Feb10
Don’t find me on facebook: technology in church
Convenience and comfort and ease are secondary goals at best, and sometimes very much in the way of actual experience of the world’s glory. (Bill McKibben)
Being a curmudgeon is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. (Sven Birkerts)
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Dan has a post over at Cerulean Sanctum that says some things I haven’t had the courage to say. He starts with his experience as a drummer on the worship team, now surrounded by plexiglass and wearing in-ear monitors, then moves on through other forms and effects of technology in the church.
So much of what he says resonates with me. At our former church, the worship team ran the same course toward increasing technological complexity. When I first started playing the piano there, the team members would joke and visit during the gaps in rehearsal. We could see and hear each other and developed the vibe that can happen when musicians join together in a common enterprise. Then we got a more sophisticated sound system, and at least half of our rehearsal time was spent in dealing with technical problems and finding the artificially produced and ever-elusive “mix” that would sound the best. Then we got in-ear monitors to do away with those troublesome “wedges” that cluttered the stage and produced uneven sound.
So there we were, trying to create something together — musically, spiritually, and interpersonally — while totally cut off from one another.
Technology substitutes something — an illusion — for the real. Musically, the joy, and even the sound, always suffered the more complex the technology became. Earsplitting bursts of feedback, malfunctioning mics or dead batteries, videos improperly cued — none of these happen in an acoustic setting. In a worship service without too much technology, there are not awkward interruptions while someone on the stage apologetically discusses some malfunctioning piece of equipment with someone in the sound booth.
Most of all, relationships suffer. Here the operative definition of “technology” broadens from sound issues to interpersonal phenomena like facebook or email or blogging.
I joined facebook, finally, a few weeks ago, because it was the only way to keep up with friends in Haiti. I haven’t posted anything in my account, and this morning I deleted it. It was just too weird:
“X has made you a friend on facebook. Please confirm that you know X to make them your friend on facebook.”
In most cases, the people were folks I think highly of but haven’t seen in years. Only two of them actually sent me a message. (Or was I supposed to send them one when I got the invitation? I don’t know facebook etiquette.) If we’d met face to face, there would have been a personal greeting and probably a hug, and an immediate exchange of questions and information. But on facebook, the “meeting” seemed to be nothing more than a permission to observe the current minutia of each other’s daily life. Observation and interaction are two different things.
And the thing is — I am speaking of myself too, as a blogger — we have lots of time to report into our online publications. It’s harder and harder to find time to actually meet face to face with people.
I believe it’s significant that Jesus came to earth in a time when technology essentially didn’t exist. He changed the course of history, arguably more than any other individual who ever lived, and he did it limited by a single flesh-and-blood body with no communications assistance whatsoever. The written prophecies of his coming, and eyewitness accounts of his life and work, are spare, and accordingly more precious and authoritative. Less is more, God seems to suggest.
Above all, Jesus was a real person, who talked and traveled and ate with a group of folks who came to know him well. Within the walls of the church, I personally find the relational setting less and less real. I’m thankful for the opportunities that are still there. But the tide seems to be flowing giddily and unalterably toward substitution of artificial medium for real human contact. Our church website has been updated and now features a group of smiling, nameless strangers on the welcome page. Our church services begin with the standard reminder to turn off cell phones, and occasionally there is even an explicit request to stop texting so as not to miss an important point. The sound system has the standard issues.
Wouldn’t it be something if the church simply said no? Wouldn’t it be something if, instead of partaking of all the same technology as the world outside the church in an attempt to be “relevant,” we represented a real alternative? What if, instead of instituting programs and church facebook pages, we went on a technology fast and prayed for simple curiosity about other people?
Our starving souls might begin to taste the riches of the kingdom of God.
You curmudgeon! (I love that word.)
I won’t say you’re wrong, but Facebook has been my lifeline since the earthquake and I’m not leaving! (Sorry you did.)
Sheesh… My first rejection.
I totally see the value of facebook for some things, Ruth. When people are far apart, especially, it can keep close friends and family in touch. That’s not the use I’m talking about here.
Janet, A very brave post and I think you are dead on right. I have shared with you a bit about my take on facebook and why I am there and why I mostly don’t like it.
