I had an hour-long discussion with some ministry colleagues yesterday. Over brown-bagged lunch we talked about the impact that increased social communication has had on the church. 

It's always interesting to hear about other methods of ministry. It's encouraging and enlightening and it thrills me to know the commitments that one has to women's ministry while another is deeply passionate about single adults. 

Social networking platforms are numerous (as illustrated above). There are a million different ways to communicate. The question that was raised was "Is increased social networking an example of the culture adapting to new forms of technology or a fading of physical contact"

Most would say both. As would I.

As we chatted about this topic I think we each felt it's weight. Trying to put your finger on communication via the web is like a like stopping a train with your big toe. Tough to do. But as we reached an intended "no avail" in our quest to peg the churches response to this, we were reminded of just a couple of thoughts on each side of the coin:

Embracing technology is important. The church, Christ followers should probably lead the way in utilizing such a valuable resource. As far as we have come in the journey of technology, we have barely scratched the proverbial "surface" of it's potential destination. What if we embraced that? What if we were on the cusp of these changes and helped to steer them appropriately?

On the reverse side of the coin... one grave danger in increased (fabricated) communication is the lack of human interaction. Everyone who has a cell phone that sends text messages or a computer that emails (in the least) senses the pressure to simply cop out of a potentially awkward conversation by limiting their human contact with it. Why break up with him or her with your lungs if it can be done with your digits? Why ask for a raise face to face when it can be done over a wire? 

As immersed as I often feel in this culture of quickness, one thing I can't get past is the clear blessing that came from people who physically, face to face interacted with Christ. As our executive pastor raised yesterday "What if we read in the word that Jesus simply sent a text message to the leper to tell him he was healed?" 

There was clearly something special about sensing the person of Jesus. He exemplified much and the interaction He had with people was impacting in the least. The accounts that we read of His time on Earth leave us wanting more.

As much as I enjoy my iPhone and even evangelize about it consistently, I'm more hopeful than anything about coming face to face with the one who paid for my sin. I'm anticipating a conversation with He who spoke the world into existence. 

So as I hobby my way through advancement in technology, let me remember the importance of a hand shake, cup of coffee and insightful words with a real live human being. At the end of the day... that is how it was intended.