So many, so what?

Back in 1973, long before Facebook was even a twinkle in anybody’s pixellated eye, Carl Anderson’s smouldering Judas sung these words in Jesus Christ Superstar:

If you’d come today you could have reached a whole nation.
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication.
Don’t you get me wrong.
I only want to know.

Today Jesus could have hosted a Facebook page, launched a Twitter account and multiplied his followers in no time at all. After all, if Charlie Sheen can do it, and gain one million followers in 25 hours 17 minutes, (announced as an official world record yesterday) surely Jesus could have done it too?

But he wouldn’t have done it, that’s the point.  Charlie Sheen has gained a following through his juggernaut-like publicity machine, his stream of colourful invective and his salacious lifestyle. None of these are worth the 1 million clicks he has solicited on the social media landscape.

Christianity is organic, and always will be. It is driven by a real encounter between finite human beings and an infinite Creator. It is then nurtured in that curious seedbed of faith, folly and frailty which we call church.

I’m a great enthusiast for all things digital, as readers of this blog will know. However, the Charlie Sheen machine should be a warning to all of us that there’s is more to it than just gaining followers!

Image: dimazgyba