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By Elizabeth Prata
I love the Redeeming Productivity blog and podcast. Here is the author, Reagan Rose's summary of its raison d'être:
It's hard to believe, but social media in all its forms, such as Blogs, (mine, yours or others), Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, NextDoor.com, MeWe, even comment sections on blogs, comment sections on local newspapers... and all the other platforms I haven't mentioned, have been around for long enough that a generation or two has grown up with it, forming a mindless background noise to our world. Sometimes we forget to employ these social media tools mindfully as a tool of ministry.
His point in the recent podcast were to Be intentional in using social media as a ministry! Here are his other points-
1. The Heart. Anything and everything we do as Christians begins with the heart. "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Mt 12:33-35). Make sure the fruit that comes out of the heart is Christ's fruit.
2. Think before you press enter. Pause to reflect first. Have a strategy or goal first. How can we use our online presence to glorify God? What are we trying to DO? Social media presence should not be passive.
2a. How can I be the aroma of Christ on this platform today? Does this represent Christ. 2 Cor 5:20, we are Christ’s ambassadors.
2b. Is this true? Ex 20:16, do not bear false witness.
2c. Is it wholesome? Edifying others? Or is it corrupting? (Ephesians 4:29).
2d. Is this coming from a heart of thankfulness? A heart attitude (Phil 2:14).
2e. Is this gossip or slander? Don’t be a gossip or a busybody. (1 Timothy 5:13)
2f. Is it necessary to say this at all? (James 1:19). We do no need to have an opinion on everything
2g. Does it need to be said right now? Hot takes aren’t necessary for everything.
Imagine what it would look like if all of us, or just a few of us, were thoughtful and strategic about how we speak online, if we saw it as a ministry. We can bring a light to dark places!
We are Ambassadors of Christ. How we speak and behave online reflects Him, or it should.
I was born BI, Before Internet. I spent most of my adult life living before there was any technology related to the WWW, including cell phones. If you wanted a voice in your community, a platform to express your opinion, or to state your mind about anything, there were few opportunities. You could write a letter to the editor of your local paper, they might accept it. Or not. You could call in to a talk radio show, if they took your call. You could stand up at a town meeting, if it was a kind of meeting that allowed comments from the public, and if they did, most limit you to 3 or 5 minutes anyway. You could hand out flyers at the Little League game. You could stand on the side of the road with a sign. That was about it. I am serious.
The gatekeepers to open public discourse were few and they held the strings tightly. Ministers ministered in church and that was about it.
Nowadays we have the opportunity to be real salt, our voices and ministries sprinkled everywhere. Of course satan flooded the open market with his voice, polluting these platforms quickly. But we have the aroma of Christ, His mind, and His words. How should we use them? How should we behave on the internet? Listen to Mr Rose's podcast for a full and enjoyable reminder.
Fur Further Reading on Christians using technology mindfully:
Have you Read a Book Yet This Year?
Challies' Do More Better
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing you Tony Reinke
Internet Inferno: A Contemporary Warning and Reminder Regarding this Ancient Truth - "The Tongue is a Fire, the Very World of Iniquity, and is Set on Fire by Hell" James 3:6 By Ray Beeley
I love the Redeeming Productivity blog and podcast. Here is the author, Reagan Rose's summary of its raison d'être:
A Christian Approach to Getting Stuff Done- timeThis is Redeeming Productivity, a blog and podcast, where we talk about technology, techniques, and theology in the light of the Bible, to help Christians get more done and glorify God in how they do it.I find his voice soothing and his material Christ honoring and useful for the everyday Christian. Recently there was a podcast talking about "How to behave like a Christian on the internet."
It's hard to believe, but social media in all its forms, such as Blogs, (mine, yours or others), Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, NextDoor.com, MeWe, even comment sections on blogs, comment sections on local newspapers... and all the other platforms I haven't mentioned, have been around for long enough that a generation or two has grown up with it, forming a mindless background noise to our world. Sometimes we forget to employ these social media tools mindfully as a tool of ministry.
His point in the recent podcast were to Be intentional in using social media as a ministry! Here are his other points-
1. The Heart. Anything and everything we do as Christians begins with the heart. "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Mt 12:33-35). Make sure the fruit that comes out of the heart is Christ's fruit.
2. Think before you press enter. Pause to reflect first. Have a strategy or goal first. How can we use our online presence to glorify God? What are we trying to DO? Social media presence should not be passive.
2a. How can I be the aroma of Christ on this platform today? Does this represent Christ. 2 Cor 5:20, we are Christ’s ambassadors.
2b. Is this true? Ex 20:16, do not bear false witness.
2c. Is it wholesome? Edifying others? Or is it corrupting? (Ephesians 4:29).
2d. Is this coming from a heart of thankfulness? A heart attitude (Phil 2:14).
2e. Is this gossip or slander? Don’t be a gossip or a busybody. (1 Timothy 5:13)
2f. Is it necessary to say this at all? (James 1:19). We do no need to have an opinion on everything
2g. Does it need to be said right now? Hot takes aren’t necessary for everything.
Imagine what it would look like if all of us, or just a few of us, were thoughtful and strategic about how we speak online, if we saw it as a ministry. We can bring a light to dark places!
We are Ambassadors of Christ. How we speak and behave online reflects Him, or it should.
I was born BI, Before Internet. I spent most of my adult life living before there was any technology related to the WWW, including cell phones. If you wanted a voice in your community, a platform to express your opinion, or to state your mind about anything, there were few opportunities. You could write a letter to the editor of your local paper, they might accept it. Or not. You could call in to a talk radio show, if they took your call. You could stand up at a town meeting, if it was a kind of meeting that allowed comments from the public, and if they did, most limit you to 3 or 5 minutes anyway. You could hand out flyers at the Little League game. You could stand on the side of the road with a sign. That was about it. I am serious.
The gatekeepers to open public discourse were few and they held the strings tightly. Ministers ministered in church and that was about it.
Nowadays we have the opportunity to be real salt, our voices and ministries sprinkled everywhere. Of course satan flooded the open market with his voice, polluting these platforms quickly. But we have the aroma of Christ, His mind, and His words. How should we use them? How should we behave on the internet? Listen to Mr Rose's podcast for a full and enjoyable reminder.
Fur Further Reading on Christians using technology mindfully:
Have you Read a Book Yet This Year?
Challies' Do More Better
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing you Tony Reinke
Internet Inferno: A Contemporary Warning and Reminder Regarding this Ancient Truth - "The Tongue is a Fire, the Very World of Iniquity, and is Set on Fire by Hell" James 3:6 By Ray Beeley
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