Some people have given up Facebook and Social Media for Lent. But one pastor in training thinks people should use Facebook more during Lent, not less.
Jennifer McNally, a student at United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities suggests on the Episcopal Cafe website that God is a Facebook fan. “Isn’t that what God wants us to know? That we truly are all connected to each other.”
She goes on to write:
“‘I’m giving up Facebook for Lent’ can read, in a manner, as ‘I’m giving up staying connected to your life in order to focus on mine.’ What if, instead, my status read, ‘I am going to take more of an interest in each and every one of you for Lent?'”
James Emery White, the pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, listed some reasons recently on his Church and Culture blog on why it’s important for Christians to be involved in Twitter, another social media.
This week the Wall Street Journal has a multimedia report on how the iPhone and its aps are helping people connect better with God and their spirituality.
So obviously we can use modern media tools to be more faith-full people. But how and why are more individual decisions, dependent upon on available resources and communication styles. Personally, I’ve putting off getting a smart phone until I see a specific need for one. I spend enough time online as it is and a regular cell phone fits my current needs just fine.
All of this leading to the introduction of a fascinating article by John Dyer on how Apple products have had a worldwide impact on the Christian church. It’s called How Steve Jobs Accidentally Empowered the Persecuted Church.