Here is one small, unexpected blessing I have experienced- maybe it isn’t real though I’m not sure yet. After joining FB I was friended by some old friends who I had a somewhat strained relationship with, we have not chatted a lot but some, and it’s mostly superficial- like you say being allowed to eavesdrop into their lives. But it has reminded me that I do love these people, they are good folks, they have played an important role in my life and I am glad to hear the minutia of their lives. It makes me smile.
Looking forward to same face to face chat on Friday
Janet,
Facebook is excellent at reuniting people who have lost touch. But then one must ask what the nature of those relationships were to begin with and whether Facebook truly reconnects that person as a genuine friend. I would argue that Facebook’s number of lost relationships restored to some level of genuine friendship pales compared with its same ability to disconnect face-to-face meetings with people who ARE closer friends to begin with. It ends up becoming a substitute for getting together, giving people an illusion of connectedness when the actual relationship is becoming more distant.
Yes, I agree, DLE. The idea that I would be “closer” to folks who are not geographically far away by interposing an electronic medium like facebook is pretty implausible. And the friendships that have lasted over the years, even with people who live far away, we’ve managed to maintain without facebook. Their trademark is that we can pick up where we left off, regardless of how long it’s been — unlike the implication of facebook that friendship can’t survive without updates about what we’re doing every moment.
Polly, yes, looking forward to Friday! Good books, good conversation, good food.
I agree with DLE about FB relationships (or the lack thereof). It’s funny, with the exception of very few people, the ones who “talk” to me on FB are the ones who talk with me in real life (or on my blog). It is the people that I already have a relationship with. I don’t know the FB etiquette either, but I do like to send messages with my friend’s request (which I rarely do anyway). Sometimes I’ll just send a PM to the person and not a friend request because I just want to catch up with them and say “hi”, but don’t need to go through the whole “friending” silliness.
I remember in my former church when I was also on the worship team there was one week when we couldn’t have sound. I cannot remember why. We had an acoustic guitar and our drummer (who was very very sensitive & respectful about the sound levels)…its funny that it is one of the few that really stand out as memorable moments from my Charismatic days.
I feel uncomfortable talking about churchy stuff since my church tradition is the complete opposite of technologically relevant. I’ve left all that behind me and I’m not looking back – except I do miss some of my friends. It is sad that somehow the word “relevant” became important to modern Christians.
Oops, this has turned into a blog post of my own. Good thoughts, Janet.
Yup. You left. So sorry. But I understand.
BTW, I COMPLETELY agree with your post and don’t like technology as a substitute for good old face to face relationships. Which means that I need to plan to head your direction in the next year or so to visit with you all. Miss you bunches!
JW, hmm. Looks like facebook was right. When I tried to delete my account, it flashed a picture of my friend collection and said, “Are you sure you want to delete? Your friends will miss you.” (I thought briefly of the Borg in the Star Trek movies: “Resistance is futile.”)
I’m still here, though, and thankful for my true friends — like you. Come any time!
Deb, I like your “blog post”! And I always like reading your posts about the different elements of your church experience.
I remember an experience like you describe, too — one Sunday when the sound system “blew.” I remember that what stood out to me was really hearing the singing of the congregation. It didn’t leave the impression that anything was missing, that’s for sure.
Very well said, Janet, especially “Observation and interaction are two different things.”
I had a similar experience on Facebook. Mine only lasted 21 hours.
Speaking of such, I saw this on a sign in front of a local church: “You have one new friend request from Jesus. Confirm or Ignore.” So Jesus is on Facebook now, huh?
Gee, maybe I should reconsider…
I much prefer acoustic worship/singing! However, I’m not a leader, so I don’t make those choices.
As for FB, it is SUCH a blessing for me. I grew up overseas. My dearest friends live in Australia, England, and various other states. I’ve moved around again and again. My parents live in Pakistan, my siblings go to college in four different states. My in-laws live in England, and my brothers and sisters in law live in two more different states. So…. except for the new friendships formed over the last two years, the dearest people in my life are across the world.
The difference between how we kept up relationships long-distance in my childhood (expensive phone calls with horrible delays to the grandparents every six months) and via facebook now is really striking. I can continue to feel close to my family and nurture my friendships despite the distance. I consider that a blessing.
And… Lisa… someone has actually created a “jesus” profile on facebook, and you wouldn’t believe how many “friends” he has. Funny or ridiculous or tragic? Hah.