Sunday, December 18, 2011

social media and Christians

I re-entered facebook a few months ago. I don't regret it. I am glad I did. There are friends and family I LOVE interacting with on a daily basis. Plus, it has become a great place for me to keep all of my photos organized. I love getting to see what everyone is doing, and I especially enjoy the encouragement and cheers by fellow homeschoolers. I have posted pictures of all of my sewing projects the last few weeks, and made $250 for Christmas money. It can be a great resource. But...there is a but. A big one! But...

...I do not enjoy the foul posts some feel okay posting. The political stuff, I can do without. The constant negativity or making fun of others, horrible. The links posted that are full of trash, disgusting. If you are a believer and you are not posting life-giving, encouraging stuff, why bother? Every single thing we do in this life should be THOUGHT about. Facebook is a nasty place because people post nasty stuff.

Titus 2:7-8
7And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness.


8And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous and irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say about us.

1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. You wouldn't know it by some things posted by Christians on facebook and twitter. It is a serious matter. I continue my facebook journey. I don't care how many friends I have on there. I don't want to have everyone watching my journey. I love my life as a wife and mother and I will protect it! At all cost!!

Some may think they can post whatever they want and no one will see the "hidden" motive. But it comes through loud and clear! I thought of another scripture when it comes to the "motives" behind our posts or comments. The Bible says in Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." A commentary I read on this verse said this. "Blessed is the man whose motives are always entirely unmixed, for that man shall see God."

Lots to think about and chew on. Anything our Father wants to use in order to bring people closer to Him, the enemy will attack. If you are foolish enough to think you are not being USED on facebook to influence, you are not smart. The question is, who is using you to influence? God? The enemy? I tell my kids DAILY, "Do not join hands with the enemy. When you say those things, when you do those things, you invite him to use you for his nasty business!" Don't be a pawn!

I read the article I have posted below earlier this morning. It should be read by every Christian woman posting on social media. Whether you post once a week or five times a day, this should be taken seriously.


Social Media & Christians (this article can be found here)


Recently I have noticed a lot of bantering back and forth on many social media outlets between Christians – from facebook to twitter to blogs.  I am not sure why people feel that it is okay to vent, hurt, discourage and intentionally offend in these environments.  It is so not cool!
The Bible says, “And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.” (I Thess 4:12).  Our love for each other must be up close and it must overflow into every other area of our lives – even social media.  The Bible and Christian character must apply to social media – God is not absent from those outlets!!!
So let me give you a few rules of Christian etiquette:
  1. It’s okay to share your opinion, but its not okay to offend.  I learned this lesson a long time ago, “Hurting people hurt people.”
  2. Don’t defriend when you disagree, unless they are just disagreeable. “A friend loves at all times.”  Some people are antagonistic … they are there to divide.
  3. Remember more people are seeing your posts than your ‘Christian’ friends.  We have to be careful that our comments don’t hurt the cause of Jesus Christ.
  4. Don’t go public with what was discussed in private.  Too many tweet or facebook responses to private conversations.  I hear about it all the time.  In fact, I have experienced it.  But private conversations should remain that private.
  5. Respond in the opposite spirit.  If someone comes at you with hate, bitterness or maliciousness simply respond in love! (for Joel VanBriggle – don’t respond to love with hate – only respond in opposites when attitude, word, text, blog is negative – hahahaha)
  6. Social media should not be your personal soapbox.  Social media was intended to build relational networks and not hurt them.
  7. When someone is divisive don’t respond —- ignore.  They are looking for attention.  Don’t give it to them. “Mark those that cause division and ignore them” (Rom 16:17).
I truly believe that we will be judged by every deed and word … even those words shared on social media outlets.
Matthew 12:26:  “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”
Church, let’s be the bride of Christ and guards our tongues (and keyboards) for it reveals what is in our hearts.
1 Peter 3:10:  “For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see manyhappy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”




1 comment:

Todd Bishop said...

thanks for reposting and sharing.