Acts 2: 42-47, Exodus 33: 11

Philip Morris

Something that has been on my heart recently, is the way we communicate and the way that impacts our relationships and the depths of those relationships. There are many ways to communicate in a fast paced world using the likes of facebook, msn, email, texting and not to mention blackberry messaging (something that I have recently tapped into!). It has made me question how deep our relationships really are though and whether these forms of communication enhance our relationships or have a negative impact on them.

A wise man once said that it is now possible, with the aid of technology to be closer to someone in America than you can be to your own neighbour.

I recently asked some young people who I work with, how they would communicate with friends in the evening if they had five options. The five options being facebook, msn, texting, making a phone call or that good old fashioned way of going to your friend's house to meet up! The most popular response was either facebook or msn. This alarms me, because so much is lost with relying purely on non face to face communication. You cannot read body language, you cannot always understand the tone behind the language and there can also be falseness in the relationship, as you may say things via facebook, msn or texting that you would never say face to face. It also takes away some of the social skills that many of us elderly people (in our thirties!) took for granted growing up.

Acts 2: 42-47:
'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as they had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved'.

This verse talks about the importance of meeting together regularly, and it explains the impact that had on people around them. Many were added to their number daily and they experienced the great things that God does. There was a unity between the people who met and I have no doubt that this was because they met regularly face to face; this was part of everyday life. I am aware that the world has moved on since then, but I have no doubt that these are the kind of relationships that God wants us to maintain. I believe he wants us to have close genuine friendships that are deep and meaningful which also help is in our walk with God, the Father.

I am not against facebook, msn, texting and other wonderful methods of communicating. I feel that they are fantastic methods of being in touch, but feel that they should be used in a way that enhances relationships. An example of this could be long distance friendships. What bothers me is when we put this method of keeping in touch before actually meeting up with friends close by.

I think that if we reach a state of mind where we prefer to spend time chatting to friends on networking sites like facebook as opposed to face to face, we are in danger of forming shallow relationships that aren't really as good as we may have hoped.

So how about 3 challenges?

1. Next time you want to catch up with a friend and you think about texting to ask how they are, pick up the phone and get the full picture. Or why not meet up and have a good catch up? Consider when Moses met with God, face to face as friends. Exodus 33: 11, 'The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend'.

2. Think about this. When it comes to texting, how many times do you text when you already have company? How much quality time are you giving to your friends when you are in their company? How much respect are you giving to your friends you are out with if you spend half your time checking your phone?

3. Finally, when it comes to friendships, is it quality friendships you have or is it quantity, measured by the number you have added on facebook? Are you investing time in the right relationships? Is their fruit?

Be blessed guys, and bless your friends with quality time and friendship.