Facebook Phenomenon

Recently I did a class presentation on the theological implications of Facebook and I've decided to fill y'al in on what I said.

The Facebook explosion seems to be a result of it meeting the intrinsic desires for individualism and community, within our present culture. By providing each member with a profile Facebook is meeting the strong yearning to be a unique individual. Our profile serves as our identity on Facebook, it represents who we are as individuals to the rest of the members.
While the profile serves to meet the longing for individualism, the networks we are integrated into (Friends List, Groups, and the initial network we join) create the framework for our community. The interaction through “walls”, notes, and comments gives the member a sense of being relational. This sense of relationship seems to be what solidifies the sense of community. Facebook serves as a kind of cyber pseudo-community. Rather than being one of the many, we are a vital part of this cyber society.
Individualism and Community are two ideas we find in Scripture as well. Throughout Scripture there seems to be a focus on individual’s and the role they play in the community. People such as Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah are Old Testament examples of this, while Mary, Peter, and Paul seem to be New Testament examples. In I Corinthians 12 Paul writes about the role the individual’s spiritual gifts play in the community of Believers. In the creation account of Genesis 2 God creates the individual, Adam, and in verse 18 we read, “The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." This would be another indication we, as human beings, are intended to be in community. The Hebrew people and the Church in Acts seem to be further biblical examples of God intending for people to be in community.
In recent years the Church has attempted to meet these desires through cell groups. These groups are intended to create fellowship and allow individuals to interact with one another on a more personal basis than what a Sunday morning service would allow. Youth group, men’s breakfasts, and women’s prayer meeting are just a few examples of other ways the Church in the past has, perhaps unintentionally, attempted to meet these needs.
The error the Church has made in addressing these needs, is attempting to meet them through programs. There are certain needs programs cannot meet because a program is purpose oriented. In programs people are not necessarily interacting because they want to, but because the program requires them to. For the individual seeking true community, this would seem to be a cheap supplement.
To meet these desires the Church needs to extend her thinking beyond programs and become genuinely interested in each other. Individuals need to be interacting outside the programs of the Church. People are seeking the type community that happens over a cup of coffee, on road trips, and during a barbeque.

A Long Long Island Lament

Yesterday the hockey world starred at their TVs and computer screens in numbness and shock. The unthinkable happened! Ryan Smyth was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the New York Islanders. For those disconnected from hockey Ryan Smyth was the icon of the Oilers' Franchise. Drafted in 1994 he has never played for any other NHL team. Now, Thursday night he will wear another team's jersey for the first time.

Unable to reach contract agreement and with 20 minutes left till the deadline, Kevin Lowe dealt away Smytty, as most Oilers affectionately call him, for 2 top prospects and 1 first round draft pick. To Oilers' fan this it was like trading Porsche for a 3 Ford tempos.

The whole ordeal reeks of underhandedness. Two months ago it was "leaked" to the media that the Oilers had not yet reached a contract agreement with him, which Smyth was blindsided by in a media conference. When asked about the situation, a stunned Smytty replied, "How did you find out about that?!" Quickly followed by, "We're not focusing on that right now! We're focusing on getting our team into the playoffs!" In the very same manner the media would be the one to tell Smyth he had been traded in the same manner. When a trade is done with class the General Manger or the players agent will tell him, not the media.

As details of how the events unfolded it came out Lowe had this trade in his desk drawer with the papers signed, in case they couldn't reach an agreement. Conversely, it is reported Smyth turned down a deal for 27 million over 5 years , which works out to 5.4 million a year, 100 thousand a year below Smyth's asking price (5.5 million/year). To put this in perspective the Calgary Flames just signed Tanguay, for 5.25 million per year. Tanguay does not have the grit and potentially is not as talented as Smyth, and is definitely not the face of the franchise. The manner in which these events unfolded leave the fans wondering if Lowe ever intended on re-signing Smyth or if he was trying to convince Smyth to play for the Islanders the rest of the season and the Oilers would resign him come July 1st.

A tearful Smyth addressed the media today, and as Oiler fans watched they had flashbacks to 1988 when another icon of the team and an icon of hockey, Wayne Gretzky, was sold to the Los Angeles Kings. Feeling betrayed once again, along with Oiler fans everywhere are wondering if there is any loyalty left in hockey. So often we hear about players having no loyalty to the team and now a player has been betrayed by a team who had his entire loyalty. Gretzky commenting on the trade said: "that's the nature of the game now". If Smyth is not re-signed by the Oilers July 1st, the next signature the Oilers may have is Kevin Lowe's on his forced resignation.

Through the tears Smyth spoke positively and respectfully of Kevin Lowe. Then he promised to do his best to win the cup, as an Islander, so he could bring it back home. This type of class is what will have this fans loyalty cheering for Smytty every game.