The Gospel according to Social Media

I've been blogging here for *years*, and I'm also on Facebook. Last month I finally got on Twitter and Instagram. In learning how to express myself through different social media, complementary without being redundant, I also got a sense of... gospel harmony.

If you've read the four Christian gospels, you might notice that they're not exactly the same. Just like any book, each gospel has some traits based on the author and the intended audience. Let's look at those traits (according to experts as in here, and verifiable by you and me reading the books ourselves), and see the parallels with popular social media (in my humble personal opinion).

The Gospel according to Matthew

rj-mccauley.blogspot.com

Author's description:   Jew, former tax collector

Content:   Jewish Scripture, history, prophecies (e.g. Old Testament and other writings) 
Intended audience:   Jews or Israel

Focus on Jesus as:   King of the Jews, Immanuel ("God-with-us")

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Trespass offering ("trespass" = wrongdoing against God according to Jewish law)

Similar to which social media:   Blogs (e.g. Blogger, Wordpress)

Because of:   Ability to post unlimited text and images; Contain complete archives; Can easily link to other websites

 

The Gospel according to Mark

http://blogs.nsb.org/jonathanalexander/files/2010/09/mark.jpg

Author's description:   One of the 70 disciples, companion and scribe of Simon Peter

Content:  Quick, action-packed accounts; the shortest gospel
Intended audience:  Romans

Focus on Jesus as:  Servant, Prophet

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Sin offering ("sin" = wrongdoing in the general sense)

Similar to which social media:  Twitter

Because of:  Limited length of tweets and messages, emphasis on trending topics

The Gospel according to Luke

http://www.thatimaydwell.com/images/sermons/luke_lg.jpg

Author's description:   Doctor, non-Jew, companion of Paul

Content:  Accounts about the lost, weak, outcast (Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan)
Intended audience:  Greeks

Focus on Jesus as:  Son of Man, High Priest

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Peace offering (to reconcile outsiders to God)

Similar to which social media:   Facebook

Because of:   Emphasis on relationships (old and new), well-documented timelines

The Gospel according to John

http://pastorbrett.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/ibelieve_color.jpg

Author's description:   One of Jesus' twelve apostles

Content:  Word pictures (Jesus is the Light of the World, the Way, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life...) 
Intended audience:  All

Focus on Jesus as:  Son of God the Father, the Word of God made flesh

Focus on Jesus' sacrifice as:   Burnt offering (for worship)

Similar to which social media:  Instagram

Because of:   Emphasis on images

So there you have it. Please note that I'm not measuring the Christian faith with social network activity ;)  But I do hope that this post helps us appreciate the gospels more: in each book's uniqueness, and in their harmony (unity in diversity) in presenting Jesus, Son of God, Savior of mankind.