The Dangers of Web Technology … and How Not to be An Idiot

This article from the Consumerist on How to Fight Companies Online and Win is an example of the dangers of blogging and the Web.

As you know I spend a lot of time writing about how to use technology — like blogs and church websites — FOR ministry. For things like helping churches communicate better with its members and market effectively to potential guests and those outside the faith.

BUT … it’s about time I talked about the negative side effects too …

As with almost everything, these technologies can (and have been and will be) abused to malign, promote disunity, and all other manners and manifestation of sin.

My prime example is the happenings on the Web surrounding Bellevue Baptist and a blog that has been started in the wake of all of it. (Read this news story for background) …

No matter where you stand on the particular issues involved at Bellevue (I don’t know all of them) … let me just say … the word “ridiculous” comes to mind when internal church matters now become public through the use of a blog or a website or a chain email letter, whatever.

Let me state the obvious … this is NOT the way to use these technologies for mission and ministry. It’s the way the Adversary wants to use them to promote division and disunity (wow, aren’t those remarkably like sin itself?).

AND … if you use any of the tips and strategies I talk about here (or that article) to promote division and disunity in your church … God help you.

Here are some principles I’ll spit out about how to use technology and, really, more importantly, how NOT to use technology:

Keep it private. Use biblical discernment. Err on the side of love, without compromise for truth and righteousness. But seek the biblical method for confrontation (Didn’t Christ talk about this?). People a 1,000 miles from your church — without any connection to it — don’t need to hear about your church’s dirty laundry. BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE IT TOO!

Don’t use blogs, websites that are easily searched, read, and spread all over the world to air your gripes. That’s just a further explanation, but nonetheless, I’m irritated so I’m going to beat that dead horse to death.

Don’t give in to materialistic consumerism that says, “If I don’t get my way, I’ll throw at fit until someone gives me what I want.” In my opinion, this mentality — the serve me, I’m the customer! one — is a pervasive sickness within the American church. The church is the most unique environment in the whole wide world. We’re supposed to serve … but not demand service.

If you use blogs to communicate “your side” — I think you’re an idiot. Strong words, but still … if what you’re doing causes other people to think about a wailing child in Wal-Mart who is screaming because he/she has not gotten his/her way … you might be an idiot and need to rethink what you’re doing.

Clarification: I’m not taking sides on any church issue referenced above or anyone that you might be thinking about … in fact, I ain’t talking about any of them in particular necessarily … I’m merely ranting generally about some of these situations because they are blatant abuses of technologies that could otherwise be redeemed for use in seeing more people come to Christ through the proclamation of the Gospel.

And what these examples are doing is damaging their use FOR ministry because people will associate “blogs” with “Oh, that time that guy got mad and posted those things about his church.”

I guess I’m posting all this to say: Don’t be an idiot. Don’t use web technology to damage a local church. Don’t follow the principles in that article to get what you want in your church. Don’t give in to consumerism mindset.

Think twice about emailing or posting something. If you’re mad, a good rule to follow is … let it sit overnight. Back away from the keyboard. Count to 10 or go hit some golf balls, or pull the electrical plug on your computer.

Just don’t damage the Bride.

Because the One who gave His life and blood for her … well, He’s coming back. And it won’t be pretty.

January 10, 2007 · Filed Under Church Marketing

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Comments

2 Responses to “The Dangers of Web Technology … and How Not to be An Idiot”

  1. Josh on January 10th, 2007 1:13 pm

    Ahh, I see you saw that article too. I didn’t even take time to read it.

    Great response! I especially like that last bit.

    –Josh

  2. Armen on January 14th, 2007 6:01 pm

    Excellent advice Cory!! As I began to read it I was thinking, “surely no one would be so silly” but then I caught myself on. It’s sad that there are people that are only too happy to post their gripes and spread their gossip through the net.

    This has become one of my favourite blogs brother. Keep up the good work!

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