Although there have been some ChurchMag posts that have called into question tweeting during a sermon, the focus has generally been on using technology during the church service more than the act of engaging in social media during the message itself.
Tim Challies has recently addressed the issue of social media during sermons with a resounding Don’t Tweet That Sermon! However, even Challies has recommended in the past, Don’t Bring Your iPod to Church, something he admits to be a “rebuke” that “seems almost quaint,” now.
Will sermon tweeting follow the same course?
Here are the four reasons Tim Challies is against tweeting during sermons:
1. “Tweeting distracts people around you.”
This is one of the lamest reasons. I’ve always thought the “distraction” argument was weak. If the speaker has engaged you, nothing is going to distract you so much that you’re going to miss the point. Besides, if you’re taking notes and following along, the person in the pew over isn’t going to distract you. I believe this argument works initially, but fades over time as everyone becomes acclimated to the technology that seems to be a distraction. When was the last time you saw a group of people huddled around listening to the radio? Over time, technology losses its “awe” and our attention to it changes.
2. “Tweeting reduces a sermon to it’s tweetability.”
What? Quotes are used all the time! In fact, many ministers use quotes during their sermon. No one stands behind the pulpit and reads an entire work of A.W. Tozer or C.S. Lewis. Instead, they share a quote or two. How is a tweet any different? Moreover, a recent post on the dominance of Christian leaders on Twitter attributed, in part, to the tweetability of scripture:
“On average, verses in the King James Version are about 100 characters long, leaving room to slip in a #bible hashtag and still come in under the 140-character limit.”
3. “Tweeting is two-way.”
Now we’re getting somewhere — almost. Tim Challies has a good point, here. Twitter, Facebook, and all other forms of social media seem to be completely interpersonal, but they aren’t. Don’t get me wrong, it can be and often time is, but social media is more about reaching the masses than it is two-way communication. Go ahead and drop a controversial comment and you’ll quickly find that social media isn’t about two-way communication, it’s about group communication — it’s about the masses. I give Challies a half a point here, as he also talks about the medium being “inherently distracting and inherently responsive.” True, but only if you’re using a Twitter app. Many Bible apps have social media built in, making it easy to broadcast to the masses without the responsive element. The “two-way communication argument” falls a little short of being a good reason not to tweet during the sermon.
4. “Tweeting changes your focus from yourself to others.”
If there was any reason not to tweet or use social media during a sermon, this is it. When you’re taking notes, the focus has more to do with capturing the meaning and message of the speaker and nothing else. When we begin to engage social media, we shift the focus from the speaker to ourself. It inevitably becomes about us and is precariously close to drawing out our own commentary. Tim Challies is spot on with his assessment:
“As you send out updates via social media, you are now thinking about how other people need this message more than how you need it. You are trying to apply it to them rather than yourself. This is one way in which tweeting is inherently different from writing notes in a notebook. You take notes primarily for your own benefit and as a way of helping your memory. You tweet for the sake of others.”
Yeah.
Forgot about the first three points Challies listed, this one is a keeper.
Conclusion
Before reading Tim Challies’ post Don’t Tweet That Sermon!, I was hung-ho when it came to using social media during sermons. However, I have certainly lost that edge and have entirely reconsidered my perspective on the issue. What’s wrong with taking notes during the sermon and tweeting later? Besides, it’s a good idea to think before we tweet.
I’m all about technology and the Church, but I think it would be wise to pursue prudence on this. Once social media use is wholly accepted during sermons, there will be no turning back. Let’s make sure we’re looking both ways before we think about crossing this line.
What do you think about tweeting (or using any other forms of social media) during the sermon?
Dustin W. Stout says
I think I was right with you through these points. Challies is behind the times on the first three, but the 4th point does have some weight. That is, in the context of tweeting a quote. Tweeting a scripture is a different thing I think…
I don’t generally tweet during a sermon, but I have occasionally hit the “share” button really quick on a scripture while reading on YouVersion mobile. It takes all of 7 seconds (I actually timed it) to share a verse using the built-in tool. That’s just enough time to fill the dramatic pause most pastors take after reading the sermon.
Eric Dye says
Word.
John Hughes says
We actually began experimenting with live tweeting during last weeks sermon at our church. And I too worried about number four, but I think with the appropriate use of hash tags tweeting can actually be the same as taking notes, but on a corporate setting. I tweeted the parts that I thought important, or revelations I had from it, then after the service was over searched our unique hashtag to not only review my notes, but the thoughts of others. I think of more as group note taking.
