Social Media and the Church
I wanted to investigate this topic a little more after the last assignment, Social Media Audit. It really made me think of how the times have changed tremendously since technological advances, and I wondered (and still wonder) how social media is impacting the church. When I say the church in a whole, in my mind I think of Christendom. We as practitioners and followers of Jesus Christ must be prepared to use any means necessary to spread the good news and if that means social media, and it’s a good fit- we should be using it.
I feel that the quest for Jesus today is so challenging, as there are so many religions, faiths, and other types of religiously. People have choices regarding what they want to believe, not believe, etc. I wonder how Christianity has stood the test of time, and really where it’s at today a s a whole in comparison to other religions and faiths, etc. I could easily find statistics of religion in America and Worldwide, as noted in the charts below:
Worldwide Religion
Images bing.com
Finding information out about social media, online church goers, online social media/ Christianity, well let’s just say that was another story. I did find articles, and excerpts, etc. but what I didn’t find was charts, graphs or anything really about people who attend church online.
I know it’s happening, because right now, I am one of the online users. I use online church because I just moved to a new community, I don’t have a church yet (because I haven’t even looked yet) and I’m so busy that I use all the time I have during the day to work, commute, school, and family. It’s no excuse, but I found an online service that just works for me. As a matter of fact, I listen to it daily in the morning – the minute I wake up and get my coffee, I turn on my online Christian teaching or preaching. I know that I heard its like getting a dose of drugs every day (shoot me up with Jesus), but it allows me to be in the word and fit it in while I’m getting me and my baby girl ready in the morning. It also allows me to think, and grow closer to Christ. I personally need that dose, as I have gone through a tremendous amount of adversity in my entire life. It allows me to learn and feel connected to God more, and I know it works because I will hear something online, and then later some of the same principals are reinforced in my life, sometimes even with my job, someone will recite a scripture that I just heard. It’s those coincidences that allows me to know that God knows I am listening. Additionally, I listen to a Christian channel on Pandora which also allows me to get the word in while I’m driving. I try and get it in wherever I am.
I think that online social media for churches is something that is going to continue to grow, and that churches will be tracking their online users, and memberships as time goes on. Some people are “shut in”, such as some elderly or physically incapacitated people, but they still need Jesus. The membership cannot be everywhere all the time, and I don’t think social media should be used in place of members but that it does serve a purpose, it does help expand the kingdom of God and it does allow people to hear the word. Members should still physically reach out to individuals that are shut in, but in the meantime and between time, shut in members can use social media and online media and technology to stay connected as well. If I were a pastor of a church, I would definitely consider social media as a big part of my churches mission to reach people.
References
http://www.christianpost.com/news/top-5-churches-that-use-social-media-best-97492/