Is it significant for people to engage in social media? How are people using social media? The using of social media is expanding globally.
Is it possible to use social media to share the good news about God. Mark 16: 15, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” I feel that social media is a growing culture therefore; it can also be utilize to share the good news but it should not replace physical presence, conversation, and the only mean for proclamation.
The Meaning of Gospel
As you, within your theological tradition, “think Gospel,” what promotes, guides, and hinders your embeddedness within and encounters with digital cultures?
AS I think about the question what is the Gospel? The Gospel is the power of God that saves. The Gospel means the entire doctrine of Christ which he proclaimed in his teaching ministry.
In the Book of Concord, the Gospel, however, is that doctrine which teaches what a man should believe in order to obtain the forgiveness of sins from God, since man has failed to keep the law of God and has transgressed it, his corrupted nature, thoughts, words, and deeds war against the law, and he is therefore subject to the wrath of God, to death, to temporal miseries, and to the punishment of hell-fire. The content of the Gospel is this, that the Son of God, Christ our Lord, himself assumed and bore the curse of the law and expiated and paid for all our sins, that through him alone we reenter the good graces of God, obtain forgiveness of sins through faith, are freed from death and all the punishments of sin, and are saved eternally (FC SD, V, 20).
The translation of the Greek New Testament word for Gospel is euangellion which means “good news” of “glad tidings.” The Gospel speaks about the teaching of Jesus Christ. I look at the gospel as the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4 and Romans 1: 16-17,
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved. If you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, them for the Gentile. For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”
The Bible reminds us that we are all sinners and come short of the glory of God. We are incapable of removing the guilt of our sinfulness through our own efforts. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). I want to point out that to hear the gospel is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and that Jesus rose from the dead and that is good news for us. We are saved by grace. The gospel has the power to give salvation and save the hearer and work faith in the hearts of those who hear it. The gospel connects us to God and established the relationship between God and human kind.
Gospel connects our faith and life together. It helps us to reflect on those things that are meaningful to us theologically. I think theological reflection becomes important in faith formation, ministry formation, and spiritual discernment especially integrating academic disciplines into ministry experiences. It is Gospel that creates faith in someone’s heart, brings him or her the Holy Spirit, and comforts him or her with the treasure of salvation. It is the Gospel by which the church lives and flourishes.
We formed community in digital culture and share our stories with each other. It is a place for connection and communication. It is possible that the way I communicate and share my story can be hindered to others and the way they communicate can also be a hindering to communication. It is also based on relationship, trust, and respect. It is also based on trusting and respecting others for who they are and what they values.
The Significant of Social Media
An interviewed with Nissa and Professor Jessicah Duckworth at Luther Seminary, Minnesota.
We are reminded in Mark 16: 15, “He said to them, ‘ Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” It is interesting to know how some people are using social media to share the good news as a channel but it should not be the only channel.
Fair Use in Digital Culture
What does “fair use” mean in digital culture? What kinds of ethical issues arise in a remix culture for communities of faith?
I wonder about what would have happen without fair use law in place. Again, I wonder how you would feel if you did an excellent work or evicted something and not receive credit. According to the study done by the University of Rhode Island on the Code of Best Practice in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education talks about, “Fair use is the right to use copyrighted material without permission or payment under some circumstances—especially when the cultural or social benefits of the use are predominant. It is a general right that applies even in situations where the law provides no specific authorization for the use in question—as it does for certain narrowly defined classroom activities” (www.mediaeducationlab.com). It is important to make use of best practices in digital culture. I heard that some people have been fined and pay money because they did not follow proper proceeded or obtained copy right permission. The professional photographer copy right permission allows a person to make more photos with specific instruction. I knew of a singer in Africa who made few copies of her recorded songs but in short possible time, the music was in the hands of people that they did not but the music from her.
I read from The Code of Best Practice in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education that fair use, “This code of best practices does not tell you the limits of fair use rights. Instead, it describes how those rights should apply in certain recurrent situations. Educators’ and students’ fair use rights may, of course, extend to other situations as well. It’s not a guide to using material that people give the public permission to use, such as works covered by Creative Commons licenses. Anyone can use those works the way their owners authorize—although other uses also may also be permitted under the fair use doctrine.
(www.cwu.edu)
(www.ala.org)
The Credibility of Information
This week we were asked to talk about how can you assess the credibility of information?
