Are Christian Social Networking Sites Actually “Unsocial?”
Let me just start by asking the question, “is the very idea of a Christian social network, unsocial?”
Second let me say that I don’t necessarily know the answer to the question but I do have some thoughts on the matter and I am hoping that you will be willing to share your two cents and further the conversation…
With that being said, it was Friday when I first started wrestling with this question. I came across a site called “Sanctuary” which is essentially a Christian social media platform like Facebook, where you can create profiles, make groups, post comments, the works. And it is exclusively for Christians.
Now on one level, I get the idea of wanting to have a meeting place for like minded people. I personally enjoy getting together with like minded people and talking about things we have in common so the virtual Christian “piazza” makes sense on that level.
However, I begin to have trouble with the concept when I think of it in the context of the the great commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What bothers me the most is this seems to be yet another way that the Christian community is trying to isolate itself from the rest of society, rather than going out to meet it. It seems to be another way to put up walls, draw a line in the sand and essentially give the impression that Christians are better than everyone else. Rather than being intentional about connecting with those who do not yet know God there is a desire to retreat from them.
Truthfully it gives the impression that Christians don’t want to be around “sinners.” This is awfully unfortunate considering we’re sinful just like those who don’t believe in Christ. AND if you think otherwise you need a reality check. The fact that you think you are better or less sinful, points to a great deal of sin in your life in the form of pride.
In 1 Timothy 1:15 the apostle Paul who was an incredible teacher and follower of Christ says,
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.
Most of us Christians have a hard time admitting the fact that we are sinful just like everyone else. We carry ourselves as though we have it all together when in reality gossiping, lying, cheating and shady business deals are going on all the time. You name it and you can find it being done by someone who calls themselves a Christian. And you wonder why people who don’t believe in Christ think we’re hypocrites.
Side note – If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, let me just say that all Christians are hypocrites. Period. But it’s because we are hypocrites and sinful in countless other ways that we have given our lives to Christ, because it is only though a relationship with Him that that sin can be taken from us.
On the Sanctuary site it gives the definition of “sanctuary” and it says this…
A sacred and inviolable asylum; a place of refuge and protection; a shelter. Safe place; a holy place.
What is it supposed to be an inviolable asylum from? Unless it’s Farmville (which I can totally understand), what do you really need to hide from on sites like Facebook? You can set your privacy settings high, you can choose who you want your friends to be and who you want to ignore. You can create private topical groups where you can engage in dialogue. So what are you trying to create a shelter from?
Although I think it is essential to create environments for like minded people to get together in community to talk and share life, sites like Sanctuary (sanctuary is only one of many) seem to completely fly in the face of the great commission and perpetuate a mindset of isolation and avoidance.
Instead of going out, we are retreating back. Instead of engaging in society, we are cowering in our “asylums.” Instead of sharing the life saving truth with those who do not yet know, we’re keeping it a secret.
You can be out in the world without being of the world and you can engage in culture without being consumed by culture.
Unfortunately many aren’t willing to give that a shot.
…Hmm…perhaps after writing all of this I do have a strong opinion on the subject.
What do you think? Do “Christian” social networking sites put up walls between those who have a relationship with Christ and those who don’t. Are they “unsocial?”
Posted on April 13th, 2011 by David | 19 Comments »
I hate just about everything that tries to be “Christian” by copying something secular but slapping “Jesus” on it.
I do too, primarily because it creates this us vs. them mentality. There are perfectly good “secular” tools and resources that can be used by churches and other faith based organizations but instead we develop cheap imitations so that we can avoid contact with the society.
Wow – this is the first I’ve heard of that group. I’ll have to look at it. Yeah – I agree with you boys on this one. It reminds me of too many homeschooling families who try to protect and put up walls around their children – not wanting to expose them to anything “bad” out there. Don’t get me wrong – not ALL homeschooling families are like this – but just a few can give it a very bad name – just like very few “Christians” can give us a bad name. I know just the ones that would choose this site – to “protect themselves” from all the bad people and influences out there. I believe Jesus would be on facebook, twitter and just about every other social network known to man where he could mingle with the masses and make a positive difference by leading through example of how to live.
I agree Cindy, I think people often times go way to far when it comes to sheltering themselves and their children. We live in a broken world and it is this world that we have been called to engage. I think rather than sheltering people from what’s going on in the world, we need to work on teaching people how to appropriately respond to the things going on in the world. Jesus engaged the world he didn’t run from it.
I agree. As a former homeschooler (don’t worry, I’m relatively “normal”) I definitely sufferred a bit from the sheltering mentality. Jesus would definitely be involved in social media because that is where the people are. In Bible times He chilled at the synagogue and in the market w/ all kinds of people. I think today you’d find him on Twitter.