Eric Dye says
I agree, John. The way you are going about it sounds really healthy. Great idea! Would love to know how it’s going in a few more weeks. Drop me a line if you can eric[at]churchm.ag
Josh Tandy says
#4 seems to make sense in terms of a concern, but the others are shaky particularly #1. I’m seeing a lot of people using their phones or tablets to take notes, read Scripture, etc. As it becomes more normative I don’t think people are paying attention to what app is up.
Eric Dye says
Agreed (obviously — LOL!).
Paul Clifford says
I think #4 is the best reason TO tweet. I don’t want anything to be about me. I want to always be concerned about others, not in a “see this is what you need to learn you filthy heathern (sic!)” way, but in a “I want people who couldn’t make it to this service to hear the great stuff I’m hearing; I’d appreciate if they did the same for me” sort of way.
Saying that #4 is a reason to not tweet falls victim to the classic blunder, no not starting a land war in Asia, or matching wits with a Sicilian when death is on the line, but thinking that you go to church to be fed. That’s why so many people don’t serve; they want to receive and not give. Jesus said we should give, and not try to just receive, if we want to be blessed. I agree. I attend three services a weekend at our church because I want to give, not passively receive. The funny thing is that as I give, I do receive. That’s also why I tweet.
Paul
Author of “Tweeting Church”
Eric Dye says
Ah-ha. Down to the issue of the heart. Motivation is huge.
Charles Specht says
This post is a keeper. And as a pastor myself…..I endorse this message!
Eric Dye says
Thanks, Charles!
Scott says
No-one should be tweeting or using any kind of social media during a worship service. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20 Using a mobile device or iPad is okay if you are using it exclusively for reading the Bible, but would you honestly be Tweeting or posting something on Facebook during a sermon or worship service in the company of Jesus? That’s not only totally disrespectful to your church/congregation but it’s not showing reverence to God.
Greg says
I have no desire to use social media during a service as it would only be a distraction to me! I prefer to keep my attention on what the Pastor is saying and focus on the topic being taught.
If you miss a comment the Pastor makes…you can’t go back and hit replay.
All that being said, I am not against social media being used during a service and here is why;
1. Twitter is quiet and non-disruptive.
2. Facebook doesn’t make noise either unless you are playing a video, which you should not be!
3. If you are engaged in the sermon, someone quietly using a social media app. should not in any
way disturb you…unless you are feeling righteously indignant….in which case may I politely
suggest that you are wrong.
4. Lets face it, social media is here to stay…and these media are not a fourth as disruptive as
someone’s cell phone going off!!
5. How about babies and kids crying? That is a real distraction. Now before anyone gets all
indignant about what I just said….lets be honest here, a babies prolonged crying and fussing is
very disturbing. Don’t get me wrong here, I work with kids and like them. Parents need to take
them out in the lobby and see to their needs.
Eric Dye says
Tells us what you really think, Greg? 😉
A lot of what you’ve outlined is being simply polite and honorable to those around you.
So then, what would you think if you were having a conversation with someone and they started to tweet while you were talking to them?
Marc says
It was either at Catalyst in ATL or Story last year that I heard a speaker encourage listeners to “Eat it before you tweet it.” It wasn’t the best rhyming metaphor but I loved his point. Don’t tweet a motivational, convicting, guiding, etc tweet until you’ve had time to digest the point for yourself. I think the “tweet before you eat” phenomena is similar to people wanting to recommend a new band or book before they’ve even finished “consuming”. Everybody wants to be a frontrunner for something and tweeting allows us to get our thoughts out before the next guy. To counter this in my own life, I too have moved to taking notes and tweeting later. If the message is worth sharing, it will still be worth sharing in a few hours or a day later.
Eric Dye says
Good stuff. Thanks, Marc!
Precious says
I actually tweet during service at my church. As the webmaster I encourage my social media tech to tweet direct quotes during service. These are usually exact quotations of what the minister speaks on. We also have other avenues for people to make sure the full message is getting across. Our final tweet usually directs them to the website for notes and audio of the entire message that is free to anyone that visits the site. We have had several people who may have been traveling and or absent for service for some reason or another that felt like they were attending live b/c of our tweet feed. I guess until we implement a digital campus and live service this will have to do for now. 🙂
Eric Dye says
This sounds like a well thought-out and executed strategy — awesome!