Comments on: Is Twitter Biblical?

By: Teri

Teri — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:23:53 +0000

While I am aware that Twitter has been quite useful to some (even life saving re that young men who were arrested in Egypt), it seems that most Twitter post I have gotten on Facebook have been little more than blithering. I may really like someone, but I don’t care if they are having their 5th latte at Starbucks… having already mentioned the first four!

Used well, it can be an excellent means of connection.

Used badly, you can alienate people. (And show them just how much time you are wasting when you should be working!)

By: 2008 Most Helpful Social Networking Tool « Life and Theology

2008 Most Helpful Social Networking Tool « Life and Theology — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:24:18 +0000

[...] Life and Theology thoughts on how I see the world « Is Twitter Biblical? [...]

By: benlreed

benlreed — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:48:56 +0000

Stephen,
Thanks for the comment. You bring up a good point. I guess that the question I was seeking to answer was, “How does Twitter fit within a biblical worldview?” You’re definitely right, Twitter, like most things, can be good or bad depending on how we use it. I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything,” and 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” Even good things can morph into idols when we are mastered by them, or begin to give them a higher prominence in our lives than the Gospel. I really had in mind, though, when I posted the blog, the whole idea that Twitter does fit within a Christian’s understanding of the Bible.
Out of curiosity, why do you use Twitter? I’m asked that question a lot, and am just curious as to why others use it.

By: stephencrose

stephencrose — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:48:45 +0000

Twitter like the Bible is a matter of how you relate to it. I use Twitter daily and you can build up a following that way. I would not call it Biblical though. Nor do I think it would be wise for folk to proselytrize using it or any other social networking tool. Sharing something meaningful is fine though.

By: Laura Reed

Laura Reed — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:35:50 +0000

I admit I am guilty of not being good at keeping “intouch” with people. I don’t always like talking on the phone and it is much easier to read their blog and peruse the pictures on their facebook profile rather than pick up the phone or write an email to see what they are up to and how they are doing (I think this is called a facebook stalker). Social networking entities like these and twitter are meant to connect people, but I argue that too often they keep us from meaningful connection. We text because it’s more convenient to multi-task during the conversation, we blog so we can share our lives with faceless numbers, we twitter to share our thoughts with cell phones and we wonder why it is so hard to develop deep friendships. Perhaps by putting so much information about ourselves out there via social networking entities we prevent the need for human connection. I understand the idea is to move beyond blogs, facebook, and twitter and personally connect with others we find on these sites, but when it comes down to it, too often we just don’t.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:03:56 +0000

Thanks babe! Good thoughts. I think that when Twitter, or any form of impersonal communication (mass emails, mass text messages, Facebook invitations or snowball fights on Facebook, etc) runs into problems when it is used as a substitute for ‘real’ relationships. These are ‘virtual’ friends that we’re talking about on Facebook. But…these virtual friends represent real relationships that can, even on a small level, be fostered via social networking. Remaining friends on Facebook doesn’t discount sharing a cup of coffee with a person by any stretch of the imagination.
These sites also allow more wide reaching, albeit often (though not always) shallow, relationships with people throughout the country and the world. I’m able to instantly connect with a pastor in Nashville and one in Africa, learning and growing from them both. Sure, it’s likely not as intimate as having a face-to-face conversation with them, but it is a connection and a relationship built nonetheless.
I agree that generic ‘tweets’ are just that…generic…unless, of course, you use @ replies or direct messages. But I believe that they can have their place. However, if your only form of ‘meaningful’ relationships is via avatars and twitter friends, you’re living in a false world, easily deceiving yourself and others.
Thanks for the sober reminder.

By: Laura Reed

Laura Reed — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:54:08 +0000

I understand the networking, but perhaps a phone call serves as a better form of accountability than a Twitter message. I would much rather talk to the people I care about through out the day (I would even settle for a one-on-one text convo) rather than a generic blast of what is happening in their life at a particular moment. There is something to be said for meaningful communication with real people…an art I’m afraid gets lost in a world of blog readers, facebook friends and twitter followers. I admit I like blogs and facebook as much as the next person, but maybe the quick snapshot we get of peoples lives gives a false since of intimacy and prevents us from truly investing in meaningful personal relationships… isn’t it these deep relationships that move us toward true biblical community?