“If an alien life form visited Earth to learn about the American church and only read so-called Christian Twitter, I’m not sure they would have any idea that we believe in something called the Incarnation, or the Resurrection, or the Ascension. They would, however, know a lot about evangelical voting tendencies, the women’s ordination debate, abortion politics, and whatever controversy is currently trending.”

These eye-widening words open Tish Harrison Warren’s recent article entitled “Log Off and Know that I Am God.” As she continues, Warren observes the temptations that modern-day Christians face when it comes to sharing our spiritual lives online. She calls believers to train our attention to focus upon the magnificence and beauty of God, rather than missing “the deeper things of God for the Christian controversy du jour.”

Neither dismissing the potential value of social media nor worshipping it, Warren calls her siblings in Christ to find joy and wonder—even weirdness—as they seek the Sacred. We may miss a few Twitter dust-ups or Facebook debates. But perhaps we’ll find that, every once in a while, logging off quieted the noise just enough for us to hear the voice of the One who calls us beloved.