Creating a Jesus Revolution with Social Media – Response & Discussion

“The use of social media is credited with energizing the revolution in Egypt. What does that say about the potential of social media to create a revolution for Jesus in your community, one that leads to transformed lives? And what does is teach us about using social media for outreach locally and internationally?”

Those are the questions  posed to Jeff Gibson, Brandon Cox, and Chris Forbes in a panel-discussion-styled blog post titled Creating a Jesus Revolution with Social Media on Pastors.com

They’re great questions and Jeff, Brandon, and Chris provide some great insight. Unfortunately, pastors.com doesn’t facilitate discussion and comments, so here we are… let’s discuss.

My take…

1)  Social media has the potential to be used to facilitate a revolution, but it can’t create a revolution. Only people who would rather die in a revolution than live in the status quo can start a revolution. Do the people in your church want a Jesus revolution that badly? Do you?

2) While many church leaders say they want to see a Jesus revolution, I think most only want to see it on their terms. They want to make sure everyone is adhering to the correct doctrine and following the right protocol in worship, evangelism, discipleship, and so on. How do I know this? Because the vast majority of churches only encourage and fund their own initiatives or those of their denomination. Many churches won’t even allow their own members to take action without the approval of a pastor or board.

I don’t think revolutions work that way. They are rarely “led” in the conventional sense. Revolutions are more like wildfires. If you want them to burn, you fan the flames, you remove the obstacles, you throw fuel on the fires, you try to bring together small fires that could go out on their own in order to form one big fire.

I think if churches want to see a Jesus revolution, they ought to…

• Recognize you cannot create a revolution, but you just might be able to help facilitate one.
• Watch social media to see where the fires are burning brightly in your community whether they’re within your church or not.
• Use social media to promote those people, groups, and movements that are producing results whether they’re within your church or not.
• Use social media to tell inspiring stories and more importantly to share other people’s inspiring stories where the revolution is catching on.
• Use social media to build relationships among like-minded revolutionaries.
• Use social media to share ideas and strategies that have worked for you, not to sell them or get others to use them under your control, but so that others can freely use them.

What do you think of the post on pastors.com and the role of social media in creating/facilitating a Jesus revolution in your community?

Paul Steinbrueck

Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com

Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.

An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.

Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.