“IM isn’t really a substitute for in-person or over-the-phone interaction in terms of the hormones released,” said psychologist Leslie Seltzer of the University of Wisconsin, a co-author of the new study. “People still need to interact the way we evolved to interact.”

via Power of Mom’s Voice Silenced by Instant Messages | Wired Science | Wired.com.

As I read this article, I thought, “Of course, we’re social creatures.”  Moreover, we were created for relationship.  In the Genesis creation accounts God says that it is not good for man to be alone.  Clearly we need real, human interaction to fully thrive as humans.

This has some impact for ministry, today.  As we become a more wired culture, we maybe tempted to use more and more tech at the expense of good, old fashioned, face-to-face relationship.  Resist the temptation!  While tech may strengthen ministry, it cannot ever replace in-person interaction.