Church’s Social Media Mistakes

When Jesus said “go and make disciples of all nations” his disciples paid attention. We have actually been in business of making disciples since.

However in recent years social networks has transformed the playing area. The word “go” as well as the phrase “all nations” are no longer restricted to physical traveling and national boundaries.

With social media we could now enter into all countries and connect with people. Discussing the scripture and forming relationships from the convenience of our living-room while drinking coffee and sporting a bathrobe and fluffy sandals.

And indeed, I’m a huge fan of that. Not always the suggestion of relaxing in a robe (though I’m not resisted to that!). Yet making use of social networks to reach the nations for God’s Kingdom is a wonderful concept!

Yet, due to the fact that social media is such an expansive interaction technology, we run the risk of abusing the chance (or at the minimum mistreating it).

I’ve seen it over and over again and I’m going to call out the top social media errors:

Error # 1– The Bullhorn Techniquebullhorn

In the church, we commonly use social media like a bullhorn. The digital equivalent of a soap box. We plug-in to numerous social media platforms and we indiscriminately “tweet-out-loud” to anybody and everybody that will listen. And that this has actually confirmed to be completely inadequate.

In spite of the prevalent myth (in some quarters) that social media is anti-social, it most certainly is not. One youth pastor recently informed me that he urges his young people to keep away from social networks. Considering that it is loaded with, “faceless people hiding behind pseudonyms.”.

That could have been the case 10 or even 5 years ago. Yet no more. Faceless individuals still concealing behind a pseudonym have been delegated to the corners of the net and offered the title “troll.” Though they can be loud and visible and divisive at times, they are far surpassed by normal people.

Your aunt and cousin, sibling and nephew. These are the people who compose the majority of the web. And these people are actual, genuine and  in it for the connection. For the chat.

The paradox is, when Christians use social networks like a bullhorn we come to be the giant. We become the anti-social Twitter and Facebook individual that agitates everybody else on social media.

Throwing our message “around” right into the electronic room without hanging around for the conversation (and perhaps even signing up with conversations that are not our very own), makes people want to block us. It’s that straightforward.

Error # 2– No Social Technique.

Does it sound crazy to think that since we have so many people in ear-shot of our message we still require a strategy? Why not merely throw the message available to whoever will grab it?

We can ask Jesus the very same question. Why did he relegate himself to one geographic location on the map? Why not yell from high-heaven to any individual who would listen? Why did he spend the mass of his time with simply a tiny group of men and women?

Because Jesus had a technique. And also his technique was straightforward: create a social network that spreads and that ultimately covers the planet. (Yes, Jesus produced a social media network of his own!).

First it was Jesus, after that it was Jesus’ disciples then their disciples and more. They multiplied and spread and were able to get to and alter far more cohabits compared to what Jesus might have by trying to get in touch with every person himself.

When we make use of social networks we should take Jesus’ instance. We must load our social media network with people that are more than likely to receive our message. We need to be discerning and targeted.

We need a method.

Blunder # 3– It’s All About Me.

In today’s globe individuals are suspicious of religious bullhorns. Individuals wish to be liked, they wish to be taken care of, they intend to be valued.

When we use social networks like a bullhorn we’re claiming that everyone does not actually matter. We’re treating people a lot more like a number than an individual.

We should see people online as the people they are. Yelling an evangelical message with the “get saved” tagline and really hoping a person will listen to and get saved is insulting.

We’re not communicating to random numbers. We’re communicating to real individuals.

So let’s follow Jesus’ instance and build a social network that has actual effect!