“Social distancing” has been our watch-phrase in this time. However, we need to be aware of what has been happening in our culture (as well as the American Church culture): isolation.
Since the rise of smart phones and social media there has been a corresponding rise in anxiety and depression in younger generations. This story from Jean Twenge needs to be digested.
I am also beginning to read Analog Church by Jay Kim (for a book review) and several things strike me early on. First, a book about a “tactile” church (being WITH each other) comes out the same time we are dealing with churches needing to go digital. I hope to dialog with Kim about this.
Second, Kim is a pastor who worked in Silicon Valley. He worked in a multisite church. This is going to be an interesting read.
But a quote here to remind us… while we may be needing to “social distance”… we should not isolate.
“At their best, social media and other digital spaces can be wonderful initiating spaces that lead to true human connection, but they can never become home for connections… At their worst, social media and digital spaces create a false sense of connection and a facade of community.”
Apprentice 2 Jesus 