twitter/tweeting

I have a question that I am truly attempting to understand. What is the fascination with Twittering? What is the draw for people to sit and type one or two line sentences about every single thing or thought they have through out the day? I have friends who spend an enormous amount of time sharing with the world the smallest details of their lives and I just do not understand why?? When I asked some why they spend so much time sharing what is for the most part unimportant information with the entire world no one really had a clear answer as to "why" they were "tweeting" A few thought that using twitter was a great tool to reach the lost but admitted that they seldom ever prayed before posting their "tweets". I wondered about that, if most who use Twitter as a tool to reach out to others and yet they don't ever seek God on what they say/type...Can it really be from God?? Or is it a fair question to ask is "twitter" just another way for self to get attention?

rdg

What is the fascination with Twittering? What is the draw for people to sit and type one or two line sentences about every single thing or thought they have through out the day?

PRIDE

rdg,

I do not understand either with the fascination of Twitter. I do not think my daily activities are that interesting that I want to share it with the whole world. And besides I do love my privacy. AND it seems to me one can do more creative things with his time then read boring reports....

My opinion...

I would think it's prideful to assume that it is pride that make people tweet. Judge not. People tweet for all different reasons. I personally use it to promote a blog that I just started. The blog is something I feel is God-led so I'm using the outlets available to me to promote it. Also, I follow a lot of ministers who tweet a lot of scripture, quotes and the like. It's a way to stay connected to the body when not physically around believers. If you don't like the drivel that a lot of people post you simply stop following them. Twitter is nothing more than a way to communicate, much like talking is a way to communicate. Talking is what you make it and so is twitter. Twitter, facebook, the internet, is neither good nor evil. It is simply a medium for what is inside of you. If Christ is in you than it's a medium for Christ.

On an unknown compilation I was listening to, the preacher said (paraphrased), "When we get to heaven, facebook and twitter will be proof positive that we had time to pray."

So true!

God bless,
Lisa

For those who do use twitter, may I ask you a question...do you pray before you post each tweet? Do you take the time to pray over each thing that you post and continue only after the Lord gives leading to?? I ask this because I have so many friends and family who all say that they use twitter in order to reach the lost and yet none of them feel a need to pray and seek God on this matter. I guess this is what confuses me the most, how can what a person is sharing be of God if they never take any time to consult God for His will in what they are doing???

Please do not think I am trying to persuade anyone one way or the other that Twitter is evil/good because I am not. I am just trying to understand the fascination with it. For many many people out there the amount of time that is consumed in this endeavor is scary. I have friends who can not even go out to lunch, sit and have a conversation for 30 min with out their phones in their hands. When asked what they are doing, the reply is tweeting. If they are not posting they are reading posts and on it goes....

rdg

Like ANYTHING twitter can be used for good or bad, nothing is new under the sun. If we use twitter with thanksgiving towards the Lord no one can say its evil or wrong, because it's not. I tweet quotes, scriptures, and personal things. The youth ministry I am part of uses it for announcements and to post encouraging and edifying things for our young people to read, because regardless of WHY they use it, they do. If the lost have their faces burried into phones and computers today, then this is where we should be tryin to reach then, at least in part. Its not necessary to pray over every tweet in my opinion, what happens if you come across someone who needs the lord and you've not prayed yet? Do you share and trust the Lord to guide you or hold your tongue and hope they survive without Jesus until you are "prayed up", it's LAW to feel the need to do this to get that. Nothing wrong with praying before tweets, UNTIL it becomes something that MUST be done up truly "reach the lost". I pray because I love him, not because it makes me a better witness (that is simply a side effect or fruit). That being said, it's also fun to see what people have been doing in my opinion.

If the lost have their faces burried into phones and computers today, then this is where we should be tryin to reach then, at least in part. Its not necessary to pray over every tweet in my opinion, what happens if you come across someone who needs the lord and you've not prayed yet? Do you share and trust the Lord to guide you or hold your tongue and hope they survive without Jesus until you are "prayed up", it's LAW to feel the need to do this to get that.[/quote
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and yet those here on SI feel that it is important enough to pray and seek God before each post that we are actually reminded to do so each time we do post...

