Maybe you have noticed some new updates to Facebook this week. In their desire to continue to develop the world’s largest social media website, they are constantly seeking to enhance many social aspects. Since 2009 they have had the following mission statement,
You can see this mission being carried out in many of their new updates. For example, this week they have added “What You’re Doing” to status updates. You can now share at any moment how you are feeling, what you are watching and reading, and activities. They have made it even more convenient to for people to share every aspect of their lives.
Another update for those who have an Android based phone is the “Home” feature. They state,
“Home – a new way to turn your Android phone into a great, living, social phone.”
Home turns your Android home screen into a window which “lets you see the world through people, not apps.” Once again making it easier for people to share more of life, as well as not miss other people’s. While it is undeniable that Facebook is doing this so they can track and share more advertisements, it is equally true that people desire to share as much of life as possible with other people.
God’s Plan for the Shared Life
Why are people so concerned with sharing every moment and experience with other people? The answer lies beyond the social media world, beyond the interested companies, and into the DNA of mankind. Facebook is merely attempting to tap into the way we are designed. You and I have been designed as social creatures. From the beginning pages of the Bible, you see God declaring, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” We were made to share life with other individuals. However, we didn’t get much farther into the pages of history when sin crept in and destoryed this shared life. You then see husband and wife blaming each other, brothers killing one another, and life being lived for the individual. There is more than time, location, and cyberspace between these relationships; there is sin. But there also lies a deep regret in the human experience when life is lived alone. However, we can never experience this shared life when sin continual separates us from God and others. Though we long for it, we cannot experience it even with wonderful programs like Facebook. This is where God steps in to the story and breaks the power of Sin. He becomes a man, experiencing all the separation sin has brought mankind, yet remains untainted by it. He even experiences the sin of mankind to its darkest depth through his bloody murder on the cross. However through His blood shed on our behalf He has broken the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:13-14), and upon His ascension He sends us a helper which empowers us to live shared lives (John 16:7).
Through the work of Christ there is now hope for us to experience this shared life. But how and where do we experience it? A short time after Christ’s ascension we see people beginning to share life once again. After the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles and 3,000 people repent and believe in the same day, scripture declares that they begin to share life together.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
and
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:32-37)
This shared life occurs by the power of the Holy Spirit within the Church. God chose for a shared life to take place in the community of people who recognize their sin, repent, and seek to no longer live for themselves but for Christ (Galatians 5:13-15). Though it is clear from God’s word that the church doesn’t do this perfectly, they are now able to experience a taste of the shared life. As we become more like Christ we will be able to experience more and more of this glorious design.
Your Shared Life
Your desire to share life with others is God ordained and a blessing which you shouldn’t deny. However, if you are looking to Facebook or any other social network to fulfill this deepest longing you will be sorely disappointed. You will find yourself longing for more. As hard as Facebook may try they will never be able to recreate what God designed. Looking through the timeline of history and your Facebook timeline will prove over and over again that when man seeks to be God he fails miserably. This is especially true of mankind as it seeks to handle relationships apart from Christ.
You can however experience this within the Church. You can experience shared life through the blood of Christ in the body of Christ, as God works in the hearts and lives of His people. Though the Church is full of sinners who will fail at times, God gives them the grace to repent and seek forgiveness. And often times when those within the church experience the pain of sin and the joy of forgiveness, they can experience the shared life even better.
Recommended Resources
Understanding the varying reading interest and abilities I have chosen to recommend books based on perceived levels. These are not scientific recommendations merely my attempt to better minister to the readers.
- Relationships: A Mess Worth Making
(Beginning) - True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia
(Intermediate)
Contribute to the Discussion
- How has your church helped you to share life with others?
- What Scriptures most encourage you to share life with others?
