As an avid tech user I've had to revert to pen and paper in class order to be more fully absorbed in the content; And it's SO much more enriching when I do so.

Multi-tasking has its benefits, but it really really detracts when we should be listening. Were I ever in the place of some of my profs I dunno how I might respond...

Dan, if you figure out how to find balance in social media, please please let us all know.

I'm horrible at this. Maybe it's time I picked up my old standard verse: be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Sometimes the online world feels like we're all just waaaay too quick to speak.

It can be a huge distraction and cause us to prefer the simulation of something and not the thing itself.

Yet I'm struck you did both, engaged in the mission in person and still got to blog about it, with twist :-)

Then there are those of us who don't have the luxury of going out with friends or even meeting people because we have young kids and are stuck at home all the time. Social media is the only way we can connect with people - ever. just saying...

Hi Julie!

I appreciate your comment and very much understand. We have two daughters in 1st grade now. It isn't easy as you know. My wife found ways to intentionally engage in friendships built in going to parks with other moms. Be at school activities and help out there to meet people. I remember one time she was even intentionally part of one of those photo-scrap-book meetings with someone outside of the church. We have our daughters in art and also dance classes where she gets to meet other people who are not part of the church. So it becomes part of her normal life as a mom of young children. But strategic.

For me, it is intentionally living day to day life and making time instead of only hanging out socially with Christian friends to intentionally use social time with those outside the church. It has to be intentional for me, as it isn't easy being on staff at a church, getting a doctorate degree and foremost being at home with family. I have found it helps thinking like a missionary would with young children who are living in another country and what would they do. I love talking to missionaries from non-USA countries and hear how they spend their week. Two days ago I was just was talking to a missionary in a European country who has children and it was thrilling to listen to what they are doing. I have another friend in an Asian country who has 3 very young children and how she is befriending those in her neighborhood with other very young children. All in balance! But it's an adventure for sure.

Well....let's not "throw the baby out with the bathwater!" By the very fact that you make this point says that is where MANY folks are these days. Rather than admonishing, I say we go there and meet folks where they are. See my url. They need to hear the Good News too! ^_^

Do not "twitter" your life away. No, I will not return to read comments.

It's funny... I've been thinking the same thing all week as I've been watching the story of Iran unfold and have been curious why even on Facebook, twitter and all the Christian, Missional,etc. blogs... no one is speaking out on how the church should respond. It's funny that we've been moving towards the social responsibility the Gospel exhorts us to, however no one is talking about or joining in prayer for those in Iran who are calling out to God to help them live in freedom from oppression. Our president even said today, those who stand for justice will be on the right side of history. Shouldn't we as Christians who are the hands and feet of the One who came to bring justice and freedom to the opressed, recovery of sight to the blind be the first to stand up and lift our voices for justice? or should we just stay home and read blogs about it?
www.heartforliberty.wordpress.com

I think there is certainly a danger in losing touch with what's really important in connecting people with God - action and relationship, not simply knowledge and intent. I also don't doubt that people are more distracted these days, I know I am with text messaging, twitter et al.

It's ironic that I came across this JI Packer quote today. He was talking about how some people read the Bible just to learn knowledge, and never have any intent to apply that knowledge to a life of faith. I think it applies to this topic as well.

"To be preoccupied with getting theological knowledge as an end in itself, is to approach Bible study with no higher motive than a desire to know all the answers, and is the direct route to a state of self-satisfied self-deception." - JI Packer

As one who has been accused of looking at his Blackberry way too often, I hear what you're saying, but would suggest it's all about balance. I'm a solo pastor, so I'm really busy (what pastor isn't?), but I write to connect with others in ways that my small town ministry does not allow. I enjoy the exchange of ideas with fellow believers, but also engage with others whom I presume do not share my commitment to Christ.

Has my online time ever kept me from ministry? I don't think so because most of my online time is at home, late in the evening, or while I'm waiting in a doctor's office, or for the car to be fixed. You get my point.

I do like the concept of "missionary in another culture" idea, and have often thought of our rural, small town like that. Totally different from Nashville, Dallas, Atlanta, and Greensboro where we have lived before. So, bottom line, I'm trying to find balance because both my virtual presence and my real presence are important parts of what I do now. But, like Julie, I'm just saying...

I just reread this on-line here - I think the way the article was titled should be "Do It, Don't Only Blog it" vs. "Do It, Don't Blog it".

I do find blogs and stories extremely helpful, but it is so easy to get sucked into talking about missional (I know I have been guilty of it as I shared) but I want to hear the stories of how people who are writing or talking about are actually doing it - the day before, the week before etc.

