I’ve notice a disturbing trend in the Church tech community.
It’s an all-out movement on tweeting during church services.
Although I am usually a voice in the choir singing the praises of social media used by the Church, this reckless abandon of social media use during church services doesn’t settle well with me.
Social Media with Purpose
Perhaps I’ve gotten the impression there has been a heavy promotion on tweeting during church in the Church tech community, because I’ve been reading tweets. There may be some other voices out there that I am missing, and it would make sense that church tweeting supporters are going to be heavier Twitter users.
Although I’ve written plenty of supporting posts on church Twitter use, I don’t fully support it. In a recent ChurchMag podcast, we explored some of the issues surrounding tweeting during church. Our basic conclusion, I think, was this:
Tweeting during church should be done purposefully.
Purposefully is the key, here, and I am certainly in support of that.
So let me ask those of you who are tweeting in church:
Why are you doing it? What is your purpose?
Unless you’ve got this figured out, logout, take sermon notes, and tweet later. Moreover, if your church leadership is not in support of it, you should respect their leadership role and give it a rest.
Purpose
If you do have a purpose of tweeting during church, be honest about it. I’ve heard some talk about evangelism, but until I start seeing some serious fruit from this, it sounds like a cop-out to me.
I think this goes for other forms of social media, too. I’ve seen many photos hit the Twitter stream of worship services. This isn’t going to “reach” anyone, this is only going to show that instead of engaging in worship, you’re using your smartphone.
This all being said, I’ve heard of some really cool stuff some churches and pastors are doing to use Twitter during services—and that’s awesome!
Self Control
Finally, did you know that studies have found similarities between the urges to drink and smoke with tweeting?
(Hmmm…maybe I should take-up smoking—you know, to reach the smoker community congregating outside the break room at work?)
Above all else, let’s not forget this:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” –Galatians 5:22-23
As much as I like the Church to be forward thinking and “on the cutting edge,” if you’re not 100% sure on the validity of your purpose of tweeting during church, I think it’s wise to error on the side of self-control.
What do you think?
Paul Alan Clifford (@PaulAlanClif) says
You knew I was going to disagree, didn’t you?
I tweet to taked notes and share. I try not to read other tweets, check my new followers, click on links, etc. In addition, I always try to remember to invite people to watch online before I start tweeting, so they can get the full context.
Maybe that is the purposeful tweeting you’re talking about.
I will say, I heard an interesting podcast this week that might be pertinent. http://mondaymorningmemo.com/newsletters/read/2081
His assertion (and Jerry Seinfeld’s, too) is that there is no such thing as “shrinking attention span,” but that people have so much that could entertain and engage them that speakers must be engaging. If they are, people won’t stray away as often.
As someone who does some public speaking, I take it as a call-up and a challenge to try and be so engaging that no one would willing to miss the next thing I say. I’m not there, but it’s possible. I’ve been so engaged that I haven’t even thought of taking out my phone, even when I plan to before what I’m doing starts.
Let the arguments begin. 😉 Love this community, btw.
Paul