“You’re broadcasting when you should be tuning-in.”
I think this is one of my father-in-law’s favorite sayings. He definitely says it to me all the time. He’s right, when I’m passionate about something, I typically dominate the conversation and stop listening to everyone in the room. I’m a lot better than I used to be, but I still have a long way to go.
When it comes to engaging the Online Generation, many followers of Christ broadcast and completely forget about tuning-in. Consequently, the internet becomes another street corner for self-styled evangelists and preachers to shout at anyone and everyone who walks by.
Someone once told me, “While I’m listening to people I ask God to help me say the one thing they need to hear to make a difference in their life.” This guy tuned-in a lot. When he did broadcast, people listened. They thought about what he had to say.
Tuning-in is one of the key elements of just-in-time discipleship. Tuning-in requires us to ask, “What does this God-created person need right now and how does the Gospel tell me to meet that need?”
Do you use online tools like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and blogs to tune-in to people in the Online Generation who do not know Christ? Do you ask God to help you say something that moves them one step closer to falling in love with Him?
Look at your RSS feed reader – how many bloggers in your feed don’t know Christ?
Look at your Facebook and MySpace friends – do you follow more Christians or non-Christians?
Look at Twitter and Plurk – What percentage of the people you follow are lost?
What are you doing to tune-in to the Online Generation? What do you hear them say? What are their biggest needs? How can you meet those needs?