KC I would never have guessed that you were home schooled. Major props to your parents!
I don’t think there is anything wrong with home schooling, but if you’re going to do it make sure your kids have regular social interact and are exposed to real life situations.
Yes, yes, and yes.
We don’t need more “Christian” social networks or movies, or t-shirts or whatever you want to do just adding Christian in front of it. What we need is more Christians. This comes by evangelizing and sharing the good news with sinners. Christians need to get out of their self-created hole they dug.
I only have one word for you Moe, AMEN!
I second that.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
And if you don’t really care, no one will listen.
You speak the truth my friend.
I never really understood why the “Christian stuff” became so wildly popular, I admit I have bought into some of it, but this closes off our ability to impact the world and speak truth into it. If we are surrounding ourselves with only those that believe the exact same way, what purpose does that serve. I have been in churches where I have been told to only listen to Christian music, or watch only Christian movies because all the rest is garbage and has no place. I would hate to think that God only can use people that sing songs for him or act in movies designed a certain way.
I tend to be all inclusive and want and desire friends from all walks of life. I want to hear and understand how others view the world and where they get their beliefs from. God made this world so amazing and I want to be out there in the world showing the love of Jesus to others.
Excellent job with this. Great reminder of how not to operate and be closed off.
Chris, I really appreciate your thoughts. They definitely resonate with me.
One of the things that really bothers me about a lot of “Christian” types of products is that often times they aren’t as good as the original. Christians are really good at creating bad knockoffs. In the end they’re a turn off to people who aren’t Christians because they seem to cheesy and obviously copied from something else.
David, great article, thanks for sharing. I, for one, see nothing wrong with like minded support groups, Christian or otherwise, but I must agree, is a “Christian” social media group really neccessary? Afterall, Facebook allows for filtering. It’s not like the concept is inerrantly evil. How can one light the way if he is constantly being smothered in shelter?
I agree there isn’t anything wrong with like minded people coming together. In fact I think that is important at times. What I do struggle with is isolationism. All too often Christians get together in the name of avoiding thing world. Unfortunately this attitude doesn’t help spread the Gospel.
Hey David. I know this post is a little old but I came upon it when I googled “christian social networking” (you were number 10 btw). I agree with the sentiment that a trend in Christianity (or at least in evangelical circles) is to imitate the world in any of our artistic endeavors. Whether it’s “Jesus” on the Coca-Cola logo or social networks that are “just like facebook” it seems like we’re always imitating the world to try to impress it, or influence it. It can be hard to tell the difference and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But it is this seeming lack of creativity that really bothers me. Maybe the reason we are unable to draw more people to Jesus is that, despite the fact that it has been Christianity that has driven Western civilization forward for the last 2,000 years, it is in the world where people see a form of progress today. Then again, it may be no different today than it has been in the past, just televised.
Hi Jon, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I definitely feel the same frustration with the lack of creativity. I would love to see the Church step up its game and be more innovative. With that being said, I think it’s also okay to use some of the tools that have already been developed without feeling the pressure to try and create Christian alternatives.
This is actually rather difficult. I heard a recent sermon about being “unequally yoked”. Although the verse that uses that term refers to marriage, the main emphasis is about coming out from the world; Christians have no business linking with non-Christians in spiritual matters.
And yet, we are to be in the world, but not of the world. Salt and light. How can we make a difference if we isolate ourselves?
I have Facebook friends that only friend up other Christians and do not want to have discussions with non-Christians. They are seeking a kind of haven.
Won’t work. I have “Christian” friends who are clearly not Christians, and I have been attacked for posting a link to a video of a street preacher being bullied, of all things (he had no business “cramming his religion down people’s throats”). My views on the Bible and Christian practice will differ from the views of others who claim to be just as Bible-believing as I do.
Also, there are Christians who have simply not matured in some areas, or I have not matured in other areas and I may displease some of them. I think it’s a problem with being human.
Too many possibilities for things to go wrong, as well as trying to be isolationist and defending your position. I would like to hang out with like-minded believers, but I get some entertainment, political information and other things from my Facebook activities.
Join an alleged “Christian only” site? I might.
Hey Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. I appreciate you thoughts and definitely understand the desire to connect with other believers as well as the difficultly of having to deal with… for lack of a better term “opposition.”
There are definitely a lot of Christian social medias sites that do a great job of creating online environments for fellowship, sites such as “Sancturary.” I personally just think that there are some other tools already out there that can be used for that and as Christians we don’t need to have a “Christian alternatives” all the time.
We do too much imitating and not enough innovating. Some of the “alternatives” are good, it’s either have the Christianized version or go without (whatever). I saw a kid’s costume in a Christian bookstore that was an “alternative” for Halloween, some kind of spiritual super hero. Do not want.