Texts, Tweets, Technology and Theology

By Kelly Soifer

Full disclosure: I have 1,381 friends on Facebook. Clearly, I spend some time on the infamous social network.

I have worked with youth since 1982. When I realized a few years ago that my youth group was on Facebook, I took the dive. From my early days of youth ministry until now, I have certainly seen things change. I’ve gone from making dittos in 1982 to advertising events through text messages today. How does one keep up with it all?

I teach religious studies at a Christian high school. Every night, if I choose to, I am able to witness many interesting dialogues between my students on Facebook. One discussion really cracked me up:

Student No. 1: SO it looks like my parents aren’t going to let me have Mass Effect [an Xbox video game] for another TWO months in all probability. They want to teach me PATIENCE. Whoopee.

Student No. 2: Hahahaha!! :D

Student No. 3: dude… you’re 16 and your parents are still having to teach you patience for something simple like a video game? c’mon…

Slightly Older Friend: My parents tried to limit me to “an hour Saturday, an hour Sunday” of computer time when I was growing up. It didn’t stick.

[More grumbling from several people, especially Student No. 1, until one hour later:]

Mom of Student No. 1: okay–parent alert! I see you! Hi everyone :)

Student No. 1: Ummm hi mom…

I was proud of the mom for knowing what her son was talking about on Facebook, and I shook my head once again at how we forget that the Internet reaches millions — not just the one or two people we are “talking” to. Digital technology certainly has many potential dangers. Can anything good come from it?

People of all ages increasingly spend hours each day engaging in virtual community online. How should Free Methodists respond to the opportunities and pitfalls of this cultural phenomenon? How do we live holy lives in the uncharted territory of social media?

Wesleyans should know the story of John Wesley’s experience at the meeting near Aldersgate Street, when his heart was “strangely warmed” as he was confronted with the assurance of God’s salvation. However, in Stephen Tomkins’ “John Wesley: A Biography,” two things stood out to me.

First, Wesley’s shameful return to England from a “failed” career as a missionary in what is now Savannah, Georgia taught him many things, the foremost being that “he saw the fallacy of his long pursuit of holiness in solitude” (emphasis mine). Try as he might, Wesley continually stumbled when he tried to will himself into strict personal discipleship. He was only set free when he turned to trusted peers and mentors for support and accountability. One of the great reasons for the success of the Wesleyan revival (and of Methodism over time) was that John and Charles Wesley created smaller contexts for believers in which they could spur one another in discipleship. These meetings and bands cultivated close relationships and spiritual intimacy, bonding societies in ways that transformed an entire culture. As the motto of the Free Methodist Church in Southern California states, “It’s good to belong.” To grow in intimacy with our Savior, we need each other.

Second, after the Wesleyan revival started taking hold, both George Whitefield and John Wesley gave open-air sermons to thousands. Naturally, this offended some, most pointedly the parish priests on whose turf these revivalist preachers were treading. In defense, Wesley declared these unforgettable words:

“I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it.”

Some 270 years before Facebook and Twitter, John Wesley opened up the entire world as our mission field. Our Methodist roots are anchored deep in intimate discipleship among believers and in community transformation. When we approach things from this perspective, it is easier to see how social media could be a tool to further these goals in the 21st century, if we are creative and wise.

Of course, such an adventure does not come without significant risks. If you are a member of Facebook (and a recent National Association of Evangelicals survey discovered that 91 percent of evangelical leaders are on at least one social networking site), you know how easy it is to get sucked in, wasting hours looking at friends’ photos and wall posts. Worse yet, there is a temptation to fall into inappropriate communication patterns. Digital communication can become careless and hurtful with alarming speed.

Yet, social media has benefits. Pastors from the 40-plus churches in the Southern California Conference remain connected through a password-protected discussion hub hosted by Basecamp, an online project management software. The spirited discussions swing from infant baptism to how many hours we spend on sermon preparation — with a good sprinkling of gentle teasing included. Several of the churches I work with have found that Facebook Pages are useful for building deeper connection and communication throughout the week by sharing photos from church events and sending out reminders for upcoming activities. Church leaders give great shout-outs of encouragement to individual church members via the wall of the church’s Facebook Page, and then multiple members agree and add even more affirmation.

Kelly Soifer is the director of recruiting and training for the Free Methodist Church in Southern California.

One of our pastors created escondidobibleschool.wordpress.com to manage the Christian education courses at his church, which include the opportunity to pursue a certificate. This has proved effective, raising up disciples and new leaders at the church.

My prayer is that we would continue to grow in personal and social holiness, and bring these disciplines to every portion of our lives, including our use of the Internet. Like peer pressure among teenagers, the Web itself is neutral — it is neither a positive nor negative force. Its dangers and strengths are found in its users.

I am grateful that our national leaders have endorsed greater engagement by our denomination in digital technology. This vision allows the new Free Methodist Church — USA website to provide an outstanding opportunity for the world to hear more about how the church is being used by God to move His kingdom forward. More than ever, social media and creative Internet design are allowing us to continue to have “the world as our parish.” May God be praised.

Related posts:

1. Rumorized Theology