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

[Stephen James]

It might in a receiving manner--like everything in our modern/post-modern world it's all focused on the individual and Twitter is no different (sorry if I'm getting too Marxist). If we value our little messages so much and ourselves witty and cute, I doubt that we are drawing closer to God. This isn't to say that we cannot gain devotional ideas from Twitter, it is the attitude and impetus for tweeting that we must watch.

[Chris Lucas]

How much of a connection with your god can you truly make in 140 characters? My guess is that you are too busy trying to get something to fit into a 140 characters to tweet it to truly gather any meaning for yourself.

[Parke Ladd]

Twitter is being used by several downtown churches here in Indy including @indymetrochurch. They use it to get the word out on current church events and update their followers on sermon points from the previous Sunday. It's a great way to connect! IndyMetro church also uses SMS to communicate with questions and answers during the sermon. Say they present a question at the beginning of the sermon related to the topic, and the congregation can text in an anonymous answer. The answers are then collected and sometimes addressed at the end of the sermon.

Whether or not it brings you closer to God or probably depends on who you're following, I suppose.

[Milo Curtis]

As a pastor, I welcome real-time responses to what God is challenging people with. So I can see some value to tweeting in church. For me the question is, "am I tweeting to bring attention to myself or God?"

As a pastor should I tweet during a worship service?

twitter: milocurtis

[Robert Muller]

What you're looking for, and how hard you're looking for it is more important than the vehicle. If God is the focus maybe Twitter can help. If Twitter is one's spiritual raison d'être, it's just a distraction.

[Theresia Whitfield]

We have to remember that this isn't about us. It's about God. Worship and studying the Word of God is something that should be deliberate and intentional. We don't (or shouldn't) go to church for what WE get out of it but rather what we can BRING to God! And if we can't bring our total selves to Him in church, then we are not giving ourselves totally over to Him.

I agree with Nicki and a few others, though, on the efficacy of Tweeting about church - but not IN church. It might be a wonderful way of introducing the church to the unchurched or perhaps can help someone who is unable to make it to church due to illness, etc. However, a designated Tweeterer should suffice. And as others have so eloquently stated, when the service is over, Tweet till your hearts content! I have done that on a few occasions myself after a rather enlightening service. In fact, I Tweet about God and His impact on my life quite often. In that sense, I can see how Tweeting about God could bring both the Tweeter and Tweetee closer to God.
@tboracer

[Darlene Freeman]

I think any way that a person can get the word out will definitely bring SOMEONE closer to GOD! He works in misterious ways!

[Amy Stark]

You asked, "Will tweeting in Church help or hurt the spiritual experience?"

It will HELP the spiritual experience for those who feel a connection to the their twitter community. Church-when it's done right IMHO- is much more than listening to a broadcast message from the pulpit, it's about belonging to a group and sharing the experience.

But it will HURT the spiritual experience of those who are annoyed by new communication devices in general. I know when I'm in a meeting, or talking to a small group, or chatting "1-on-1 and f-2-f", and someone interacts with a digital device rather than paying attention, I often envision snatching the device and hurling it across the room. Luckily -up until now- I haven't acted on this vision.

How about limiting digital device usage ONLY to the last couple of pews, or maybe a special section -- close to outlets, of course. This would allow a greater number of people to share and enjoy the spiritual experience at the same time.

[Theresia Whitfield]

I'm chuckling about your visual, Amy, but I often feel the same way! Note to self: don't use digital devices when meeting with Amy! :-)

Interestingly enough, many people now use their phones (Blackberry and iPhone) in church to find particular Bible passages as there are some pretty neat Bible apps available. I'm sure some in the pews think this is disrespectful but the Word of God is the Word of God - whether on paper or a mobile device.

[Theresia Whitfield]

Interesting follow up - I happened to catch a story on Good Morning America about how surgeons are now Tweeting during surgery! Yikes!! They say it's an effort to teach medical students. What's next? Tweeting during sex?

[Nicki Laycoax]

Oh dear...

[Michael R.]

If my surgeon tweeted during my surgery, I would beat him after I came out of anesthesia. That's just my way of doing things:)