Author: Tim Bouffard
Something to think about...
I confess; I'm not on Facebook, I don't tweet on Twitter or tumble on tumblr. I don't maintain my own personal web page and I only use text messaging in rare instances. I do use email and tried Skype a few times. But when it comes to communication, I prefer letter-writing and talking face-to-face. Call me old-fashioned, behind-the-times or archaic, but I would rather talk with you sitting together in the same room, seeing your face, hearing your voice and feeling your presence.
Now, these are largely preferences in regards to modes of communication. In other words, there is nothing inherently wrong with texting, posting on Facebook or uploading comments through a Twitter account. One could argue that my communication would be more effective if I regularly made use of those modes. But I have been thinking about whether or not these electronic, social-media forms of communication are best. That is why I am going to address the issue in a three-part article through the church newsletter. Part 1 (this article) will briefly summarize what the nature of Christ-influenced communication should look like. Part 2 will examine the potential moral, personal and relational pitfalls and dangers of electronic social media. Part 3 will offer basic, practical guidelines for using social media in a way that brings glory to God.
But consider the following before examining the nature of Christ-influenced communication: this article itself is a form of communication, and not necessarily the most effective form. Human beings have been communicating through the written word or symbols for thousands of years and the ability to do so has had profound implications for mankind. Technological advances in mass-producing written forms of communication, beginning with the Chinese development of moveable type, ink and paper and improved by Johann Gutenberg in Germany, have resulted in an explosion of accessible information. Electronic technology in particular has made vast amounts of information available to the majority of the world and enabled groups and individuals to effectively express themselves. I am using electronic means to write this piece and it will be reproduced in printed form and distributed to a few hundred people with very little effort. But it is very one-sided communication. I am communicating something received only by those who choose and are able to read it. I know better than to think that my newsletter article will be read after dinner in every home it reaches. And even if you take the time to read it, you can only respond to it in your mind - you can't immediately give or receive feedback about its contents unless you chose to do so with me at a later time. In other words, we could accomplish much more in exploring this issue if we were sitting together in the comfort of your living room. But this will have to suffice and my hope is that even though we can't see or hear each other while you read this, that you will believe that these three articles are written with humility, love and concern. My hope is that you will understand that some of what I write is my opinion while some is God's perfect, protective and purposeful truth and that you will be able to distinguish between the two. Most of all, I hope you will at least reflect on how you communicate and be willing to allow God to change that which needs to change.
As followers of Jesus, our desire should be to grow in our knowledge and experience of God's transforming love and express our gratitude for what he has done for us by becoming more and more like him. That includes becoming like him in how we communicate. In order to evaluate the potential dangers of electronic social-media modes of communication and how to use them for good, it is important to establish a foundation and a basic understanding of communication that reflects the heart of God. Scripture (a form of communication!) has much to say about communication and much of it is practical in nature because communication is one of the most basic and practical things we do as human beings made in the image of God. What follows is not intended to be an exhaustive consideration of all that the Bible says about communication. On the contrary, it is a summary from some important New Testament scriptures that speak specifically to the issue of communication.
As Christians, our communication should be characterized by the following:
Take some time to reflect on these summary descriptions of communication that is Christian in nature. Begin to evaluate your communication - in all of its forms. Is it characterized by these ideals that reflect the heart of God? And take some time to think deeply about how God communicates with us. He is not limited to the spoken and written word and is likely not overly impressed with what we see as amazing electronic forms of communication. How does he communicate and, just as importantly, what are the dynamics of his communication? That is something worth thinking about.