Social Media Not the Only Intrusion

"Turn in your Bibles to Acts 28," the teacher said.

A quick survey of the room showed general compliance...except for a man sitting to my left. He wasn't "turning" to anything, he was "swiping" to Acts 28. Instead of a traditional black, 3-inch thick book with the letters "Holy Bible" embossed (with gold fill) on the cover or a camouflage compact edition of the NIV, this man (who happens to be a great friend) was holding a black-covered iPad.

Even with the buzz of the iPad, the general disruption of this new toy was minimal. Perhaps no one noticed. Perhaps they weren't surprise. With free Bible apps and the ability to take notes that sync with you Mac, technology has infiltration Churches' "worship services" like water running down a hill. It is so natural.

An article by Henry Brinton USAToday.com, entitled "Are Social Media Changing Religion?", got me thinking about the way I and others in my church use technology during the service. (Let's assume all these uses are for worship and not checking the latest football score). The main gist of the article considers the impact that social media, denoted by openness and transparency, have on private "contemplation" and meeting with God. Essentially, Brinton asks, "If I can be alone with God in church, were can I be alone with Him?" Even more, "What is the effect of not being able to be alone with God?"

I have felt this way before...not because of my iPhone, but because of my responsibilities during the worship service. My church is small, but we think about the same things as churches with eight-figure budgets: Creating an atmosphere that facilitates worship. This doesn't happen automatically. There are people in the background that make things "run." Keeping things moving forward can be as much of a distraction as any external factor. For it isn't necessarily what happens during the service diverts my attention but the internal monolog about all that needs to be done and when it needs to be done.

What's worse is I'm not even a pastor. When do they get a chance to put their mental iPad's away an sit with the community of God to worship?

I long for the day when all worship will be motivated by the presence of Jesus Christ. There will no longer be need for flawed humanity to attempt to create an environment for worship, which happens naturally and fully by God's sustaining presence.