The flip side of this is that we have the opportunity to be missional via our blackberries, twitter and facebook by supporting the fight for justice in Iran...

why not redeem it as we can in this very moment by letting the Iranian people know we not only hear their cries, but the Lord does as well and that we stand with them in solidarity! It would speak volumes to them if they knew we hear their pain and are for them. www.heartforliberty.wordrpess.com

Thank you for this post Dan. This issue has been like a stone in my shoe for a few years now. Having said that, I agree with Chuck's title, "Do It, Don't Only Blog it." There is value in both.

Some Christians (I'm guilty too), are no different in the blogging world as they are in real life ... too eager to share the Good News before they have earned the good will of the people through doing good deeds. That is back-to-front. So it's not suprising that we get accused of being too "preachy." The church in Acts 2 shows us that good deeds (v45) lead to good will (v47a) and an opening for the Good News (v47b). Reminds me of the old saying, "Share the gospel, and if you need to, use words."

Sorry Dan, just realized you re-wrote the title not Churck.

Thanks so much for this! I mean that, thank you. How much better and interested I am at learning theology rather than carrying it to its proper end. Thank God for his forgiving grace in Jesus for sin such as this. And thank God for his enacting grace through the life of the Spirit, who used this post to convict me. Know may I carry that conviction to its proper end - please Holy Spirit, do so. Thanks again.

Thanks for the post, Dan.
Here's what I have done:
First - I keep all church folks off of my FB. Second - I Post something reflective (e.g. a great quote or something) and then give a reflection question or two in the 'comment' box. My friends' responses have been amazing.This way i am connecting with old friends and utilizing that time to get them to reflect deeper about their lives.

@ Brad yes I agree, me too I separated my friend's and my social activities in my FB from being a christian

“Do It, Don’t Only Blog It,” in a nutshell, reads “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17

wow. so after reading a blog about not blogging...here i am leaving my comment. profound.

having just been through alan hirsch with my district team i find that i am compelled to introspect.

it is always easier to talk about it than do it. in fact, it is even more fun. the more you talk about it, the more you can convince yourself you really like it. But like henry poole said...who are you trying to convince - you - or me? (at least he said something like that).

Of course, there are also ways to be missional online... But it means going out and spending time on some of those heathen, non-theology types of blogs. :-) Interacting with people where they are at.

I've found that many non-Christians can have more civil discussions about Jesus than many Christians do, actually. Sort of like talking about it at the bar or the concert rather than sitting in a church pew all day.

You can be missional on Facebook, and you can be a stuffed shirt at a club.

I agree that endless talk is a colossal sin of the church, and the blogs (that I too love) are the epitome of it.

My pathetic little blog has brought two people into the arms of Christ this year, and that's why I continue it. People come, they read, I e-mail them, they call, we have coffee or a beer, and I tell them the kingdom of God is here.

I've kinda sworn off reading and commenting on the Christian "tastes great! less filling!" sites.

I've been told many times that the blog-u-mentation brings out my worst side anyway.

Dan

Great post, it is something that I have thought about as well, I have found it interesting being a pastor for since 1985 that while I love and agree with the conversation that has taken place for the last 10 or so years there is a culture that loves to sit and talk about what could be different and not do or give to make that happen, I do not mean that in a mean way but it is partly true. I know I used to have 800 people attend our church until I wanted to me missional now I have 120 but we are living it out in the burbs and having a blast.

while I see the value in face book at times, I also struggle with the idea that for the most part people would not even take the time to talk to these people and now are reconnecting which I am sure it is great but not even having to many real conversations with those around them.

to find the balance in this is tough as one person said balance is that point when pendulum is at the bottom for a split second before going to the other side.

I think it would have been appropriate to have just the title and the byline. :) BTW, I actually like the title, the suggested rewrite assumes we can do both well. I find myself becoming distracted, and since our culture is fully immersed in distraction we happily chalk it up to being "relevant."

I am not a ludite...in fact I am quite addicted to the little technology I have and crave (covet?) even more. This is not judgment for me, but confession. So long, I'm "Out of Ur"...

You've got it. The more technology wraps us in its seductive grip, the less relational we're becoming. We've only got so much energy and so many hours in each day. Every hour I spend connected with a screen in one way, shape, or form, is an hour less with the people in my world. And even more so, with the God that I serve.

And the more time we spend wired, the more overstimulated we become. We're always on. Our brains, our bodies, our souls are never at rest, never still. We have become addicts. Adrenaline junkies.

There's something very wrong when the first thing we do is go to the screen in the morning when we wake ...

I do believe that we are like the frog in the kettle ... enjoying the warm bath and completely unaware that we are dying slowly, but surely ...

Maybe it's time to jump out of the kettle before the flames get too high.