I was asked the other day if I thought a Social Network, specifically Facebook, could be Missional. This is my response:
Not really. Core Missional values are relational and incarnational. You begin relationships living incarnationally in order to reach those who never previously had a connection to the Kingdom.
That doesn’t happen on Facebook.
To the extent that Facebook can help you foster and nurture those relationships you already have, then it enhances the relational aspect of your life on mission.
Am I wrong? What do you think?
If you disagree, how do you think you can live missionally within Social Networks?
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Bob Cleveland
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 6:32 am:
If a church can be non-missional, I don’t know why a social network can’t be missional.
Perhaps we’re thinking of activities or perhaps organizations or maybe even programs that are missional, when we ought to be seeking to produce people who are missional.
That way, most everything they do can be missional, from church to fellowship to Rotary to Chat Rooms.
Bob Clevelands last blog post..So THIS Is What I Get……
Quinn Hooks
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 11:59 am:
Art,
Thank you for this post. I have been struggling to think if a social network can be missional and if so, what form would it be. Facebook has been wonderful for our church to enhance communications and deepen relationships.
Bob,
Thank you for your insight and wisdom. I am reflecting upon it.
Quinn Hookss last blog post..Baptist Courier seeking survivor’s stories
art rogers
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 12:05 pm:
That’s just it, Bob. Activities, organizations and programs are tools. They can’t be missional, they can only be used effectively or ineffectively.
Facebook and all the other social media are tools. Use them as you may.
Facebook has particular limitations in that it doesn’t allow (effectively) for the starting of new relationships, mostly just the betterment of connections that already exist.
There are exceptions, I suppose, but I perceive them to be rare.
caleb
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 12:48 pm:
Art,
I think that social networking can be missional. With a little intentionality, we can use Twitter, Facebook, and the rest to connect/reconnect with people and share the gospel with them incarnationally.
People have meaningful and influential relationships with people they have not (and may never) met face-to-face. Consider the zillions of “disciples” that people like Seth Godin or the “Getting Things Done” guy have.
By the way, Facebook allows you to connect with people who are friends of friends. This is, by definition, a “missional” approach to networking, isn’t it?
calebs last blog post..Rick Warren is America’s Pastor
art rogers
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 1:19 pm:
But Caleb, is it Facebook that is missional, or is it you using it as a tool to develop relationships while on mission?
I may be picking nits here, but I don’t think anything but sentient beings can be missional. God is about His mission, I am about His mission.
I don’t even think churches can be missional. I think that they can organize in a way that fosters community members living missionally, but that’s about it.
When we say a “Missional Church” – and I’ve said it plenty – I think that what we mean is a church that fosters missional individuals, or even that it is efficient in fostering missional individuals.
Quinn Hooks
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 4:13 pm:
I have been using it as a tool.
Quinn Hookss last blog post..Can social networks be missional?
caleb
on Jan 22nd, 2009
@ 8:24 pm:
Art,
Yeah, but that’s not what you said in your post. You wrote,
“That doesn’t happen on Facebook.”
Then you asked,
“If you disagree, how do you think you can live missionally within Social Networks?”
I get that people are missional and tactics are neutral things that can be used either way. But some things (tools, methods), by definition, just aren’t missional.
Social networking sites are (allow us to be) missional because they are relational and reciprocal. The opposite would be an attractional approach- like an isolated blog with comments turned off.
Am I making any sense here?
calebs last blog post..Rick Warren is America’s Pastor
art rogers
on Jan 23rd, 2009
@ 12:01 am:
Yeah, Caleb. Fair enough.
My thoughts on the “that doesn’t happen on Facebook” statement are that I have not experienced the creation of relationships on Facebook. It seems from your response that you have.
My observation has always been that Facebook can enhance the connections you have made in the real world as a tool for communication.
And it is set up that way. When you get “friended,” Facebook sends you an email saying, “(Person X) added you as a friend on Facebook. We need you to confirm you know this person.
If it is becoming more than that, I wonder if it is the norm. It doesn’t appear that way to me, but I could be wrong. It’s happened before.
Quinn Hooks
on Jan 23rd, 2009
@ 4:10 pm:
Sometimes I get the message that “We need to confirm you know this person” I wonder, “Who in the world is this person and how do I know them?”. I am still navigating my way through this brave new world.
Quinn Hookss last blog post..Is Psychology Is Just Sinful Human Beings Sinfully Thinking About Sinful Human beings?
Marty Duren
on Jan 24th, 2009
@ 1:55 pm:
Quinn-
I usually ask the person how we know each other. Sometimes I say, “I really have no memory of you. How do we know each other?” Of course, the last time I did that the person replied, “HaHa. You always were funny.” So, what do you do?
Art-
I’m with Caleb on how you asked the question. It did seem a little contradictory.
There are worse sins than nitpicking, though. Every level of connectivity that we have on this plan is an opportunity for us to live missionally. Car clubs are missional, but we can live missionally in that network. Same with a softball team or a social network. Mission works through relationships.
Marty Durens last blog post..On the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama
art rogers
on Jan 24th, 2009
@ 2:15 pm:
Well, truth be known, and I think I said this, I didn’t write the question. It was asked of me.
So I’ve actually answered two ways:
1) I don’t think Facebook is overly effective in creating a network, though you might use it with people you already know. It is, as you say, a level of connectivity.
2) Facebook itself is an opportunity to live missionally. It is only a tool. Not everyone on Facebook is participating in the mission (or any mission). For most it is just one more form of communication without an overarching motive. God and people are capable of missionality. Programs, social media, denominations – even churches – are simply tools and opportunities.
My point:
I couldn’t agree more. Therefore, car clubs are not missional, they are opportunities to live missionally.
art rogers
on Jan 24th, 2009
@ 2:19 pm:
As for the people who want to friend me on Facebook, I rarely say “no.” I just consider it an opportunity to connect one way or another.
And, yes, I have people I don’t remember friend me as well as people who just read my blog and find me through the Facebook badge I have in the sidebar.
Some people are just more picky than others I suppose. ;)
Marty Duren
on Jan 24th, 2009
@ 3:08 pm:
Oh well, I was supposed to have written, “Car clubs are not missional, etc” but I didn’t proofread. It looked as if I disproved my own point.
Marty Durens last blog post..On the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama
art rogers
on Jan 24th, 2009
@ 3:15 pm:
Well, at least you agree with me. It’s the least you could do. ;)
Quinn Hooks
on Jan 26th, 2009
@ 9:56 pm:
I concur also :)
Quinn Hookss last blog post..A BIBLICAL VIEW OF THE LIFE OF A LEADER