Social Media Revolution
Amazing use of video to explain something that some of us know…but all of us should. My question is how can we embrace the technology in a way that brings Glory to God? Sure the social networks are great for marketing/advertising/getting the word out…but how can we use it to share Christ. This is something that I ask myself over and over…can we as Christians create culture? The message is amazing…better than any new ipod or flat screen…how can we get Gen Y and beyond to use social media to share their faith? Is it just a high tech Christian T-shirt or can it be much more than that? Isn’t this fun…? There are many apps that allow us to read scripture and share “thoughts of the day”…but what else can we do?
I want to start out by saying that I am a fan of social media! I use Facebook most often but I also have a MySpace and Twitter account. There are however a few things that worry me with regards to this social media revolution. The first is that in terms of grammar, spelling, and english syntax we seem to be digressing as a society! Students use short hand and mispelled words so much that it just becomes common practice in other areas of their life. I wonder what the effect will be 10 or 20 years down the road? The second problem I have with social media is that students seem to use it (at times) as a separate life than the one they actually live. Online they can be anyone they want. Another problem which is similar to the previous one is that some students use facebook to reveal who they really are. It breaks my heart to look at a student's profile and see their religious affiliation as “christian” but then look at their pics, quotes, postings, etc. and see that there is nothing really Christian about anything that they do. A final problem I have with the social media issue is that we have become really impersonal! We'll talk on facebook and twitter openly about anything but we avoid face to face interaction…I also wonder the implications of this 20 years down the road.
Anyway, none of that really answers any of your questions Dustin. How can we use Social Media for the Glory of Christ? Well, one way I think is by making sure the things we post etc. are God honoring. Also, I personally think that we may only be able to go so far with Social Media… In other words, we cannot forget the face to face time that we need to spend with people. Finally, I want to add that Social Media can be used as a great resource to get the message of Christ out there to people all across the world! So, I am by no means a social media hatuh, I just think we need to think creatively on how to use it better for the glory of God.
All that and I really didn't answer any of your questions!
I want to start out by saying that I am a fan of social media! I use Facebook most often but I also have a MySpace and Twitter account. There are however a few things that worry me with regards to this social media revolution. The first is that in terms of grammar, spelling, and english syntax we seem to be digressing as a society! Students use short hand and mispelled words so much that it just becomes common practice in other areas of their life. I wonder what the effect will be 10 or 20 years down the road? The second problem I have with social media is that students seem to use it (at times) as a separate life than the one they actually live. Online they can be anyone they want. Another problem which is similar to the previous one is that some students use facebook to reveal who they really are. It breaks my heart to look at a student's profile and see their religious affiliation as “christian” but then look at their pics, quotes, postings, etc. and see that there is nothing really Christian about anything that they do. A final problem I have with the social media issue is that we have become really impersonal! We'll talk on facebook and twitter openly about anything but we avoid face to face interaction…I also wonder the implications of this 20 years down the road.
Anyway, none of that really answers any of your questions Dustin. How can we use Social Media for the Glory of Christ? Well, one way I think is by making sure the things we post etc. are God honoring. Also, I personally think that we may only be able to go so far with Social Media… In other words, we cannot forget the face to face time that we need to spend with people. Finally, I want to add that Social Media can be used as a great resource to get the message of Christ out there to people all across the world! So, I am by no means a social media hatuh, I just think we need to think creatively on how to use it better for the glory of God.
All that and I really didn't answer any of your questions!