Is Twitter dumbing down our concept of ‘Followership’?

Great post again Vicky, I totally get your point. Yet I think the changing use of words is a cultural pattern that we see throughout history, it’s not a unique thing to our generation – though it is definitely happening at an accelarated rate!

I think rather than this dumbing down the meaning of the word follow, I think it is an opportunity. The metaphor of Twitter and followers on Twitter is one we all know, and a perfect way into discussing and recapturing the true meaning of what it means to follow Jesus in the way He intended. It will allow us a way into opening up the discussion in the things we create, in our conversations, even on social media itself, to recapture and show people what the real meaning of ‘following Jesus’ is. So although it seems on the surface as a danger – I think it’s a real opportunity for us. 

Many mature & experienced Christians know that following Jesus is a whole different ball game to following someone on Twitter, and I’m sure the churches best communicators do to. As someone who creates things with words – both spoken and written – I see it as an opportunity, and it’s an opportunity in terms of songwriting too I suspect. This blog post itself is an example of that.

I think we do need to be careful how we use our words – and in what context, and to clarify what we mean by words, but again I think that’s a good thing. These sort of things happening can spark discussion into the issues, and in discussing them then we start to engage with them and they start to become realities in our lives, and we can start to share those discussions with those we know, and so change starts to happen. I think it’s tremendously important we think about what we say and how we say it – especially in the digital age, with social media, 24 hour news and more and more audio/visual communication. But as I originally said, I think the changing use of words in culture is more a cultural phenomena that has happened through history, that is happening a lot in recent times, largely due to the internet/social media explosion, and rather than trying to change that, we can use it as an opportunity to open out discussion, and to reclaim the original, intended, meaning of these words and share that with people both in how we communicate, and how we live. 

Great post Vicky, keep them coming!

James.

Great thoughts Vicky. I agree that ‘Follow’ has a different meaning on Twitter, however, I think this leads to important questions that need to be asked about the role of leadership in social media. In a world were we can be following (and be followed by) thousands of people we must consider these important questions; what do we know about the people we follow, take advice from and what advice are we giving to those we are (purposefully or not) leading.  Twitter allows anyone anywhere to have a following, to be a leader, a role model, a pastor and a teacher. Though there are many good things about there are also big warning signs. Biblically we have great guidelines for Godly leadership particularly in a Church setting. But how far can these extend into the online world, if at all? Titus 2:6-8 reads; ‘in everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching [or tweeting?] show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us’. Can we say this about the way we tweet, where are we leading those who follow us? Closer to Christ or further from him? And where are we being led by those who we follow? 

Interesting concept. I think twitter has desensitized us to the word for sure, but I guess follow has always meant different things. I have a few friends following a band (Hanson) on tour right now (goin to 16 shows in one tour!). But that’s still not the same thing. Following Jesus means discipleship, modeling, a deep commitment.

PS thanks for following me! ;) I truly do admire your songwriting, and in recent months, your interest in technology and how it relates to faith. Thank u for sharing your heart with us!

Of course, Jesus has his own Twitter account if you want to follow him there: http://www.ourdailyjourney.org/2011/01/24/follow-jesus-on-twitter/ :)

Good conversation starter Vicky. I have a friend who is doing her Masters on the concept of friendship. She makes a strong case that ‘friendship’ as a word has been cheapened by the popularity of Facebook, where it’s been reduced to reading the occassional update from someone, as long as we find them of interest to us. (Not all Facebook interaction is like this of course, but much is.) I think Twitter has done something similar to the word ‘follow’ in as much as commitment has been taken out of the equation (as it is in other leader-follower arrangements).

Facebook and Twitter are great fun, and so beneficial. They occassionally lead to new friendships and commitments. But it’s prudent to recognise that, culturally, they have leaked some of the essence out of what it truly means to ‘follow’ someone.

Thank you for this. It’s true that we can use words like ‘follower’ and ‘friend’ in a way that is almost devoid of meaning, but most of us make adjustments according to context. We all have close friends and those who are more distant, so I don’t find the Facebook usage objectionable. Personally, I never refer to ‘followers’ on Twitter but to ‘follows’: it is my sticking point. There is only One Person who can have followers.