The credibility of information is very important in every writing. I understood that for information to be credible the source need to be credible. Rheingold writes, “How do you know if this is true or not; look for the author. It is possible to use whois.com or other website to fine the name of the registered owner. How can I tell if anything I find on the Web is real? I told her to think skeptically, look for an author, and then see what others say about the author, and then see what others say about the author” (78). It becomes significant to check the URL of the person website. It is not just about the design of the website but the credibility of the source. He writes, all the mechanics of doing this kind of checking take only a few seconds of clicking, copying and pasting, searching, and judging for oneself. The part that requires the most work is learning how to judge.
Rheigold talks about, “Journals talk about triangulating by checking three different, credible sources” (79). It makes me feel that when a student is ready to go to college or university, the student try to find out if that institution is accredited or credible. It is possible that the person who witness the an event can be a reliable person to report about that event. Rheigold report that Lindsay Pettingill study show that, “in order to determine the presence of these credibility criteria, students used various cues: popularity of site, professional reputation/ offline reputation (including professional staff with resources to gather definitive and credible information), previous personal experience with site, proof of neutral (not for-profit) affiliation (.gov for government site, .edu for education, .org for non-profits) tone of the writing ( neutral vs. opinionated), and elements of style (use of quotes, pictures, by-lines, newspaper layout)” (82).
(www.sciencedirect.com)
(www.online.Santarosa.edu)
The Divided Digital
How can communities of faith draw on denomination/theological statements to advocate for easing or even erasing digital divides?
It is interesting to know what people can now do with social media. Technology has advance so much that almost every ont to two years something new comes out. The people of faith lives in the world or communities where technology is advancing rapidly but not of the world. The advancement of technology or social media has made it possible for the communities of faith to talk about their faith using social media. I wonder about what would have if there were no mean of using media or digital to communicate. The communities of faith should engage in diversities of social media.
I think some communities of faith has being able to draw on denomination or give theological statements to advocate for easing digital divides. It provides opportunity for people to express their faith. It provides the mean to be an advocate for others. The faith communities will continue to discern and identify who or when to be an advocate. Just as there there diversities in the world therefore; there are diversities in social media or the digital world. There are countries that are advance in technologies them other countries. Just as you have people who are advance or expert in social media as compare to others. i come from a country (Liberia) that is behind in technology and I am in a country that is advance in technology. i wonder if there even going to be equality in the digital world. The use of certain digital is based on the age and demography. The younger people like to use certain digital as compare to older people.
Craig Watkins & Juliet Schor on Connected Learning as a Pathway to Equity & Opportunity talks about, “Find the right kind of tool to be use by young people. The right kind of support. Finding way for people who has been marginalized to stay be able to learn in a different ways and how to apply the right skill to facilitated their education” http://youtu.be/hMCTR5ESZs4.
The logo on the Social media of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America talks about,”Create, publish, share, discuss, read, comment, and comment”http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/Resources/Web-Ministry/Social-Media.aspx.
The Uniqueness of the Gospel
It is interesting to know that we have been asked to write about the gospel this week. I have heard the word “Gospel” being preached in churches, in class, and even from my colleges. It is difficult to come out with one definition for Gospel. I will like to define the gospel as the living word of God that saves. It is also refer to as the good news.
In my previous writing, I wrote about the gospel as being about the teaching of Jesus Christ; the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul said in the Scripture that, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved. If you hold firmly to the world I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of Gospel for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, them for the Gentile. For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: the righteous will live by faith” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 1: 16-17). The gospel brings good news and give meaning to people.
Elizabeth talked about the gospel as “the little things in life is really where the gospel is revealed; that is it the gospel comes to us, changes us, encourages us, invites us in through the little things in life. Take a moment to hear, see, experience, and share the good news through the little things.”
Natalie writes, “Jesus lived and died for our sins. The gospel as the love of Jesus shown in us through action. The gospel as the first four books of the New testament.”
Sharon writes, “The gospel is the story of how much God wants to be in relationship with us. God loves us so much. This is a good news. God came in Christ, to bear our pain and suffering, freeing us to admit brokenness and self-righteous posture, and to risk ourselves to be in loving relationship with others.”
George writes, “The gospel is the story and the life of Jesus Christ as narrated in the New Testament. The gospel is also known as the good news of the life, ministry, and the activities of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry as narrated by the four gospel.”
It is good to look at the various ways that the gospel can be described. The gospel brings good news to us.
(lutheran-in-sc.blogspot.com)
Prayer in Digital Media
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
http://www.etsy.com (Popular items for hand of prayer)
How is prayer being represented in digital media? What parameters should you keep in mind in your own prayer practice in light of digital cultures?
