A really interesting book, looking at how powerful social media is and how it can shape us. What a challenge for Christians today. How can we use social media for good rather than use it to create arguments? This book is really thoughtful and helpful in this area.

In this latest work, Bursch (The Community of God) takes on the societal polarization endemic in social media, from a Christian perspective. The author, co-pastor of Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn, WA, is a former conservative talk radio host who became disenchanted with the format because of the behavior of some of his audience: "During my five years on Christian radio, some of the meanest, angriest, harshest words came from Christians." Drawing on research from experts in the field, Bursch argues that social media, by its very nature, tends to isolate its users from meaningful interactions, and that online connections are by nature superficial and transient. He uses Biblical allusions to support his assertion that Christians should value demonstrating the love of God in their social media interactions more than the "rightness" of their convictions. He concludes each chapter with discussion questions and suggestions for positive posting, hoping his readers will commit to incorporating these into their social media to "put peacemaking into practice."VERDICT A timely reminder of the need to model the behavior we hope to see in others, this text could easily be the basis for group study.

The book starts off with a very negative feel towards social media. I almost stopped reading because the book seemed like just another Christian book with a push back towards social media usage. While I do still think the author is more cautious to social media the book does shift from the feelings of negativity. The book begins to focus on peace, how we use media, how we talk to others, even argue with others. The books shift from a position of negativity to how to act makes the book different then other christian books on the topic. The author also asks good reflection questions after each chapter. While I may not agree with every aspect this is the best book I’ve read on social media from a Christian perspective. 3.5 stars

Bursch does a great job of taking a big-interest topic which he could easily talk about lightly, but he really digs into, building on ideas from writers like Marshall McLuhan to discuss how social media changes the way we think and the moments where we need to face its flaws even as we responsibly use it as a tool. Very much worth the read.

I appreciate how social media (mostly Facebook) helps me stay in touch with friends and family. However, there are times when I am ready to call it quits and delete my fb account due to the seemingly constant torrent of anger, slander, fear-mongering, misinformation, and other filth. And it grieves me that many of my fellow Christians seem to be just as caught up in the war of words as anyone else. Rather than “keeping in step with the Spirit” by demonstrating godly character and motivations (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23), far too many of us engage in the kind of speech that we are told has no place in our life (bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice – Ephesians 4:31). This timely book addresses these concerns.

The first part of the book focuses on how online communication shapes our interaction with others, with heavy emphasis on the distance it puts between us and the tendency to tribalization. This is followed with advice on how to overcome pitfalls and use social media for good. Throughout the book, the author strongly emphasizes Christians’ responsibility to be peacemakers who make room for reconciliation (among people as well as between people and God).

While I strongly agree with most of the author’s main points, some of his presentation felt muddled and imprecise. Criticism of those who are divisive is followed by admonition to use social media to confront injustice. Triumphalist declarations of how we can use social media to transform society are followed by warning that the task is impossible and full peace comes only when Christ returns. Verses about the Gospel reconciling people to God are used to talk about the social justice kind of reconciliation. None of these are necessarily complete contradictions, but I don’t think that the author explained with enough nuance or provided enough concrete examples to avoid confusion. Instead, I think he relied on discussion questions and writing assignments at the end of each chapter to try to get readers to think it through for themselves. While that approach might be great in a classroom setting, I find it less useful in book form (and, unfortunately, I have been seeing it increasingly often in “applied theology” kind of books).

Overall, even though the book could have definitely used more concrete examples and clearly nuanced explanations, it is well worth reading for Christians who frequently engage with social media. Let’s post peace rather than engage in trolling! (3.5 out of 5 stars!)

