Virtual resurrection witnesses
The beauty of Easter is not just found in the resurrection, but it is also found in the commission of Jesus Christ that followed. The fact that our Lord was risen from the dead by God the Father can not exist as just an occasional celebration on its own, but it must be an everyday motive by which we minister and obey the discipleship calling of Jesus.
All of the Messiah’s disciples, which includes us, are meant to be witnesses on both a local and global scale to the fact that He is resurrected—alive and enthroned at present in glory. (See Acts 1:8.) To put it simply, every day should be a day that our actions and speech announce the resurrection. That being said, with the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world in a way that has produced massive shutdowns, limiting human physical interaction, the question becomes, How do we do we bear witness to Jesus’ resurrection now?
I would encourage you to consider that in a season where the public square is functioning almost exclusively in a virtual arena, there is tremendous opportunity to witness in an exponential way. This is not a time to wait, but a time to rise up. Here are a few suggestions on how to do that now:
Post about Jesus regularly
None of us want to be forceful in our presentations of Jesus, but that does not mean that we can’t use some, if not a large percentage, of our online presence to share the joys of knowing and serving the resurrected Lord. It is easy to post Scripture or to post statements of gratitude and thanksgiving. If people were to look at your last 100 posts in any social media or online platform, what would they say is most valuable to you? Would it be your job, your family, your political allegiances, or yourself perhaps? The regularity of our proclamations speak to that which is our treasure.
Demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit
Online etiquette is extremely important in the way in which you bear witness. How would people describe you based on the tonality of your posts? If we truly belong to the risen Christ, then we have the promised Holy Spirit, who in turn bears fruit in us as we surrender to His leading. Rather than getting involved in complaining, condemning, or criticizing, a testimony to the resurrected King will be found in your “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23)
Share resources that explain your faith
There are so many excellent articles, books, podcasts, sermons, pieces of art, worship songs and more that proclaim in detail and with magnificence the wonder of the risen Jesus. Some people may not read what you have written or listen to what you have preached or recorded, but they may check out what others have. Celebrate others and their contributions that glorify Jesus – throw them as seed upon the open field of the virtual world and pray that they may have an impact.
Make your connection to your church public
Jesus Christ died for the Church, and He was resurrected in part to bring life to it. Your church, in spite of its faults and imperfections, is a gift to you from Jesus. He values your community of faith tremendously and desires for it to be a lighthouse that shines the glory of His resurrection down every street in its reach. As you connect via Zoom, Facebook Live, Church Online Platform, YouTube and in other ways, make it known how much you value being a part of the body of believers. In a time such as this, the hunger for true community has not abandoned humanity. Let people know just how much the church has to offer.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead to conquer sin and death once and for all for you and for me. Our Savior invites us not just to die to ourselves and become people of the cross, but also to follow Him into a resurrected life both now and forever – one that never stops bearing a humble witness to the joys that we are able to taste because of Jesus.
John M. Ames is the church planting pastor of Faith Community Church in Providence, RI.