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When I jumped into the world of social networking, there weren\u2019t many people talking about the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts. Soon enough, there was a lot \u201cout there\u201d about the don\u2019ts. Few do\u2019s. You can search \u201csocial networking do\u2019s and don\u2019ts\u201d on Google and find a lot of advice. Most advice seems to be in regard to building your profile, protecting your brand, and making sure your children are protected.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s talk about some practical do\u2019s and don\u2019ts that deal with the state of our hearts. I\u2019d like to see a conversation where we talk about the decisions we make online in order to better follow Jesus.\u00a0How are we engaging in conversation online and developing relationships? How are we inviting the Holy Spirit into online conversation and how does he affect our online profile?<\/p>\n
Here are my Top 5 of each at this point in my experience:<\/p>\n
Do<\/strong> Don\u2019t<\/strong> Do<\/strong> Don\u2019t<\/strong> Do<\/strong> Don\u2019t<\/strong> Do<\/strong> Don\u2019t<\/strong> Do<\/strong> Don\u2019t<\/strong> For more conversation on social media and ministry, visit the Patheos Book Club on <\/a><\/strong><\/em>Follow You Follow Me.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How are we engaging in conversation online and developing relationships? How are we inviting the Holy Spirit into online conversation and how does he affect our online profile? Social media veteran, author and pastor John Voelz shares his Top 5 Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n. . . engage in conversation. Be interested more than interesting.
\nCarry on conversations via private messages. Ask people how you can pray for them. I like to go through my friend list everyday and ask God who I need to encourage.<\/p>\n
\n. . . argue. Don\u2019t start fights or spend time trying to tell the world how right you are. People who are argumentative in a social networking scenario are loud. The absence of non-verbal communication such as tone and facial expression leave too much room for error. WHEN YOU PRINT IN ALL CAPS we think you\u2019re yelling. Social networking is a hotbed of mockery at times. Don\u2019t make it your soapbox.<\/p>\n
\n. . . be honest. Make sure the online version of you is as close to the real human you are as much as possible. I like to do this by occasionally sharing my struggles and having a bit of self-disclosure.
\nMy friend describes himself as a \u201cChrist Fumbler.\u201d I appreciate that and identify with it.<\/p>\n
\n. . . name drop. It\u2019s okay to mention you are friends with someone from time to time but the constant social networking feed that makes it sound like one is best friends with everyone who is a celebrity is exhausting and off-putting. If you are friends with every cool musician in Los Angeles, just enjoy the free backstage passes. There is a danger inherent in social networking to sound cooler than you actually are. Guilty.<\/p>\n
\n. . . talk about Jesus. Tell how he is working in you. Your failings and victories. Your new discoveries.<\/p>\n
\n. . . post a constant stream of biblical warnings and verses about sin. You are not the sin police and it is not your job to manage the spiritual fallout of people\u2019s choices. Don\u2019t become the new judgmental street preacher. I stop following those who do this so I resist the urge to respond.<\/p>\n
\n. . . share with your husband or wife about conversations you are having \u201coffline\u201d with people because of social networking. Share with your spouse all the individual messages that don\u2019t show up on your public profile. Innocent conversations turn inappropriate with the strike of a key and it is too easy to underestimate the potential damage of beginning inappropriate online relationships. Online conversation makes us feel closer to someone than we actually are. I tell my wife about every conversation she can\u2019t readily see on my Facebook Timeline or Twitter feed. I tell her about every email that becomes conversational with another woman.<\/p>\n
\n. . . do your conflict resolution online. The best way to resolve conflict is face-to-face. There are other ways to communicate (phone, handwritten letter) but communication vehicles diminish in their effectiveness the easier it gets for us to communicate without immediate response or repercussion. Electronic communication leaves too much room for miscommunication. Invite someone to lunch.<\/p>\n
\n. . . set up boundaries for the time you spend online and the places you have online interaction. Think about what you communicate to those around you when you are buried in your laptop or mobile device. If you have permission to utilize social networking while at work, make sure you don\u2019t get carried away by making yourself constantly available to people. There is no right or wrong here necessarily-boundaries are about sensitivity, stewardship, ethics, and responsibility. Figure yours out.<\/p>\n
\n. . . think it doesn\u2019t matter. Don\u2019t underestimate social networking\u2019s power to form people\u2019s opinion. Be careful what you post. It\u2019s the world-wide-web. When you make a comment about a political candidate, remember they have kids and they are real people. Don\u2019t think that avatar doesn\u2019t have a soul. On the other side of the screen is a heart that hurts like yours and longs for peace, restoration, and relationship.<\/p>\n