I have seen a Church use Live Blogging during service to great reward. It helped those who could not visit be still involved online.

I see twittering as a useful tool to spread the word. I have many believers and unbelievers following me on Twitter. Although I use my account mostly for Education Purpose, My faith is always shown, which has caused some debates on twitter. You really get important information shared when you debate on twitter, you don’t waste your limit on nonsense batter.

I have seen individuals in Church, write notes, text, talk, use iPods, and even DS Lites. Do we know what is in their hearts? Yes, it can be a distraction, but what is the means behind it?

We are to spread the word. I have had many pastors, tell me to write down my thoughts as we worked through a Bible story or listen to a sermon. Sharing our thoughts with the world, is just one step forward for the kingdom of God!

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1895463,00.html

For those who may not be aware of it, Next Level first made a name for itself in the national media through its ‘shot glass ministry.’ They distributed free shot glasses to bars in the Ballentyne area of Charlotte as a promotional gesture, hoping that bar patrons would be enticed to attend their services. Hung over from a Saturday night at the bar, one wonders how seriously these prospective converts, having found out about these people from a shot glass they drank out of the night before, would view attending their first Next Level service there with a congregation full of people ‘twittering’ away on their cell phones, as if narrating a play-by-play commentary at a sporting event. How can such conduct in ‘church’ be anything else but a distraction to those around the ‘commentators’, who may be people who prefer hearing their sermons firsthand?

A far better idea would be for them to webcast their services over streaming video. Online church services avoid misinterpretation of the message by intermediaries, and keeps everyone focused on what a church service supposed to be – the message God is trying to send to the people through their pastor.

Your opinions may differ, but I don’t think mainstream Christian America will accept this behavior, or view it in any other way than as what it is – a distraction. One can only wonder what this ‘church’, which seems to prefer provoking controversy over disseminating the message of Jesus Christ, will come up with next to draw attention to itself.

Respectfully submitted,

Rob

“How do we know that the ones that are twittering are sending notes on what they are listening to?”

How do we know the ones who are writing with pens and paper are writing about the message as opposed to passing notes or writing up a shopping list? Just playing devil’s advocate. 😉

“I think we all can get by without having to have the convenience of twittering during worship time.”

I think that’s a great point. Is there really any downside to waiting until after the service is over to Twitter about it?

I am a pastor and have been faced with teens texting during the service. Following the service I ask one about the message and was told that it was to a friend and they were making plans for the afternoon and that Sunday night.

My own gut feeling is that we should be capable of getting through three hours of worship (Wed. night, Sunday morning, Sunday night) without the need of twittering. Now I know some will say that I am not open minded but I am. I use every convenience possible but there is something to be said about being in God’s house and giving him time to speak to my heart without the world being involved.

We have discouraged twittering, texting and the use of cell phones in our worship services. Our people now use the silent mode and most do not even respond but to make sure that it is not an emergency. Our congregation has firemen, rescue and police (state & city) and they respond to their pagers without disturbing the service so I think we all can get by without having to have the convenience of twittering during worship time.

One thing I am wondering about though. My husband is a preacher and he’s an avid believer in taking notes and studying them later. He got me thinking – if the preacher says to twitter, then it’s a congregational effort and it’s less distracting if everyone knows you are doing it. But in a simple service at our church it’s not appropriate as the pastor hasn’t made the request. Once again…it’s all in the Lord’s calling.

@ Paul – Thanks! My first name is my mother’s fault. My last name is my husband’s fault (Phipps). It’s awful to make phone calls and people ask my name and the spelling. I have to come up with all kinds of acronyms! I also passed the blessings to my daughters. Brienna (not Brianna) and Elizabeth (not Elisabeth)…LOL.