Recently, a classmate made a statement that the use of social media should be discouraged by churches:

“I feel social media, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and the like are destroying society. They cause people to… self promote constantly. These actions only move people further and further away from God and closer to the world. I believe this will be a major challenge of churches in the not too distant future if it isn’t already.

“What can the churches do to discourage the use of these sites as they take over more of peoples time?” {quoted with permission and edited for grammar only, not content}

Of course, I was quick to jump into this discussion!

Read my response and let me know what you think…

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Rather than viewing social media as “destructive,” why don’t we use it to spread the Word?

As an avid social media user, I have had the opportunity to share the gospel with people around the world {in the last year, people from 79 countries have accessed my blog} and speak the Word of God into their homes without leaving my own home.

Through the use of Twitter, Facebook, and my blog, I have made connections with thousands of people I may never have otherwise met, having a chance to share God with them in real and instantly applicable ways.

{geographical data for visitors from 01-01-10 to 01-27-11}

I do understand the potential for social media to be hazardous, but such is anything in excess. I think rather than running away from social media, believers need to embrace that this is how where our society is connecting and learn to use it for God’s glory.

If people are connecting on social media, then the church needs to be in the social media world, building connections too!

Personally, I have a vision for teaching church leaders how to effectively use social media to spread the gospel and to draw their members deeper into the Word through social media discussions and interactions. I am hoping to launch a ministry/business to this end before the end of 2011, and I am currently working on implementing my methods in my own church.

If we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He met people where they were (woman at the well, the disciples, etc.). Social media is where the world is, so let’s meet them there and take them to our Leader!

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