As I reflect on my own walk with God I am always striving to grow in the areas where growth is needed. God is constantly working on us every day to help us grow into the Christian that He desires us to be so that we may further His kingdom which then allows to be a blessing to those around us. In a digital world that seems to be moving at the speed of light every single day we often stop and think as Christians how can we make an impact to those around us as well as those thousands of miles away through the use of online platforms? As we have been discussing ecologies of the faith in the digital age we are currently living in I wonder how we can grow together as a strong community bound by Christ through the use of these ecological communities.
“Most ecologists understand that normal, healthy growth results from being in the right environment.” When we look at all that God has created we see that His creation thrives because it is in the right environment surrounded by contributing factors that gives it life. When we consider our own walk with God, we have to look at our surroundings. What and who we surround ourselves with will make all the difference between whether or not we grow or dry up and rot out. The same can be said about our online communities and how we interact with each other through various platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and online schooling. We develop relationships through these platforms just as we would through a physical community. These relationships may not be as intimate as we might like but we are still building relationships nonetheless. Our personal ecosystem that we help bring to the online learning experience can either help stimulate that specific community or bring it down.
When I am having discussions with other students in an online classroom forum I am representing and bringing with me my family, my church, my friends, my neighborhood, and my community. I am bringing my worldview into the discussion trying to build relationships, learn more about my peers through a digital lense all while growing in my own walk with Christ. When we are branching out and reaching new people through these digital ecosystems we are growing together and growing up in the Lord.
After exploring the many different online platforms and how they can help stimulate our spiritual growth as a community we now know that in order to have a more vast understanding of spiritual formation it requires us a Christians to take consideration of the multiple ecological dimensions of Christian spirituality and how they affect our own walk with God. Let us look at what a social network is and how we can have that Christian influence on that platform. “A social network is an organized set of people that consists of two kinds of elements: human beings and the connections between them.” [1]
“Our purpose throughout this presentation of what the Bible teaches regarding how we grow as Christians was to help God’s people recognize and appreciate the complexity and beauty of the intricate patterns of growth God has established that govern natural, social, and spiritual ecologies.”[1] We can see how natural growth is accompanied by spiritual growth when we look out into all that God has created. The Word of God then manifests itself by and through various testimonials in the flowers, the trees, the seeds, the plants, the vineyards, the forests, and the fields. Parables are often used as illustrations to get a point across and Jesus used parables to teach the disciples as well as any and all who might hear His teachings. As we progress into the future we will continue to see the manifestation of God’s Word intertwined into the digital ecosystem and we will use this capability to help further enhance our biblical knowledge while furthering the Gospel message.
The question remains on how can I grow in what I have learned and implement the things of the digital world into my own ministry? I believe that God has given us all a platform both physically and spiritually to be witness for His kingdom. The online world can and always will be a great place to make a case for Christ and what He did on the Cross all those years ago for the sins of the world past, present, and future. There are always areas of improvement in our own lives as well as our own ministries. Digital platforms can be a great way to further enhance the ministry in which I am a part of such as Youth ministry at the church and inside the classroom at the school in which I teach. Jesus always used parables to teach his students by using an illustration of this world to get His message across. We can do the same thing with what God has given to us digitally. The digital ecosystem can help further enhance my ministry in getting the Word of God to my own community through platforms like social media, podcasts, blogs, and so many more avenues.
How can I pass on the information that I have learned and grown up in over the last so many weeks to a new and up and coming seminary student? Part of my advice would be plain and simple by telling this young individual never to stop exploring all of the different ways that God has given us to grow through including all of the digital platforms that we have out our disposal. Never think that you have it all figured because there is always something new to learn no matter what age. As important as this is I believe the biggest piece of advice I could give from Surviving and Thriving in Seminary would be from chapter four taken from the time management piece discussing the most vital need for one in the ministry aside from having the anointing of God and feeding your spiritual self would is taking care of your body.
If one does not have his or her health then it will be really difficult to accomplish what God has called this person to do. Now I am not saying that God doesn’t work through our infirmities and He absolutely does use our weaknesses and turns them around as our strengths. The thorn in the flesh in which Paul described, God did not take it away but rather gave him grace to get through his trials but what I am speaking of is eating well because we must remember that our bodies are a temple of the Lord and what we put into our bodies directly effects our spiritual well-being. “Our bodies, minds, and spirits are connected. While in seminary we may be tempted to neglect our bodies in favor of spending more time studying; that would be a mistake. We are whole people, and healthiness in one area of life produces fruit in the other domains of life.” [2]
I would tell this student to not only eat well but exercise daily to keep the body and mind fresh. Daily exercise also helps us to recharge our battery along with nourishing food coupled with the right amount of sleep. Get plenty of rest and take breaks when you need to. It is ok to say to appointments and meetings if it means preserving your mental well-being. Sometimes we need to step back and take a break so we can take care of our physical self or if we don’t slow down then it will directly affect our spiritual self. You must learn to discipline yourself in these practices if you wish to endure in the ministry because it is a battle and these practices will need to be applied and reapplied time and time again over the years.
[1] Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online Education
[2] Danny Zacharias. Surviving and Thriving in Seminary: An Academic and Spiritual Handbook. Lexham Press, 2017.
[1] Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler, Connected: The Surprising Power of Social Network and How They Shape Our Lives (New York: Little, Brown, 2009), 13.
Restoring Faith, Family, and Freedom in America 