Just thinking about that, no worries I am not coming down on anyone. Sadly I know some who call themselves christian and yet twitter is their life and they spend hours a day doing it. I say sadly because I have watched these same people become self absorbed and consumed with posting every little thing all in hopes of getting more people to follow them. One dear younger sister in the Lord expressed that tweeting gives her a happiness high and makes her feel so good because at any time so many people are reading what she has to say. Just wondering who the focus is on then...us or Jesus?

I do respectfully disagree with you though on one thing, I think the why of what we do is very important, especially in our daily lives and walking with HIM!

Thanks for the responses I appreciate them. I found it interesting reading what you all had to share.

rdg

Lotis wrote:

Do you share and trust the Lord to guide you or hold your tongue and hope they survive without Jesus until you are "prayed up", it's LAW to feel the need to do this to get that. Nothing wrong with praying before tweets, UNTIL it becomes something that MUST be done up truly "reach the lost".

Amen brother, I was going to post something similar.

Quote from a vision by William Booth:
"And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!"
In the vision, Jesus was out rescuing the perishing, while these folks were praying for Him to come! He has is here hallelujah and He is in the business of redemption. People are on facebook and twitter, go to where they are! Whether they are at the bars, nightclubs, or facebook !. Whatever!

The Pharisees received no reward for their "long" prayers. This is where praying without ceasing comes in. I pray while I post, I am searching seeking my heart, why am I posting this? Will it encourage someone? Will it bring glory to God?

I have been edified and encouraged countless of times of other people's posts on facebook, twitter and SI!

It also gives words of encouragement in due season as proverbs says.

God bless sister.

One dear younger sister in the Lord expressed that tweeting gives her a happiness high and makes her feel so good because at any time so many people are reading what she has to say. Just wondering who the focus is on then...us or Jesus?

But the culprit is not facebook and twitter. This line of thinking is in this generation.

It's the heart of man that is evil.

he Pharisees received no reward for their "long" prayers.

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I don't think it has to be long prayers at all. Even just a simple should I post is enough, God is defantly big enough to give us a yes or no in the moment isn't HE:) I was surprised by how many people I have spoken with that believe what they are doing is for the Lord yet they don't even go to HIM in prayer about what they are doing? Of course this could apply to any aspect of our daily life not just tweeting, just happened that this was the topic of a recent gathering and the subject was brought up.
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I pray while I post, I am searching seeking my heart, why am I posting this? Will it encourage someone? Will it bring glory to God?

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That is awesome!I too seek to do this, think its important and am learning in this area.

rdg

But the culprit is not facebook and twitter. This line of thinking is in this generation. It's the heart of man that is evil.

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I agree the heart of man is evil. I also think that I am seeing for some tweeting is a temptation that leads to sinning.(for my friend it is) I do think for others it is not an issue as I said I was just interested in the "why" part of this topic. I see that their are those who can and do take part with a desire to further the kingdom of God. I also see that their are those who have become slaves to this and for them it is sin. I think knowing myself as I do and after much prayer I am going to pass and not open up a twitter account. I know there are those in family and friends that will be disappointed in me but its all good.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts.

rdg

Another thing too sister that may help. I had on my facebook for a long time just people that were posting things that were unedifying, i.e. people from my pre-knowing-Jesus days(but I keep them there because you never know!) or those who were even Christians but still posting things that had to do with this temporal world only, and NOT much about Christ and what He was doing in their lives. And it got frustrating after a while, I wanted more. So I started "friending" those whom I found their posts to be edifying.

I will pray about making a list of a recommended top 20 list on twitter for people to follow here on sermonindex.

That's a great idea Greg. I've think I've uncovered most of the better ones, but I'm sure I've missed some. Since you've posted so many of Leaonard Ravenhill's sermons maybe you could find a twitter account with some of his quotes. I found one that bears his name but it only links to different articles. I want a daily quote!:)

"Please do not think I am trying to persuade anyone one way or the other that Twitter is evil/good... I am just trying to understand the fascination with it."

One of the reasons social media like Twitter and Facebook are popular is that they allow for "asymmetrical" contact with other people. In other words, one person can say something to the friends of his or her community all at once, and then individuals can reply when they find a moment to do so.

Asymmetrical communication is also a principle that has enabled many online universities and schools to flourish. The principle is one reason internet communications of all kinds are growing.

I think Sermon Index leverages this principle in a very good way. The simple truth is that asymmetrical communication is very handy to connect people who have asymmetrical schedules:)

Mike

Great thoughts Mike. I think they are a tremendous tool if used properly.

