Twitter in Church

For many years John Voelz was the Worship Arts Pastor of Lakeside Church. He is a great friend and a good man, and now is one of the directors of Westwinds Church in Jackson, Michigan. This week John was the headlining protagonist in an article in TIME magazine. The article focused on churches that are using Twitter during worship programs. As in most of TIME's stories, the writers presented pros and cons. Some people thought the idea of Twitter in church was fantastic. Others thought it was weird. It certainly stirred debate.

As for me and Lakeside, the story has yet to be tweeted. We used to want everyone to turn off their electronic devices when they entered the auditorium. We didn't want any distractions, did we? But now, when I travel, I don't even carry a leather-bound, gold-leaf-paged copy of the scriptures. I just carry my iPhone. On it I have the Bible in 16 English translations, plus several tongues requiring an Acts 2 interpreter for me. If I ask people to turn off their electronic devices in the church, people like me can't even read their Bible. Uh oh.

Throughout the years of the church, Christians have been notoriously slow to change, as some count slowness. Yet, Christian leaders have occasionally adopted change more quickly. Who were the first to make extensive use of the new technology called stained glass windows? Christians who wanted to tell the story of Jesus. Who were the first see the advantage of the printing press? Christians who wanted to tell the story of Jesus. Who were the first to recognize the potential of the world wide web? Christians who wanted to tell the story of Jesus. This story must be told. And Twitter is telling it 140 characters at a time.

Breakthrough tools can be hijacked by bad guys for bad purposes. Stained glass, printing presses, and the internet can all propagate pornography. That's because a tool is just a tool until it is held in the hand of a person with opposable thumbs and a soul. Those thumbs let that person Tweet during church or record inappropriate images on video. But the soul tells that person how the Tweet or web or printing press will be focused.

Leave room for grace, my friends. The end of the story has not yet been written. We had the same conversation about drums 30 years ago. Oh wait...

Comments

[Dana Lookadoo]

As an active tweeter, I don't bring my phone to church. However, since I'm constantly studying & using Twitter as a communication and marketing medium, I have also wondered if Twitter belonged in church.

Twitter is only a tool. Our speech is another tool. It depends on how we communicate and if we are disturbing others or providing value. I do find talking during worship and service distracting. I may not be so distracted by texting. One difference, Twitter has the power to reach far and wide...and what is said gets indexed in the search engines.

I wanted to share a couple Twitter-in-church stories in the news:

Holy Twitter! They're tweeting from the pews: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30970139/

'Twittering' encouraged at Seattle church:
http://tinyurl.com/cmgpv8

Nice post, Brad!

[Shami]

I'm not sure about twittering (is there such a word?) in church.... That's a little out there for me, although with all things I'll do my best to listen to what God has to say to me personally about this topic.

On anothert note..

I really loved the service this afternoon. Cried my eyes out and enjoyed every minute... I really can't wait to attend Lakeside service next week which is what my Facebook will read on Saturday.

[Annie]

Wow! I will begin by claiming to be a "rule-keeper". I have a hard time thinking outside of the box. But, I am learning that in everything it is about the heart and where your heart stands in relation to Christ. If something comes before Him, no matter what it is, than it's probably not pleasing to Him. Be it Twitter, clothing, t.v., and even things of the church. I totally agree about things getting into the wrong hands and that is when it's a tool used badly. I think the only question I have is it a show of disrespect or lacking reverence to twitter in God's house? Hmm...will have to think more on this one!