Digital Communication
27th July 2015
If you go to the bottom of the home page on this website you will find a Facebook logo. And if you click on the logo you will find a link to the New Life Pastoral Ministry Facebook page.
Yesterday I had a conversation with some of my fellow believers after a Communion service and one of the topics was the use of the internet and social media. We were discussing the use of these modern day methods of communication by the church. And part of the discussion was about the dangers associated with them and it wasn’t clear from the discussion whether or not we should avoid them because of the risks.
Since that conversation I have been reflecting on this subject and I have concluded that the church should use these methods of communication despite the dangers. The church has to recognise that the internet and social media have become very significant in the lives of people in the West these days. Because such huge numbers of people, especially young people, are using them, the church must learn to use these tools to share the gospel with people.
The internet and social media are no substitute for face to face communications and face to face communications must take priority. However, there is a place for digital communication if used wisely. And that is the key to the correct use of them; wisdom. I believe that, for the church, the use of the internet and social media are not ends in themselves; they are a stepping stones that should lead to people meeting face to face with the church. And that’s how they should be used.