Though So Many, We are One

As I look at the cross section of people in this Media Meets Religion group, one thing that came to my mind was the words of Psalm 133:1 which says “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Our gathering at Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg is a fresh reminder of what it truly means to be members of the Body of Christ. How wonderful it is that Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, United Methodists etc. gather to share each other’s faith traditions, life experiences, passions and beliefs. What a blessing to be in a class that has members of the military, communication experts, school administrators, Politicians, career professionals, pastors, ministers and students. How privileged to listen to those professionals and ministers who called in via Skype to share their words of wisdom.

My wish is that this bond that we share at the moment, continue to flourish from year to year. After such a fruitful and fulfilled week, I pray that we be able to further this spirit of ecumenism, so that the world will see and know how much we love and care for each other. I pray that we continue to emphasize that which unites us and speak less of the things that divide us. Though we are so many, for we come from different denominations; yet we are one in Christ. [Roman 12:5]  We share in the banquet of the Lord as his brothers and sisters and we gather in his name.

As we have learned ways through which 21^st century can meet religion and help enhance our spiritual experiences, may we also help each other implement the use of appropriate new media in our various churches and communities. We have come this far by faith because we leaned on Christ and on each other for strength and support. As we return to our various destinations and works of life, let us keep in mind that we are a team that had been dispatched by God to show love to the world. To be able to carry out this task effectively in this century, we (like St Paul) will have to “be all things to all people.” [1Corinthians 9:19-23]

No Website is Better than a Bad Website

For the past few days now members of the group “When 21^st Century Media Meets Religion” have received extensive lectures on how new media can enhance our religious experience. A particular issue that seems to have raised more questions than answers is whether a bad church website is better than no website at all. The peculiar nature of this issue does not allow any room for neutrality. As a result, some members of the group had to be put in a position where they either supper a shabby church website or the old fashion ways of communicating information and ideas. I do appreciate the position of those who prefer that churches have lackluster websites instead of no website. It’s just difficult for me to subscribe to that proposition. I say this because I believe in the saying that “half knowledge is dangerous.” In fact, I join those who think that half information is worse that ignorance.

Come to think of it, would anyone be happy when information on a church’s website turns out to be misleading? How would you react when you realize that you are an hour late for church service simply because the administrator of the church’s website has not updated the time for worship? Or you realize that the Pastor’s profile that you are reading was that of a minister who had left the church years back? That is “so not cool” of any church community and it is surely not an image that they would be proud to portray to the world.

All churches should own a website, but they have the responsibility of making sure that the information posted on that website is up to date. It is importance that someone is assigned the task of visiting the site on a regular basis, to ensure that it’s content reflects the current mood, desires, views and image of that particular church community. It is also important that church websites are update and properly organized because of their ability to attract people and draw them to “come and see” how that faith community lives and worships. The church website cannot fulfill its usefulness, if information posted on it are painstakingly hard to obtain as a result of bad organization.

Pastor Elise Brown of the Advent Lutheran Church in New York reminds us that over 60% of those who search church websites are more likely to view only the home page. She claimed that once people look up the name and address of a church, its pastor and time for service, they are usually gone. Pastors, parish administrators and church leaders take note! Your church website is the face of your faith community. Update it; make it simpler to navigate, faster to access and enticing to view. Your website is the mirror through which the whole world views and evaluates how organized or disorganized you are.

New Media and Christian Worship

This week has been devoted to analyzing the relationship between new media and religion. Some have asked what good can come from the social media meeting religion in this 21^st century. In response to such skepticism, I wish to consider briefly Verity Jones’ “Six Cs of Social Media” as a way of buttressing its usefulness to religion. Jones recalled that when Christians correctly utilize social media, it can help “Collect” or gather more people to worship God. A good social media can also “Connect” smaller communities to form a strong bond and create a larger and more efficient community. Social media has also become a tool for evangelization and “Conversion” of heart. Through social media, those who have been evangelized and brought to the faith “Conspire” or work together as one people in order to be drawn closer to God and develop a strong relationship with their creator. Verity also suggested that social media could be used to “Cultivate” and nurture the spiritual and social life of Christians, in such a way that they become true Disciples of Christ. Lastly, social media has the capability of motivating people towards accepting “Changes” in their lives.

