Putting things on Facebook

This past Sunday our pastor challenged us in our use of things like Facebook (and by implication Twitter, MySpace, and other social networking services). His challenge was for us to consider what we put on there, because we will ultimately stand before the Lord Jesus and have to give an account of what we put on there. The fact that we live in a completely different fast-paced world than we did 20, nay 5 years ago, enables us to more quickly spread information. Sadly, that pace has also allowed for unprecedented speed in things that are not healthy, not good for the church, and harmful to the Gospel.

I will be the first to admit I have had to eat crow on some things I have posted on mine. I have been lovingly confronted before and have had to do some serious thinking about what I use mine for. For those who did so and I responded in anger, that was pride. I am sorry, please forgive me. Thank you for pointing out that perception means as much as intent.

That said, I am increasingly grieved by what I see when I click on pages that belong to "Christians." I am grieved because I see things that are ungodly, whether words or pictures. I have been saddened to see "Christian" girls putting provocative pictures of themselves, and for guys putting things like "what is your porn star name?" on their pages. Like I read to you all on a Wednesday night, the quote by Brennan Manning is so compelling "The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Brothers and sisters in Christ both young and adult, I implore you, on behalf of Jesus Christ and for the sake of His Church and His Gospel, please.... Take the junk down. Remove it from your page. You are doing more harm to the cause of Christ than you could ever imagine. God has given us these things to be used for good, and I am begging of you to please use yours for such. Use your Facebook page to share the Gospel, put pictures up that are glorifying to God (or at the very least, where you're fully clothed). Talk about what's going on at your church, promote your ministries. Use Facebook to invite people to come to church, to invite them to Jesus, to encourage each other. Don't let something God has given that is so good be used for such destructive purposes.

The first one to do some major repenting here is me, and I do so for your sake. I repent of the ways I have not used my Facebook for the glory of God. I repent of how I have caused others to stumble intentionally or not by my use of it. I repent of not being fully obedient to Christ.

SDG,

Scott