We are increasingly angry online. Anything could become an anger trigger, a point of contention, or an explosive rant. With more people stuck at home during the pandemic, this situation seems to be getting worse. With such high temperatures on social media, what if this is just the early stages of an even bigger problem? Can we do something about such divisions? How can we bring about greater unity and calm in the digital world? Could the online wars contribute to the growing polarization among different sides and opinions? Lamenting on the inability of people (including Christians) to speak the truth in love, author Douglas Bursch probes the ongoing social media heat and helps us find a way to cool down and to be peacemakers. Otherwise, things might very well become more polarized. The key thesis in this book is that Christians need to lead the way in online communications to be peacemakers. It is hoped that such efforts would lead to greater restraint, reconciliation, and restoration of goodness in our relationships. The author knows this the hard way. Having been a talkshow host who tries to bring conservatives, moderates, progressives, and liberals to the same table to remove contentious debates, he has experienced bitter feedback and disappointment as people use the platform to hurl their views down the rest. The verbal mudslinging spoke louder than his voice of moderation. Many of the comments he received were mean and harsh. Political infighting and social media seem to feed off each other, deepening the existing divisions and widening the cracks. He also learns that for talk show hosts to be successful, they have to hold a strong opinionated side. Staying in the middle ground hardly cuts it.
Bursch then describes how Social Media emboldens individuals to share their views openly, quickly, and widely. With maximum efficiency and minimum accountability, things can easily unravel into contentious disputes and destructive reactions. As the right fights against the left; and the opposing camps entrench in their positions, the rest of us become disillusioned and leave. Using Marshall McLuhan's point about the media becoming the message, the author reminds us about how every tool or technology "ultimately numbs the part of the body it extends." Social Media might connect many, but many still feel a sense of disconnectedness. People are not fully present. Worse, Social Media feeds a generation of partisanship. Every argument leads to rebuttals. Every reaction leads to counter-responses. The first five chapters are basically highlights of the problems of Social Media and the challenges of maintaining decent conversations in an age of individualism and uncontrolled self-expressions. Halfway through the book, Bursch shifts his focus toward the meaning of peace and peacemaking. Readers would notice that the tips for peacemaking (#PostingPeace Challeng) subtly inserted at the end of each chapter. The explicit arguments for peace begin from chapter 6 onward. Our model for reconciliation is in Christ. Looking at the tsunami of information and social media output, it would seem impossible to start any peace movement. The author urges us to be patient and hopeful. Peacemaking is about telling the story of reconciliation over and over again. The fictional character of Pastor R.J. Wrightworth shows us the futility of adopting a moderate stand in any issue. For reconciliation is not about making a stand, but about facilitating an environment toward kindness and goodwill.

My Thoughts
I think Bursch does a great job in the first part of the book to point out the problems with our existing Social Media environment. It has become highly toxic to the point that people are pre-judged and judged in a climate of anger. Sometimes, it feels like an either-you-support-me-or-get-lost situation. Such scenes are increasingly common where many feel they have a right to their own opinions and then try to force their opinions down on others. Rightfully or wrongfully, they let their convictions determine that they are right and everybody else is wrong. After all, Social Media has taken down the traditional barriers and gatekeepers of public expression. It has empowered anyone to express their own views as authoritative, and quickened the distribution of whatever we think, anything we say, and all that we do. We are our own writers, our own editors, and our own publishers. Who then is there to say what is Truth? In fact, nowadays, it is dangerous to search for Truth using Social Media. People searching for Truth via Social Media is like combing for a melody that one likes to hear. We are what we search for.

Secondly, I appreciate the fresh perspective of reconciliation that moves away from conventional "balanced" or "moderate" positions. This I suppose stems from Bursch's own failed attempts as a talk-show host to do just that, much to the chagrin of those in the moderate camp. He does not just make it a one-party endeavour but invites all parties to join in the process of restoration and the renewal of the relationship between the two parties. This however comes with a huge caveat: the parties must agree, otherwise, this would descend into just another "moderate" position in disguise. Bursch seems to be prepared for that, which is evident from his plea to work on "reconciliation until the very end." One challenge is of course how do we deal with trolling. Bursch dedicates a chapter just to explain our appropriate responses.

Finally, I believe a book like this is long overdue. As more people get onto Social Media, there will be rising temperatures online. In fact, the current political divisiveness is but the beginning. It is arguable that the fiery exchanges online had contributed to physical anger and violent demonstrations. While getting off the Social Media bandwagon is one practical strategy, it is increasingly difficult to avoid the effects of Social Media. Even if we are not on it, many of our family and friends are. Like what Jesus said, we are not of the world but we are in the world. Social Media is here to stay, and the faster we learn how to use it, the better. I am grateful to the author for publishing this highly important resource.

Douglas S. Bursch is copastor of Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn, Washington. He serves on the US Doctrine Committee, International Doctrine Committee, and Education Commission of the Foursquare Church, and he has taught theology courses as adjunct faculty for Life Pacific College and Life Ministry Institute. He earned a DMin from George Fox Evangelical Seminary with his dissertation research focusing on social media. His website is postingpeace.com and Tweets @fairlyspiritual.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.