One of my most popular posts has been on Christian Facebook Updates. It's number one when you type those three words into Google. But it's basically a negative piece.
What follows, then, are five positive suggestions for using Facebook updates Christianly, followed by five reminders why ordinary Facebook updates are still cool, followed by five boundary markers to avoid (in my opinion) bad updates:
Positive suggestions
1. Frame the update in terms of a questions, realisations, doubts - 'Mikey never noticed that Isaiah was all about the remnant before, 'Mikey wonders what the sin that leads to death is'. It's more dynamic than mere pronouncements.
2. Sharing links can be a good way to encourage others, without the main Facebook update being too preachy.
3. Share really concrete things about church life. If the sermon you just heard was good or you are 'really pumped' about some new event, tell us why.
4. Don't forget to include the down side of your spiritual life - 'Mikey hates being on usher roster', 'Mikey sometimes finds it hard to really trust God'.
5. Pastors, pay attention to the details in your ministry-activity updates: 'Mikey is writing a sermon in ugg boots and a beanie.'
Reminders
1. In a big, busy life, mundance Facebook updates enable us to share everyday life with one another.
2. Facebook doesn't tend to promote artifical posturing. We are often quite real in our presentation on Facebook.
3. Ordinary updates enable us to find new points of connection with existing friends/acquaintances - 'I didn't know you liked Joy Division too!'
4. Facebook is a way for busy Christians to keep in touch with non-Christians - a good reason to avoid being cringe-Christian in your updates.
5. Mundane updates enable pastors to open their everyday life to their church.
Boundary markers
1. Avoid sounding pious or triumphalistic.
2. Keep your most sceptical non-Christian friend in mind as you post.
3. If you're a pastor, don't advertise your own church events on your own Profile updates - create a Page for your church/ministry.
4. Avoid hollow groupie comments about church/pastor - 'Pastor Dan preached an awesome sermon this morning! Praise Jesus!'
5. Avoid preachy updates - 'Christians must always live by God's grace: his power in our weakness'.
Christian Facebook updates II
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8 comments:
Thanks for this Mikey. Could you say that these tips apply to Twitter updates?
I'm no Twitter expert. But it seems to me that Facebook updates are basically the same - especially since many people sync the two.
Hey Mikey... great post! Really appreciate this post and the one about the use of blogs.
just out of interest, why no church events. Most of the reason i use facebook is to communicate with uni-students at church. Facebook allows mid-week reminders to the various things that are going on. I don't use Facebook much otherwise. I have also found people tend to ignore groups on Facebook and even Events and don't RSVP to them - but just get rid of them by replying maybe...
i am aware that for some this means that i am a facebook spammer. but not sure how to avoid it.
Thoughts?
Sam
I like this a lot, Mikey. Something I've been thinking about a bit too.
I've been talking to people about FB enabling the small talk that I don't have time to do with most people. Or the chat with the neighbour over the fence that no one really does anymore. I guess this fits your first reminder.
I really doubt that anyone will become a Christian through someone's status update, but it's a good tool for being "chatty" in relationship, which may, God-willing, lead to something down the track.
@ Sam - thanks mate.
I haven't had same difficulties with Events... especially if the event sends followup emails, and if you factor in that not everyone who does or doesn't RSVP will be there. (I've found that 2x as many people come to Events as RSVP and generally not including all those who RSVPd!)
A Facebook Page is far better than a Group because it allows you to do Profile updates just like with a person - and it just flows in the homepage stream.
Facebook emails to students to advertise events is totally fine. Just not as your Profile update, I reckon. It's kinda rude to those who use Facebook profile updates as a personal interaction.
@ Con - thanks very much. You've put it better than I did. Good thoughts.
Sane, 'in tune' advice Mikey. Good one.
no matter how cool and with it you think you are mikey you are just as "cringe-christian" as the rest
your most skeptical non-christian readers are not fooled by this bullshit
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