Live Texting—I Have a Question

In my four years as a high school English teacher, one nemesis has reigned supreme over all other challenges that I’ve faced—texting. Students are so obsessed with staying current on the latest gossip, homework assignments, or happenings on campus that they constantly have their phones peeking out of their pockets and purses. Sadly, they think teachers are completely oblivious to their tactics (and maybe some are), but for the most part we’ve figured out the telltale signs of texting: leaning back in a chair and staring straight down, while occasionally, if not frequently, glancing up to see who’s watching.

When caught, I generally just ask students to put their phones away, but some teachers have resorted to more extreme measures. Many teachers will take a student’s phone away after repeated warnings. Some will even take the phone and finish the text for the student. One teacher in particular is famous for taping a student’s phone shut after repeated warnings to put and keep it away.

Even though I check my email more times a day than is likely necessary, I’ve yet to understand the texting phenomenon. Maybe it’s my reluctance to break the rules of English grammar even in casual communication. Regardless, I’ve been accused of resisting this recent technological fad, but the truth is I’ve just never found a constructive use for it. That all changed when Pastor Mark and the technology team decided to use live texting during the “Religion Saves” sermon series. As you’ll recall, Pastor Mark decided to follow Paul’s example and base his sermon series on the nine most popular questions he received from the MHC congregation and internet participants. In addition, he offered live texting during evening Ballard services, which allowed people to ask follow-up questions and other questions on their minds during the sermon. This innovative approach was such a success that he decided to continue offering live texting during the “Doctrine” sermon series.

My wife and I had the opportunity to experience a sermon with live texting this past Sunday at the Ballard Campus. Pastor Mark preached on Jesus’ Resurrection and then fielded questions to finish the sermon. One question in particular stood out from the rest because it pertained to asking questions and having doubts. It was encouraging to hear Pastor Mark distinguish between a question, a doubt, and unbelief, and assure everyone that Christians can and do have questions and doubts. For example, he said that he fully believes in a bodily resurrection, but has questions about how it will work and what it will be like: Will we be young or old? Will we be able to walk through locked doors like Jesus?

As Pastor Jamie Munson more fully explains in an entry on the Mission and Vision blog, live texting is interactive, genuine, missional, and culturally relevant. In some ways, it also serves as a model for weekly Community Group discussions—open, honest exploration and discovery of our relationship with Jesus and each other. Pastor Mark and the technology team hope to extend live texting to more services and campuses in the future as a way to bring more and more people closer to Jesus.