I’ve seen debate about the merits of social media for several years. I’ve seen an increasing amount of debate in the last week. I’ve been tempted to post some articles and columns. Yet, none seems quite right to me. Here are 10 quick thoughts:
1. I’ve long been a disciple of an old missionary, Roland Allen; and his book, "Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours." That led me to continually ask the question, “WWPD?” or “What Would Paul Do?” That question always seems a bit more applicable for us ordinary humans. As my sister-in-law Debra Carr once said, “We ain’t Jesus, and this ain’t Jerusalem.” We have human limitations that Jesus as the Son of God didn’t have. Also, the historical context of Jerusalem in the First Century is tough to replicate. Paul, however, is clearly a flawed human, changed by grace and the Holy Spirit, and seeking to make a kingdom difference in a world that’s complex and rapidly changing. I can relate to Paul.
2. I really doubt Jesus would be on social media. He didn’t write anything we have a record of. Yet, His disciples were prolific writers. When I see all of Paul’s correspondence and realize that he kept writing even from prison there is little doubt in my mind that Paul would be on social media if he did ministry today. He’d be tweeting, Instagraming, Facebooking, blogging, and Youtubing constantly to keep his broad international network informed and inspired.
3. Yep, social media can be destructive. It elevates nuts. It doesn’t check sources. It profits off conflict. It creates unrealistic expectations of our bodies that idolize self. It’s no wonder that it’s led to a decline in mental health among the youth. Yet, I also think it’s a factor in elderly people’s dementia acceleration. It promises community, but many times fuels isolation. It’s mobilized violence. I can empathize with the calls to limit it’s use or just be done with it.
4. Yet, watch what it does for diaspora people. It creates conversations that span continents. The best ideas that are scattered around many nations are discussed in ways that would have been impossible years ago. Articles in international media houses get discussed in remote villages. Columns in Global South media houses get discussed in the West. Good authors in rural America get put in front of international audiences. This is how the Gospel spreads. We get to see every day what another old missionary Donald McGavran called relationship webs and people movements.
5. Also, watch what happens with marginalized people. I consistently interact with 3 clusters of the marginalized – immigrants to the West, people of color, and the disabled. Many times, these clusters are just a few local individuals in a local community. With their responsibilities they may rarely get a chance to communicate with one another. The social groups they are part of on social media gives them community wisdom that would likely not happen without social media.
6. Then watch how marginalized voices can be amplified on social media. Frankly, in Christian circles if you control pulpits, media houses, and seminaries you control the conversation. If you are denied those outlets, you can easily be ostracized. Social media has allowed those without power to speak to those with power with the voices of a community. That’s what the Old Testament prophets did.
7. On my social media over the years, I’ve seen that the conversations of immigrants, people of color, and the disabled have drawn out the ugliest, most manipulative, and cruel side of American evangelicalism. I’ve tried to moderate, but I’ve ended up blocking some. The criticism can be relentless. Frankly, we shouldn’t be surprised as the Christian voices of the marginalized drew out religious hypocrites in both the Old and New Testament.
8. I’ve noticed the last week that most of the Christian leaders who are calling for less or even no social media engagement are in positions in pulpits, media houses, or seminaries. Some of them can even occasionally represent voices of the vulnerable. Yet, I notice that generally they only take the conversation as far as they can go and remain well employed. They are also generally only dialogue in public with their own elites or pet people they have picked from the vulnerable.
9. Thus, I come back to my missionary question, “WWPD?” or “What Would Paul Do?” I’m sure he’d tell us to get off our phones, go for a run, take in creation, visit with our neighbors, share a meal, and love our families. Yet, I’m convinced he’d also spend some time each day checking on his network that spans continents and creating conversations about how the Gospel should address life.
10. I also bet Paul would be outside the controlling circles of power. He’d be written off. He’d be abused. He’d block the nuts and nurture the wounded. Paul’s social media ideas would endure. Caesar’s ideas would be in history books, but rarely quoted by ordinary folks. Please use social media with Pauline wisdom.
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