OK, here’s the deal. YouVersion.com (you know, the online Bible thing that all the 20 somethings claim they’re bringing up on their iPhones when the pastor says, “lets’s stand in honor of reading God’s word,” but instead they’re checking Loopt to see where everyone is going for lunch?)…anyway, they’re looking to hire a Zealot; um, someone to work with and recruit partners and to tout the obvious virtues of silicon-based Bible materials over carbon-based ones. Well, that might not be exactly how they would put it, but you get the idea.
I’ve applied for this position. Those of you who know me will probably picture a name plate outside of my office that says, “Joe Bassett – Zealot” and say, “duh.” Well, they’ve asked me to submit several writing samples, one of which is a blog post to the YouVersion Team with “some ideas on how you think YouVersion could be better, offering suggestions and recommendations. So, I thought, “Hey! I’ve gotta blog already and I can use it to demonstrate what a ‘social-media maven’ I am and how much I get the democratic incubator that is the internet!”
Here’s where you come in. Chances are that you followed a link from one of my tweets, or Facebook, Linked-in, etc. posts (see, I’m entirewebs savvy) that asked for help. Please help me write my blog post by leaving comments on how YouVersion could be better…sure, as if (shameless sucking up to YouVersion Team).
Just so that no one can say I didn’t come up with anything on my own I’ll make the first suggestion: “Out-Google Google; make on-line sermons, (youtube, vimeo, tokbox, podcasts, etc.) searchable and cross-referenced via search terms, Twitter hashtags, etc.”
OK, I’ve done my part, now how about helping a brother out? Lines are now open…
I recently had a discussion with the senior pastor of a moderately large church. In the conversation he voiced his displeasure with “tweeting” comments related to the message during sermons; even if those tweets are in support of the points being made. Leaving aside for a moment that he spoke, by his own admission, from a certain amount of ignorance regarding twitter and social networking at large; by that I refer specifically to a lack of knowledge concerning the archival possibilities of using hashmarks in twitter or the spiritual implications of a “virtual amen shoutout” to friends who might be worshiping at the far reaches of the planet (a personal practice I have acquired and thoroughly enjoy). I also didn’t press him on the fact that texting can be even more efficient and less distracting than taking notes on those glossy scraps of paper provided in most bulletins, and destroys many less trees.
Regardless of our feelings toward all things social-media, the game has changed significantly. Just ask print and broadcast media outlets. It’s here folks. We can either embrace it’s power just as was done with the Gutenberg Bible or we can realize how futile the grasp of authoritarianism is just as the Chinese are learning on the 20th anniversary of Tienanmen Square.
A particular point should be considered by those that broadcast Christian content (the church led by this particular pastor is included in this group). I’ll allow the video to speak for itself on this matter. Those that don’t get this point are…well, it would be like pointing out the obvious to the oblivious.
In the interest of full disclosure I have gone on record advocating and endorsing tweeting during services: actual tweet in response to a twitter question regarding tweeting, “@gregsurrat absolutely OK to tweet in church…it’s like a virutal AMEN shout out to each other in different churches!” By the way, this particular tweet holds my personal record for the most retweets. The caveat is that the tweets should be related directly to a positive response to the sermon.
Anyway, we can either try to control the Message from a central location and become dinosaurs or we can allow the Spirit to redeem even the new media of social networking and allow the Body of Christ to finally break out of the walls of our churches just as we’ve been praying.
Again, I’ll allow the video to speak to this point.
The video that follows is part of the TED Talks series @ the State Department.