The announcement of Christian Chirp, a Christian alternative to Twitter, has been met, at least by myself and people I know, with a large amount of disgust. It’s not just because the founder, James L. Paris, is both a fraud and a liar, it’s because Christian Chirp, perhaps better than anything else, represents what’s perceived as a completely lame attempt for Christians to create their alternative community.
Not only is Christian Chirp, and other things that label themselves as ‘Christian alternatives,’ undergirded by an awful theology of what it means to be the people of God, it also reflects something else that is a staple of things ’sanctified’ by the Christian community: it’s a cheap impersonation.
If you’ve visited Christian Chirp then you obviously see the similarities it has with Twitter. But it is a poor execution of the otherwise revolutionary idea that is Twitter. It is a poorly done rip off of something that is wildly popular.
What does this say to unbelievers? The theological problems aside, it basically says to unbelievers, “Christians make sub-sub-sub par impersonations of otherwise cool, innovative things.” Does that message, in any way, shape, or form, come across as revolutionary as the description Christ gave for the Kingdom of God? I’ll go out on a limb and state that it says just about the complete opposite. Instead of revolution, we get impersonation. Instead of progression, we get stagnation.
Bottom line: Christian Chirp is absolutely idiotic. From the idea itself to the implementation of the idea, it’s just about the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. It actually makes me quite embarrassed to be a Christian.
5 November 2009 at 6.37 pm
See what it says on the site now? Apparently they are facing intense persecution…
Dear Friends and Fellow Chirpers:
I had to temporarily shut down Christian Chirp due to a massive attack on the site. I will be working to get everything back up as soon as possible. I guess we are really making an impact. Give me a few hours and I will be back!
James L. Paris
5 November 2009 at 8.51 pm
Are you serious Art? Some idiot makes you embaressed to be a christian? Is it because maybe your freinds will think you are an idiot too? What is your faith all about anyways? I don’t know man; maybe it is time to take the hand off the plow. Don’t get me confused with a chirp supporter. From what I can tell they are the modern day equivalent of the money changers in the temple. That being said your last sentence left me rubbing my head and thinking “what the hell…..?”
5 November 2009 at 8.55 pm
You’re right Joe. My faith is all about looking cool in front of my friends.
Very perceptive comment.
5 November 2009 at 9.00 pm
Thanks, I do what I can. It’s not much but hey
5 November 2009 at 9.46 pm
I feel the same. Embarrassed. I hate ripoffs. I hope this blog post comes up on a search for this ‘chirp’ shit.
Peace.
6 November 2009 at 7.48 am
What confuses me is how a social networking tool can be considered “Christian.” (Only people can be Christians, blah, blah blah.) I think certain music, movies, comics, websites, etc., can be categorized as Christian because of messages or underlying worldviews. But Christian Twitter? That’s like having a Christian OS on your computer, or driving a Christian car.
Remember Daniel Radosh, of “Rapture Ready” fame? He’ll have a field day with this one (whatever a field day is).
6 November 2009 at 8.36 am
but their color scheme is so cool lol
6 November 2009 at 8.00 pm
Stupid homeschooled kid–doesn’t even know what a field day is!
7 November 2009 at 4.02 pm
Art, your post links to an expose of the guy behind ChrisitanChirp I did on my blog. I had to take it down because he made a threat of legal action. I don’t think I was wrong about anything I said in that post; I had documentary evidence for everything. Nonetheless, since he charges tons of eager followers hundreds of dollars to learn his “Internet marketing secrets!!” he probably has deeper pockets than I, so I can’t afford to take the chance that I would have to hire a lawyer.
I’ve decided that the people who defend him and want to follow him probably deserve him.
8 November 2009 at 4.42 pm
hahahahaha is it for real called “christian chirp”??!?! I am honestly laughing so hard right now. The word chirp is killing me. I’m gonna join and only post vulgar updates. Chirp on that SUCKAS!!!