Social Media: Saintly or Sinful
Over the last decade, social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter) has penetrated every aspect of our lives. Whether we are active on the platforms or remain ardently opposed to joining, the discussions and debates taking place with or without us are directing social discourse, influencing the news cycle, and, in many cases, driving decision making.
Social media offers Christians an opportunity to live out our calling to share the good news of Jesus Christ. It helps us stay connected, share our joys and challenges, and learn more about the world around us. Indeed, one of its many joys is that it is immediate, interactive, conversational, and open-ended. And yet, there is also a dark side. Seemingly benign posts can result in painful reactions and vicious behavior is not uncommon (and, indeed, the seeming anonymity of the internet can encourage such behavior). Common sense, kindness, and sound judgement often used in face-to-face encounters can vanish when we are at the keyboard.
Join us for a panel of social media users and those studying behaviors on the platform. This conversation will range from how we can engage in behaviors reflecting our values and how we might consider interacting with those online who don’t share our same values. Our panel will share their real-world experiences of navigating this new media ecosystem and how we might create personal approaches and church strategies and policies for utilizing them. We hope attendees will leave this session with some new practical and theological ideas to consider and with strategies to love our neighbors and practice civil discourse on social media.
You may also like
Sermon (27.03)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 27th March 2022, The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday), by Revd Jonathan Evens.
Sermon (20.03)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 20th March 2022, The Third Sunday of Lent, by Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Sermon (13.03)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 13th March 2022, The Second Sunday of Lent, by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up
Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up – Week 2 – Gender
Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up
Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up – Week 1 – Disability & Neurodiversity
Sermon (06.03)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 6th March 2022, The First Sunday of Lent, by Revd Richard Carter.
Music and Liturgy for Lent (HeartEdge)
Andy Salmon (North West Co-ordinator of HeartEdge and Rector of Sacred Trinity Church) give tips about creative liturgical resources for Lent whilst Andrew Earis (Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields) and the Manchester HeartEdge Choral Scholars share musical resources to help freshen up your lenten experience.
Sermon (27.02)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields by Revd Catherine Duce on Sunday 27th February 2022.
Church History Week 2: The Fathers
A new course providing an introduction to and an overview of church history.
Both Sides Now
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 20 February 2022 by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Being Better Neighbours
What does it look like for Christians and our churches to be better neighbours to those in our local communities?
Racial Justice Sunday
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 13 February 2022 by Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Church History Week 1: An Introduction
A new course providing an introduction to and an overview of church history.
The Heart of Christ
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 30 January 2022 by Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Homelessness Sunday
Homelessness Sunday A sermon by Revd Sally Hitchiner Sunday 30th January 2022A sermon preached at...
The Whole Gospel
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 23 January 2022 by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Binding of Isaac
This ecumenical event explores the Biblical story of Abraham and Isaac through the lens of a new musical composition inspired by Genesis 22 by American composer Delvyn Case.
My Beloved
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 9 January 2022 by Revd Dr Sam Wells.
Sermon (02.01)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 2 January 2022 by Revd Jonathan Evens.
Sermon (19.12)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Sunday 19 December 2021 by Revd Harry Ching.