Will Twitter bring you closer to God?

[Pat Coyle]

Most churches want them turned off, but one North Carolina church encouraged its members to use their cell phones, BlackBerrys and other devices to help spread the word during Easter services.

Next Level church in Union County was alive with Twitter during the Easter Sunday service, The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.

"I hope many of you are tweeting this morning about your experience with God," Pastor Todd Hahn said before his sermon.

Seems several flocks are twittering these days (including Trinity Church in NYC).

Will tweeting in Church help or hurt the spiritual experience? Share your thoughts here

[Nicki Laycoax]

Chris, that's BS. if a pastor is blogging and Tweeting, it is not about commercialization or advertising his church, it's about adjusting to the world and the way that a large population is communicating. I'm assuming that you use email rather than sending letters to everyone via snail mail, correct?

[Jeff Zuber]

Nicki, I think you hit it square on the head. Upon his resurection, Jesus charged his disciples with spreading the word of the Lord. The New Testament is based on communications of Paul and the other disciples to fellow Christians around the world. Would Jesus and the disciples use Twitter and modern communications? I believe they would. If you think of the work it took to move letters around the region or around the world back then a letter in that day was pretty high tech.

If you are of the belief that all good comes from God and he gave us the ability to develop the Internet and other vehicles such as Twitter, why can't we use technology to spread his word?

[Nicki Laycoax]

Thank you Jeff. I think He would be proud that we are using the internet to spread His word.

[Milo Curtis]

So, for the sake of disclosure, I'm one of those "shepherds."

@Kevin. Love the link to the Pharisee/Tax Collector parable (Luke 18:9-14). It got me thinking. In the parable the Pharisee is condemning and insulting to the people around him..."God I'm glad I'm not like..." The Tax Collector is contrite and humble, "God have mercy on me a sinner." So it's not a matter of one is silent and personal vs. loud and proud. It's a matter of attitude and attention (proud & me vs. humble & God). Which leads me to the thought...could twitter be a good tool for "confession."

Trust me, I get the whole "can't you unplug for a freakin' hour" thing. But I do think there is merit in asking these questions and the firestorm of dialogue this topic has ensued. Kudos to Pat for hitting a nerve!

twitter: milocurtis

[Amy Stark]

It's been my experience that just about any action can be condemned or praised with a corresponding bible passage. I like Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

I only know this particular passage because I've seen Godspell several times -- and was in it twice. =) If you don't know the song to which I refer, check out You Are The Light of The World, you can find anything on YouTube

[Ed Buford]

I believe everything and nothing can bring you closer to God, it’s your choice. For some twittering can be as meaningful as sing hymns. It is a way for people to share what they are experiencing, and if they are experiencing God who is to say they should not be twittering?

[Shawn Quick-Raflik]

I think I have some t-shirt ideas from this conversation.

Holy Tweet-Fest '09

I Tweet for Jesus!

Jesus doesn't mind if I TWEET in church!

Which one do you like best?? Artwork coming soon. Then I can take orders :)

[Theresia Whitfield]

That last one is hysterical!!! I love it!!

[Amy Stark]

These are all great, Shawn. But how about those Smoosiers who are Jewish or Muslim? I guess Holy Tweet-Fest '09 (aught nine ;) would cover everything.

[Ryan Crozier]

I tweet in church. I like sharing my experience with my friends. After all... that's what Twitter is about.
@RyanCrozier

[Amy Stark]

Do you use a hashtag? Do you have a tweet stream devoted only to your church tweets? Just wonderin'?