This becomes one of those topics where some christian will demonize something they don't understand or demonize something that seem to see only evil coming from.

Twitter is TECHNOLOGY. Technology will be used for both good and evil. In the church, isn't there both the righteous and unrighteous?

Some people use twitter for stupid ideas and to spread trash. Others use it to spread messages of goodness. I have twitter, I use it to spread words of wisdom as well as posing question to cause anyone to think. Ocasionally I will post a link as well.

For those who are scared of technology and think it is evil the best thing to do is stay away from it and pray for those who are using technology for God and for good.

It isn't fair to brush technology as being evil. It could be fair to say it could take away prayer time unless some are using praying inconjunction with what they are doing with technology as the same time.

just my opinion
I haven't read any of the other posts but I can figure out what might be said from the topic because it becomes a given among some christians.

DEADn

Again thanks to everyone for sharing so openly what your experiences and thoughts are concerning twitter. Its been interesting to hear from so many people and I think for some twitter has been an opportunity that they feel they would not other wise have had to reach out to others who are lost. Some of the younger sisters in our group were sharing that it can be both good and bad in their view. Some experiences were shared and I think the topic ended up being a good one because it gave us all room to pause and seek Gods heart on the matter. One young girl has decided to stop using twitter altogether, she said she has been feeling convicted about the amount of time she spends there and on face book. She also related how since using twitter and face book some of her friends have actually stopped calling or talking to her as much in person. Seems many would rather tweet and keep in touch via the internet rather then in the real world. As I was listening I was thinking about the internet in general and how much time one can spend...I was thinking that the ability to share with each other from behind a computer screen has really resulted in the way people in general interact and connect with one another, some for good and some for not so good.

Thanks again guys!
rdg

I wanted to share a quote by John Piper on this topic - I haven't had time to do more than skim thru these posts so if this is a duplicate, I am sorry....

Piper says, "One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time."

Also here is a link from Charity Christian Fellowship (Denny Kenaston) to a message preached on 4/12/09 entitled, "Social Networking and Blogs - A Blessing or A Curse?" Just food for thought. I too appreciate all who shared here.

http://www.charityministries.org/msg_detail.a5w?vlast_index=4201

For those who do use twitter, may I ask you a question...do you pray before you post each tweet? Do you take the time to pray over each thing that you post and continue only after the Lord gives leading to?? I ask this because I have so many friends and family who all say that they use twitter in order to reach the lost and yet none of them feel a need to pray and seek God on this matter. I guess this is what confuses me the most, how can what a person is sharing be of God if they never take any time to consult God for His will in what they are doing???

I can tell you that when I post something on twitter or Facebook I don't necessarily pray simply because not everything I post is for the gospel. Before I do post I ask myself,'ok, what is my purpose for posting this and should I reword it so it has its greatest effect" This is like a meditation type of thing.

Usually when I make a post it isn't a flippant one where I say what I am doing. That is nonsense. I throw out questions or make a statement related to some postings I see but I always post it with the intent of asking the question to cause readers to think.

I won't tell you that I am a 'praise the Lord' type of person on these sites because I am not. I don't do that type of thing.

I have seen some who all they do is post scripture and that is fine but that is not my style. Many times people will ignore that stuff.

Piper says, "One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time."

But yet he's on twitter. :)

Again it depends on how you use it..People can write some pretty bad letters too.

In my opinion, anything can "rob God," even social interaction that is not Facebook or twitter related.
We are called to discipline not legalism. But if a person finds facebook or twitter distracting, that is fine.

We are called to discipline not legalism.

What did I say that was legalism? Is there ANYONE who even OWNS a computer who hasn't said that they waste time on it, at least occasionally?

I am an avid reader, but the internet has a pull that books do not have.

I used to talk with friends on the phone before email and chat and texting.....but never to the extent that I use these advances in technology. And I am 58 years old....I am not overtaken by it all even close to what I see the young people doing.....

I think there is a place for caution in the use of all of this. I don't think that is legalistic - I think it is wisdom.

What did I say that was legalism?

Sister, I didn't think you were saying anything legalistic. Sorry if I made you feel that way..

Is there ANYONE who even OWNS a computer who hasn't said that they waste time on it, at least occasionally?

Agree with you, I have to watch myself. Some watch too many movies, I computer too much perhaps! But I enjoy it thoroughly! :P