Thanks Luke. I agree – we are all smart enough to discern between contextual uses of words…
Like your connection of our followers potentially becoming Jesus’ followers :)

I believe we have to use social media in moderation.  It is a very useful concept and helps with so many connections to be made.  However, it cannot take the place of a sit down conversation over a cup of coffee, it doesn’t take the place of a needed hug, or a needed shoulder to cry on.  We must be careful that we do not somehow allow a “@so_and_so:disqus  , so sorry to hear about your loss” doesn’t take the place of a friend showing up on your doorstep at just the right time. 
Jesus was known to be in the midst of the people.  He was known to be outside the city to be with the crippled and those in need while the religious leaders were inside judging from a distance.  Christ spent time in the city, but He knew there was need in the face to face communication with people who did not get much of it from those who should be caring for them.  So, I use twitter and have found Twitter (and other forms of communication) very helpful, it is a tool and not a way of ministry.  I blog, and yet I realize some of what I am saying gets lost on the screen as I type…face to face is the best delivery, especially because it is backed up by the action of love.
That is just my two cents.
Good discussion…
http://acharpman.blogspot.com/

I would hope that as mature Christians we would understand the meaning of ‘followship’ in the context of Christianity – without that getting watered down by the use of ‘follow’ in social media.  If following Jesus means taking up our cross daily, that is clearly a far bigger sacrifice and commitment than a casual click on a name.  I guess we need to keep aware of the different contexts words are used in and ensure we still model and teach a correct understanding where there is a difference.    From a slightly different perspective – I think the whole idea of social network following can be used to illustrate that following someone generally means reading their thoughts etc – and could therefore use this to teach that following Jesus is more than just saying a casual ‘I will follow’ – and that it involves reading and learning and spending time with Jesus in order to know where and how to follow.  Hmmmm … I can feel a Youth Cell lesson plan forming … :)

Thanks for encouraging us to think!  Always good!

Jo

One of my college professors said that language changes and we cannot really keep it from changing. Old words acquire new meanings. New words are invented to replace old ones, or to express new concepts. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He was telling us to live our lives the way He lived His. He was saying that we should live our lives the way that He taught us to live. When He said, “I am the Way,” He was talking about being our guide, teacher, and example. (I’m old-fashioned. I prefer to interpret the Scriptures the way the Church Fathers did. I believe the ancient interpretations are usually the correct ones. I am familiar with the modern interpretations of St. John 14:6, too.) The word “follow” literally means to walk behind someone. I think that Jesus usually used this word in a figurative sense, but His disciples probably did actually walk behind Him whenever He was traveling from one place to another on foot.
There are words in Greek that are imprecisely translated into English, because English lacks accurate corresponding words for the Greek ones. There is a word used in Orthodox Christian theology that really has no word in English as it correspondent: theosis. This word has been translated deification, for lack of a better word. Some uninformed people who read the word deification in print or read about someone saying he hopes to be one day fully deified might think that he is talking about getting people to worship him. That, of course, is not true! (Ex. 20:3)
The Greek word that is translated “believe” in our New Testaments is actually a verbal form of the Greek word for “faith.” The Greek word for “faith” also can mean “faithfulness.” To believe in Jesus is to have faith in Him (that is, believe and trust in Him) and to be faithful to Him. St. John 3:16, for example, is translated: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.”
It is not translated: “For God so unconditionally and self-sacrificially loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever hath faith in Him and remaineth faithful to Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The shorter, more concise translation is preferred over the longer, more precise one. Meaning is lost in translation.
This is a good blog, Vicky. You are right. Our modern culture adopts new meanings for old words and the correct sense of a word may be lost.

Steve

I love this, Sam.  A previous commenter (Nigelrichards) mentioned said that his “experience of twitter is only as good as the people I follow.” 

I think that both your response and his lend themselves to one another.  We are given a unique opportunity to “lead” AND “follow” on Twitter, so both should be used responsibly!   We should fill our feeds (and hopefully other’s feeds) with that which is holy and pure.  In this way, let’s live out Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.”

It nourishes the concept of followership and community as a whole….regardless of the quality, that is a personal decision….Follow me for simple, fast and smart tweets  @thisisdimarco:twitter