I understand that prayer is importance for our faith. I assume that prayer in the digital media may be represented differently because of the diversities of domination, cultures, and understanding about prayer with various lenses. As I listened and watched Rev. Brandlee Dean opening prayer in Minnesota House Chamber, I was glad to hear him praying about unity and the recognition of sacrifices done in the past for the United States. I felt that his prayer was opened and specified. He was not about his denomination or belief but more of acknowledgement. He read the prayer that was written and I quest because of the various kinds of people that was present.
In digital media, there are so many people that may listen or watch what is posted therefore; it become very important to know how and what to say in the prayer. I believed that there are people out there who will be listening to the wordings and would like to make comment (s). I understand that prayer is being offer unto God but prayer is also done for the people. The digital community maybe different from our own community or faith tradition because you are dealing with multiple of people who response and react differently from what you maybe used to in your tradition. There are many ways that people pray. I have learned about the importance of writing your prayer down especially when your are offering prayer in public. In Jeremiah 33: 3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”. I think about prayer as communication and it can be done numerous ways therefore; prayer in social media communicate widely. I remember few years ago when I did my first public prayer at a high school graduation in Ghana, Africa, I had a bit of fear because I did not know what to say but to over come that fear I wrote the prayer. At the end, I prayed in the name of the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit. Sometimes people pray and they are not even aware of what they have said until someone tell them about the wordings in the prayer. The digital media is making it possible for so some people to be involve in prayer with other people.
http://www.prayerideas.org (Praying Your Problems into God’s Hand)
Empowering Communities of Care
As I think about about the questions how does one go about empowering communities of care within digital media? How do we engage pastoral boundaries appropriately, and think missionally about our presence in such sites?
The idea about empowerment in the communities of care comes in many different forms as it relates to digital media. I wonder about how the world would look like if every one was just doing things as individual with out connection or engagement with other people or the larger community. Again, I wonder about how I would social media function if it did not receive support or empowerment from other sources or people. I believe it comes from support. I pondered over the statement that say, “if you go to a place or town as a stranger, ask questions and follow those who know the way so that they can can show you the way and support you in your journey.” It comes through education, knowledge, support, and building on resources what other have builded. I like to use the image of a ladder because in using the ladder you take one step at a time therefore, it is building on each other. I think about the kind of care and support the communities offer in time tragedy or happiness.
Deanna Thompson writes on The Top Ten Reasons to use Caring Bridge When Bad Things Happen, “In the face of unwelcome diagnoses, serious accidents or other life-threatening events, one of the many challenges is how-and when and with whom-to communicate.It is the case that grace can be mediated in powerful ways through such site. As you or others in your life contemplate how to communicate with others in the midst of tragic circumstances. When it’s too difficult to write about how you’re doing, someone else can do it for you. posting some of the challenges you’re facing can lead to helpful feedback and support. Using Caring Bride makes it harder to feel like you’re in this alone.” Providing the space for the communities to voice out stories, challenges, information, support, education, and exchange of ideas can be very significant in empowering communities of care within digital media. The digital media help for other to offer support when the individual or family lack the energy to carry out such task. The digital media should also involve the social.
It is important that boundaries be established so that people know what king of message to make public or private. I know that it is not everything that should be in public. Know yourself and know that you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit therefore know what to say. Let us know that care should always be taking when engaging on public platforms, particularly engaging as leaders of the church. Providing policy or guideline for media activity is important also and should be understood by the participants.
(www.123rf.com-Photo of Businessman Ascending the ladder with support from his partner)
The Gospel and Theological Reflection
AS I think about the question what is the Gospel? The meaning of Gospel may vary from person to person and from denomination to denomination. I know we often read the gospel lesson on Sundays and it is read from any of these biblical books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). The Gospel is the power of God that saves.
The translation of the Greek New Testament word for Gospel is euangellion which means “good news” of “glad tidings.” The Gospel speaks about the teaching of Jesus Christ. I look at the gospel as the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4 and Romans 1: 16-17,
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved. If you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, them for the Gentile. For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”
The Bible reminds us that we are all sinners and come short of the glory of God. We are incapable of removing the guilt of our sinfulness through our own efforts. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourself. It is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). I want to point out that the hear of the gospel is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and that Jesus rose from the dead and that is good news for us. We are saved by grace. The gospel has the power to give salvation and save the hearer and work faith in the hearts of those who hear it. The gospel connects us to God and established the relationship between God and human kind.
A theological reflection often connects our faith and life together. it helps us to reflect on those things that are meaningful to us theologically. I think theological reflection becomes important in faith formation, ministry formation, and spiritual discernment especially integrating academic disciplines into ministry experiences.
Rufus 