I’ve finally gotten over my anxiety about having my Mac or Droid out at church. Sometimes I’m Tweeting of FaceBooking something from the service (rarely) and moreoften I’m using it to take notes on products like Evernote. Recently I’ve been using my YourVersion account more.
YouVersion.com is a tool for reading and studying the Bible. It allows quick access to scriptures where you can make your own notations, find those of your friends or cross reference other versions of the Bible. Additionally it has a Social Networking aspect to it. And I really enjoy the apps for the mobile devices that sync with your online account.
I know this sounds like a commercial (as does the YouTube versions of the introduction), but it really is a useful tool. It creates a new interactive layer to the sermon.
I think we can all agree that there are things that evolve in culture, that we must take the totality of scripture to decipher. The use of Social Media in the Church seems like a natural transition. It’s relational, it’s bilateral, it’s available to the masses. However, there are concerns with the lack of fellowship with the Body. I KNOW that being part of a physical local church body, and submitting to that leadership is critically important to God. There are scriptures that suggest that to not be part of a church is a sin.
I don’t know that anyone can argue the power of the searcher to be able to hear sermons or gain information about Christ in their own home, without the daunting pressure than can exist going into a church for the first time.
Frontline Internet Church of Mcleen, Virginia is one of my favorite such ministries. I don’t think you can argue the ability of the internet to introduce Christ to non-believers. Watch this testimony and let me know your thoughts.
