TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube. We are tied to our phones more than ever. Do social media and mobile phones do good or harm to building connections?
In a world where social media are often seen as barriers to genuine connection, it’s essential to rethink their role in our lives and outreach.
The early Christian church faced challenges yet succeeded in spreading its message widely (Acts 2:46-47).
Similarly, in modern times, during pivotal moments like the COVID-19 pandemic, social media have opened doors for wider communication and connection.
So, is social media the Church’s friend or foe? What does the bible say about social media?
Contents
Innovations in Church History
Throughout history, the Christian church has embraced changes during key turning points:
1. Destruction of the Temple in 70 AD
This tragic event dispersed the Jewish Christians beyond Judea and helped to spread Christianity to other parts of the Roman Empire.
2. Translation of the Bible
Starting with Jerome’s Latin translation around 400 AD, followed by Wycliffe’s English version in 1300, and Martin Luther’s German translation in 1522, Bible translation made scriptures more accessible.
The King James Bible of 1611 was a milestone, setting a gold standard for use in worship and personal study.
3. Invention of the Printing Press
Thanks to technology, the distribution of the Bible has become easier and cheaper. Now, more people than ever own and read their bible.
4. Domestic Mission of the Wesleys
The mission in 1740 reached out to the marginalized and the poor, offering spiritual and social support. The innovative and, at times, controversial method of ministry brought church services outside the traditional church settings.
As a result, many who were not interested in traditional churches became Christians.
The more I consider Christianity, the more I found that while it has established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.
G.K. Chesterton (English writer and LAY theologian)
The Potential of Social Media
So, what do all these histories have to do with social media? Like artificial intelligence, social media can be a big help to the church.
In the Bible, Acts 1:8 says
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Jesus told us to bring the news of him “to the ends of the earth.”
How? It started with word of mouth and then books and publications. Now, would our next frontier be social media and digital platforms?
Objections to Social Media
The Christian community is diverse. Not everyone is in favor of the church having a presence in the digital world
Here are some common objections.
Objection 1: I Don’t Want to Self-Promote
Social media is a noisy place. Like it or not, you won’t get attention without some self-promotion.
According to the Bible, is it right to self-promote?
It is certainly not if it is done out of personal glory. (Philippians 2:3)
But the bible encourages us to shine our light and be a visible beacon of hope.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Objection 2: I don’t have time
Building a social media profile is hard work. It typically takes 6 to 12 months of daily effort to build a meaningful digital presence.
Acts 6:1-7 addresses the challenge of managing time and responsibilities. Partnering with younger, tech-savvy individuals or even hiring professionals can be an effective solution to this hurdle, enabling more focus on ministry.
Practical Tips for Social media
1. Recognize the importance of a digital presence
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we conduct business and education forever. People search the internet before buying a product, going to a restaurant, and learning anything.
Whether you like it or not, the same thing happens to religion. People check out the church’s website and social media profile before visiting a church.
Like the invention of the printing press, we must embrace and react to the new trend.
2. Building a digital profile
The two main components are:
- A website
- Social media accounts
- App
Website
A website is important because it is readily reachable with any internet browser without downloading platform-specific apps.
Search engines, such as Google, favor website content because they tend to be better written. This helps internet visitors to find your church.
Social media
Social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram help the church connect with its members and newcomers.
It is important to recognize that they are not the same. And it is extremely time-consuming to do it all. Some factors to consider are:
- Audience: Which demographic uses the platform?
- Engagement: How do you want to engage with people? A short message (Twitter), a picture (Instagram), or a video (Tiktok)?
- Resources: Practically, do you have resources to create such content regularly? For example, a video is more time-consuming to produce than a short message.
App
A mobile phone app creates a customized experience for users. While the app is less likely to attract visitors, it helps to engage members with upcoming events and spiritual content.
3. Support the digital ministry
You don’t need to be a content creator to support the church digitally. You can help by:
- Leaving a review on Google and Yelp.
- Liking a post on Facebook and Instagram.
- Sharing an event or a post.
Doing any of the above helps tremendously because of how their search algorithm works.
4. Build a digital ecosystem
The goal of having a digital presence is to reach more people. Digital media can initiate contacts, but ultimately people need to be connected with people.
A working digital ecosystem requires church member to participate, share and make connections.
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