Today on the Ligonier blog is an article by Ed Stetzer from this month's Table Talk Magazine, titled The Blessings of the New Media. Many have expressed concern that emerging social media will hinder authentic face-to-face gospel community, but Stetzer says it can be a blessing to the local church in four ways:
- While social media does not provide community it can assist in building it.
- Social media can communicate news within the local church.
- Social media can communicate biblical, inspirational messages.
- Social media can better acquaint people with the life and ministry of public ministers.
Stetzer's overall assessment is good. Social media is not, in and of itself, an enemy to authentic community. In fact, it can actually serve church body life.
That said, there are two comments Stetzer makes that I hope to bring some clarifying discussion to (which I believe he would also agree with).
1) Corporate church gatherings + Facebook ≠ real community.
Stetzer says:
Web services such as Facebook allow people who might see one another only during church on Sunday, or midweek in smaller community groups, to continue to share aspects of life they would not otherwise.
This is true. Social media can give us more points of contact with one another, whether through pictures, profiles, announcements, etc. However, we need to keep in mind that gathering with other Christians only one day a week for 1.5 hours, and the rest of the week restricting our correspondence to Twitter and Facebook, is not living out the New Testament vision. Even if we gather for worship twice a week, but do not minister to and enjoy one another more informally over meals, in times of crisis, and as friends, we are not living in the fullness of the gospel community God desires for us.
If social media replaces or even dampens a zeal for seeking out regular face-to-face exhortation, fellowship and encouragement, then it has hindered rather than helped.
2) Knowing someone on the internet ≠ really knowing them.
Stetzer says:
On countless occasions, young pastors have thanked me for blogging and tweeting about my family and how I prioritize them. Many listen more readily to me because they feel they know me already.
I understand what Stetzer means by this. The more we feel we know somebody, the more inclined we are to trust their message. However, the key word here is "feel." If you know someone only by their online presence you may feel that you know them, but you still don't know like you would if you were regularly around them. Stories abound of pastors leading a second, secret life, even while living in the same community as those they are deceiving. How much easier it is for a pastor—or anyone!—to create an online persona that is entirely different from their real self.
We should judge the fitness of our leaders not only by what they have contributed to the web, but also by how they interact with their family, cope with stress and handle adversity in real life. It is one thing for me to tweet about how I love my wife but quite another thing to truly love her.
With these clarifications in view, Stetzer's conclusion is right on: "Like all good things common to man, social media can be either a distraction or a blessing."