Having seen the relevance of new media and the huge effect it can have on religion, we are now faced with the task of translating or incorporating these values to suit the worship experience of people who come to church seeking the face of God. But how can we attain this goal without dismissing the pessimism of some who query the use of electronic gadgets during liturgical celebration? How can we convince our Church leaders and those who are against the adaptation of media technology in church services, that they need to embrace media ministry as the 21^st century means of evangelism.

 Obviously, we will struggle to make a case for the use of new media, if we continue to entertain their inappropriate use during worship. Don’t get me wrong, I am an advocate for the digital natives. I cherish the smartness of smart phones, tablets, laptops etc. However, I feel there is time and place for everything. Do we really need to tweet parts of a sermon to our followers at the exact time it is being preached?  Should we be texting our pals how inspiring or woeful the singing has been? Could we not stay off Facebook or blogs till the end of service before commenting, liking or disliking something that is taking place during worship? When did we become so oblivious of the ethical principle that urges us to listen attentively while someone else is speaking? Or is it no longer disrespectful to be engaging others while someone is trying so hard to engage us? You be the judge! As for me, these new age media and modern electronic gadgets should be incorporated into worship, only if they are used for the purpose of reading Sacred texts, noting salient points during homilies/sermons or other acts that are directly related to worship.

 

Protecting Our Personal Brand

 

I visited a friend in Hyattsville MD a few weeks ago and he recounted the amount of pressure that his family and co-workers have been putting on him to join the global village called Facebook. At some point in his story, he made it clear to me that he was not ready to project a false image of himself on the pages of a social media. He claimed it would be dishonest on his part to call people his “friends” when he barely knew them. It would also be wrong for him to view their pictures or comment on their updates and postings when he does not intend to relate with them on a more personal level.  He said to me “that is so not my style…it is not who I am.”  I didn’t make anything out of his views; in fact, we laughed it off immediately and started talking about sports while we quenched our thirst with some chilled Heineken beer. But reflecting on that encounter today, it dawn on me that my friend was concerned with protecting his personal brand. He wanted to remain who he was and felt that becoming a member of the social media would ensure that he strayed away from his authentic self.

After listening to today’s lecture and comments on branding, it is fair to say that our success in life is dependent on the kind of brand that we project to the world. Whether we admit it or not, we are constantly selling our personal brand to our family members, friends, colleagues and the outside world who are the immediate consumers. But does our brand (that which defines us as unique beings) reflects who we truly are? Does it mirror our genuine and authentic self? Do we have multiple personal brands? Do we consider our current brand to be in need of adjustment in order to fit our ministry and the community we serve?

As people living and working among other human beings, we are constantly under pressure to protect our brand. We are subjected to scrutiny which is intended to lead us to in-authenticity.  In order to conform to the social standard of the day, we are made to do or say things that are outside our character. Sadly, many good people succumb to those pressures and as a result, they lose their true brand. Many also have willingly compromised their original brand as a means of pleasing others or for material benefits. But in whatever circumstance one finds him/herself, the goal should always be to stay true to that which we believe to be our true personal brand, defend and protect it with every ounce of our being.

When 21st Century Media Meets Religion

Media and Religion? I never thought I would use both words in a sentence a few years back. That is how much I intended to separate the spiritual from the mundane. But here we are in the 21st Century and religion has indeed met media technology and both seem inseparable. I get the hesitancy of many who thought we should not commingle technology with religion. Their fears are well rooted to the fact that technology has the capacity to distract us from our worship of the God. Yes, we can loose our focus if technology is not carefully harnessed and used to bring us closer to our creator, to one another and to other creatures.

However, the use of media technology can help us spread the Gospel faster and more efficiently to the ends of the world. It can shape our experience of God and give us a more innovative way of worship in this contemporary times. The use of media in our day to day worship can appeal to younger generation and help bring all Christian communities closer than ever.

Contrary to many belief, Christianity is not dying, rather, it is undergoing a serious change; a change for the better. What is left for us today, is to embrace that change with open mind.