Pastors, by and large, are beginning to catch on. To reach the current culture, which is shaped in large part by its technology, we have to go digital.
This is nothing new. To reach 17th and 18th century people, you needed to use a printing press. To reach the culture of the 20th century, you needed to utilize mass media such as radio, television, or direct mail and advertising. And to reach people today, you use social networking.
But we still have a partly legitimate fear about using social technologies too heavily. We fear we will lose our edge when it comes to "real life," face-to-face relational ministry. We fear that we'll neglect those who don't use or like smart phones, that our relationships will become shallow, and that in our effort to "keep up" with the latest technologies, we'll drift from our long-held traditions and theological moorings.
While this fear is well-founded, I think it may also be mis-directed. Yes, indeed, the boundaries are disappearing. I grew up listening to the loud, shrieking sound of a dial-up modem "connecting." When my online session was complete, I would then "disconnect." No one disconnects now. We walk and breathe in an atmosphere of technology.
So what do we do? I think there are a few possibilities. Keep reading
No comments:
Post a Comment