How to Engage with Gentleness & Respect on Social Media
When Peter wrote in his first letter "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15), he probably had no idea at how our communication methods would evolve. Now in the 21st Century churches and Christians are avid social media users, which is possibly why the Church of England announced a set of guidelines on how to engage on their social media accounts this week.
Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, encouraged Christians on social media to have an attitude of "truth, kindness and welcome", which understandably reflects Peter's exhortation written to the early Christians engaging with their community. However, with contentious subjects like Brexit, sexuality, and Trump trending regularly on social media it is tempting to add your tuppence worth without considering what impact this might have on those reading the comments.
The social media community guidelines set out by the Church of England are excellent and encourage engagement with courtesy and kindness, which can be lacking on the internet as there is some level of anonymity with it. And what is good to see is that the Church of England recognise the potential the role of social media has to play in bringing people to Christ.
At Church Pages we are great advocates of the internet, and the correct use of Social Media, and are always so excited when we hear stories of people deciding to go to their local church because of Instagram or Facebook.
Along with the suggestions given by the Church of England we'd also give the following advice:
1. Be intentional about the social media platforms you want to be on
Ok I know that's a big ask, but with 45 million social media users in the UK (that's 67% of the population) it's likely that those in your community who are not part of your church are engaging online. This therefore presents the perfect opportunity for you to meet with them and introduce them to what it means to be a Christian.
I've recently been reading the Acts of the Apostles and am struck by Paul's tenacity to engage with people where they congregate, whether in the synagogue or in the market place. He is passionate about talking with them and sharing the Gospel, even though the reception is not always a good one! Today's society are meeting online and although different demographics prefer different meeting places, Facebook and Instagram are still two strong social media platforms to contribute to.
Interestingly (and for me surprisingly) Facebook still dominates social media use with 61% of the UK using it every day (we are Flint), with it still favoured by 23 to 37 year olds. And if your heart is to reach the under 34 years old then Instagram is your friend.
So there is a world out there to be reached so how can that be achieved?
2. Consistently publish on these platforms
Depending on the platforms you are on, the content you publish will vary however, here is some guidance from Church Pages and Khooseller (our sister platform!)
Instagram:
- Elliott's Story: "Instagram was the reason I came back to Church"
- Simple Hacks for your Church Youth Comms: User Generated Content, Instagram
- How Can a Church Successfully Use Twitter to Engage With More People Online
- How to Use Twitter to Effectively Grow Your Market Reach (Khooseller blog
3. As often as possible, engage with your community by responding to their posts
Jesus and the early church were excellent at meeting the needs of those around them. On Facebook you will find groups within your community where people post wanting help. Lending a hand with no obvious return is just one way of showing God's love for those around you, so look for ways to meet the needs of your community in a loving and caring way.
Keep an eye on Instagram and see who you might follow, and keep your posts open and friend
Can we help?
If you would like more information on how you can engage with your community via social media please feel free to get in touch with us here at Church Pages, and if you have any more suggestions on how social media can be used to outreach to the community please do share.