2006 © Chris Fourie. Image from BigStockPhoto.com.
“The internet’s nothing but a reputation economy,” said Chris Anderson, Editor in Chief of Wired magazine. “We don’t think about that, but all these metrics that we follow, whether its incoming links, or traffic, or Twitter followers, or Facebook friends, these are all reputation metrics. One way or another we are playing in the reputation game, and it’s never been more measureable.”
Anderson speaks approvingly and supportively of this. Understandably. If I were a businessman building my little empire, yes, I would leverage every tool at my disposal, including the reputation economy, to multiply my dollars.
However, as a Christian, it terrifies me. As I begin 2010 I must ask what is my motive when blogging? Tweeting? Friending? Is it all about building the Kingdom or is it playing the reputation game? Why do sermon download statistics matter to me? Why do I welcome every friend request? Why are page views relevant? Why do I look for re-tweets? With the Psalmist I must pray before every post, every tweet, every status update, every sermon upload: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).
The difficulty (impossibility?) of doing anything for the Lord with a totally pure motive raises a question: How pure does your motive have to be before you do something for the Lord?” 50% pure? 90% pure? Is there a minimum percentage, below which you should do nothing?
The short interview with Chris Anderson is part of the “Inside the Entrepreneurial Mind Series” and can be watched here.