Last Tuesday’s THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK addressed some of the negative aspects of a relatively new and revolutionary medium for human communication and relationship. This week the other side of the coin will be the topic: the potential good that can come out of our use of social media.
This medium has opened an unforeseen and entirely new opportunity for human beings to connect globally (truthfully one that even exceeds the advent of the jet airliner in many ways). It is now possible to be in free, instant communication with our fellow human beings in vast sections of our planet. Just over a quarter of a century ago such a notion remained in the realm of science fiction.
Some might say that it is impossible for the “virtual relationships” made possible by this technology to become anything more than a pale imitation of “face-to-face” ones. This discounts a few things, the most obvious being that it is often possible eventually to physically meet our online contacts (Full disclosure: the author initially met his wife on Facebook 13 years ago). Even if virtual relationships do not literally become face to face, millions of lonely people like shut-ins now have a new way to not feel nearly so alone. These platforms also allow us an entirely unprecedented opportunity to connect with many people from other cultures around the globe, people who may have some good things to teach us, and vice versa.
Another positive, though certainly a potential negative as well, is the ability for people to express themselves to so many others electronically through everything from photography to artwork to serious writing. There is now a way to do this in a scope exponentially greater than was possible during all prior human history.
The fact is this form of mass self-expression, as a means of sharing our natural and supernatural giftings from God, has permanently opened up a whole new world of possibilities (It is, of course, up to us whether we use this responsibly and for the common good).
Then there is the most obvious, and potentially most profound, positive for those of us who both use this medium of communication and who also follow Jesus Christ. We now, at least potentially, can witness to 4.26 billion fellow human beings living on every continent of this world! How we might pursue that staggering possibility will be the subject, next Tuesday, of our next and last social media-themed THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
This thought was written by Shea Oakley. Shea is Principal Contributor for FCAP Social Media and also serves on our Advisory Board.
