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What Could Churches' Digital Communication Learn From Luther's Printing Press?

18 July 2017 11:42

Many of us will be familiar of the story of the Reformation, and how Luther's 'theses' swept throughout Europe to bring about change within the church via the printing press. The invention of the printing press was pivotal in enabling access to God's word, but what relevance has that to the church today? A recent article in the Economist gives a clue when they stated: "the combination of improved publishing technology and social networks is a catalyst for social change where previous efforts had failed." - The Economist 'How Luther Went Viral

Improved publishing technology and social networks... Don't we have that more than ever now? We don't just have both - we have them together - social networks that let us publish! Digital communication is the medium of this era. 

Now Luther wasn't a printer, but the printing press helped him go viral. How then can the church, whilst not being digital experts, use current digital communication to help the gospel 'go viral'? This is the message of Justin Wise's book 'The Social Church' and here we seek to help apply this further to the church.

This blog explores what churches could learn from Luther when using digital communication, and some of the factors which often stop us from engaging in this way. 

What could churches learn from Luther when using digital communication?

1. Know your message 

Sounds elementary, however, Luther knew his message. He wrote his 'theses' before getting them printed. And we too, as church, should know our core message, and the particular messages that we have for our communities right now. It's important to know the message you are taking to your local community, prior to using social media because this will shape how you go about sharing, and the types of communication you use.

Part of Luther's message was that the Bible should be accessible to the everyday man, using a cost-effective printing press helped re-inforce this message.

Right now the church has a message for young people that they need not have 'FOMO' ("Fear Of Missing Out'), and that they can find the answer to loneliness through knowing Christ and being involved in the church family.

This therefore means that we use social media to foster inclusion, rather than showing them what they are missing out on. 

2. Digital communication is just a form of communication

The printing press was undoubtebly helpful in communicating the Reformer's message. However, it was not just having multiple copies of the Bible, or tracts alone that helped spread their message. Printed materials were just a form of communication, just as digital communication is just a form of communication. 

It's important that every aspect of our communication is consistent and the message when people speak to us, is the same as that of our online presence. 

What stops us from using digital communication? 

There are many reasons why we do not communicate online, and some very valid. We'll explore a few here, however, this is by no means exhaustive.

1. There is a better type of communication 

This is actually a common objection that I have to using online communication - I actually prefer talking to people. It's important to recognise this, as actually it may be more appropriate to just pick up the phone rather than tweet or share on Facebook. This is particularly true for sensitive or personal matters. It may even be more nuanced, it's important that people have real relationships with each other and there can be instances where social media actually does not help form these real bonds.

However, for particular tasks, social media cannot be beaten. If arranging an event, sharing good news or giving information, social media is a quick and cost-effective means of achieving this.  

2. Fear

This is one we can all relate to; we're all naturally fearful of media we do not understand. There will always be new ways to communicate. Part of our challenge is to find out which forms of communication are most effective, and learning these (rather than all forms!).

The next generation (now Generation X) have grown up surrounded by technology and of course are less fearful. It may be that your digital communication can be led by some of the younger members of your congregation so that you can successfully use the internet to connect with your community.

3. Lack of understanding 

Again, this is not uncommon - it was only the other day that I learned how to put a photo onto my Instagram story (apparently this is common knowledge!), but as above, there will always be parts of digital communication that we do not understand. Thankfully many of these platforms are fairly intuitive, but it could be useful to enlist some help from the more tech-savvy within your community.

'Gossip the gospel'

We have a heart that this country would 'gossip the gospel', and social media will surely be a part of enabling this. Just as for Luther, the printing press helped leverage improved publishing technology and social network, we too can use social media to help the gospel go viral. 

We hope this blog has given you food for thought, and it would be great to get your comments below.

Sources

  • Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
  • The Economist - "How Luther went viral"
  • The Washington Post - "The power of Luther's Printing Press"
  • Justin Wise - "The Social Church"
  • Mark Whitall "Reinvention: Stories from an Urban Church'

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