trough of power and politics. We don’t need to lose hope because we do not rest in who is in office. Resistance is in words, namely The Word, who is Jesus. People are deceived because they don’t have any idea that their bible preaches an upside down kingdom where the first are last! Where money is only a means for generosity and wisdom is the most valuable commodity. And yet, no one is asking for wisdom, which God says he will give freely! And he doesn’t come and take over the government, he dies by their hands.

If you’ve taken a break from social media, I would prayerfully consider rejoining the field, but with a different mindset: with Gospel goggles on³. I think women had a big part in spreading misinformation these last few years to those they trust and I believe women can have a big influence on spreading truth like a wild fire. Learn the scriptures, learn the context, and then teach them. At the least, post scripture, feed the people bread that lasts forever, water that is full of life. We’ve done a great job of critiquing the church now, I contend, may we use the same energy to build her back up⁴.

As sincerely as I can muster,

Jami

And if you read this, will you simply like this. It means a lot to authors!

Do you want good resources to have on hand when studying the scriptures?

NIV theological Study Bible (this is different than a typical study bible). Very thorough. Make sure you read the intros before you begin.

A podcast to listen to side by side while you’re reading a book of the Bible. And I recommend you try and read a book in one sitting (game changer for understanding themes), is BEMA. It’s theologically sound, thoughtful, and interesting. You’ll learn so much!

A great instagram to follow is Women of Welcome which tackles tough topics on immigration while advocating for a secure border and more pathways for legal immigration.

A great overall site for learning about the Bible with great orthodoxy with wonderful videos is the Bible Project

And of course My podcast with Amy Seiffert will come out in FEB! Can’t wait…

1. We had a really sad morning here, to be honest.

2. Or it makes them so so so mad, like I did something wrong by telling them the truth about my husband. Like I’m making it up. Or, the worst comment, that I’m doing it for engagement. Yes, I love losing followers! Great business and stress plan. LOL.

3. I know this is not for everyone. But at least pray about it?

4. I’m not saying we stop doing that. But at some point, all we’re doing is critiquing. What’s the remedy?