Southern Baptist leader Albert Mohler seems to “get” social networking/media.

Here’s a great post from Albert Mohler. It’s encouraging to see this kind of thing from a leader of Southern Baptists.

In particular, here is the best part:

Twitter has changed my prayer life. More than any development in years, Twitter helps me to know what is going on in the lives of many friends and people far beyond. I have known how to pray in many specific ways. I have rejoiced with friends and have grieved with others. Priceless.

This to me is the key benefit of Twitter/Facebook/etc. It really does facilitate human communication and this is good for the life of a Christian. It’s why I have no problem spending time on it.

I would argue further that social networking is much, much better than the things we tacitly approve everyday that have absolutely destroyed the heart of human community: The automobile+Interstate. Television. The increasing political correctness of the workplace. The physical layout of our new neighborhoods. Strip malls and huge parking lots.

The vast majority of our Industrialized creations are and have been resulting in human isolation. Even many church constructs, which reflect the age in which they exist, have created isolation.

(It’s amazing to me that people will talk about “wasting time on the internet” then spend hours in front of a TV…Or spend an hour on a commute to work… Or sit at a stoplight without lamenting that each breath is a precious gift wasted staring at a suspended lightbulb.

It’s amazing that the same folks who don’t know their neighbors will caution against being good “stewards of time” and “honoring God with our resources” by not spending too much time communicating on the ‘net. But I digress.)

…meanwhile back at the ranch.

Isolation is not how we were designed by God. (And if you’re an atheist/evolutionist, you can at least stipulate that we didn’t evolve this way). We were designed to be tribal and communicative in nature. The internet facilitates this.

Of course, that’s the part about repairing our situation. There are also the newer capabilities that are offered by smartphones and a whole lotta networking. This is the “should we Twitter in church” question.

Mohler stops short of approving these:

I do not believe that Twitter belongs in worship, but it does belong among the people of God. Tweet before and after a service of worship. Every once in a while, take a break.

I think there are valid things to explore in this area, but this is not really a big issue.

So this is very encouraging. Southern Baptists take note.