Modern times....

I have recently become acquainted with the 21st century, having acquired both a Facebook page and an iPod Touch, which is like an iPhone without the 2 year phone contract. This little wonder is awesome...I can paste stuff to Facebook, I can text anyone who has an iPhone for free (which is pretty much everyone in my family), I can fit thousands of songs, and I can use Netflix amongst other things. Facebook is great because I've gotten in touch with people who I haven't seen for years. However, I saw one thing today which has sort of had me distraught. There was a portrait of Jesus, and there was a link to click if you loved Jesus. This just strikes me wrong. If you don't like the portrait, which I didn't, you don't want to click the like link. It feels like blackmail to me. It's like those chain e-mails that tell you to forward this if you love Jesus, or not to if you don't care. I'm sorry, but I don't think clicking on a link or forwarding an e-mail proves my love for Jesus.

After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter,"Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "You know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. Once more He asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and others will direct you and take you where you don't want to go." Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me." (John 21:15-19)

Jesus asked him this after they had been out all night. Peter must have been exhausted from the effort of catching fish, and after a meal would have been ready to sleep. Jesus asked him this to test him. I think the question here involved much more than the superficial. Jesus didn't tell him to click a link or forward an e-mail to prove his love. He asked him to feed His sheep, and He even told him how far Peter would go to feed His sheep. It distresses me terribly today to see the amount of superficial Christian things out there like this. I think in the U.S. we have a very ankle deep understanding of Christianity. We know more about Islam or Hinduism or Buddhism than we do Christianity. One even has to be careful of what is offered on Christian bookshelves, as the ideas are not biblical. If you want to show your love for Jesus, then listen to Him, obey Him, and follow Him, as Peter did.