Here’s a very insightful article from R.C. Sproul Jr about the purpose and place of social media sites such as facebook in our lives. He used the ten commandments as a standard in which we are forced to consider not “what we think” or “feel” about facebook, but what the Bible actually says about our own usage of such media.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
…here are some very real concerns I have about Facebook.
First, has it become a god to us? When God commands that we have no other god’s before Him He doesn’t mean ranked higher than Him, but rather He means in His presence. If Facebook is too needful for you, you may need to stop.
Second, has it become a graven image? Have you confused its reality with real reality? Do you really think you have 200 friends?
Third, have you taken the Lord’s name in vain? That is, have you, in weaker moments, put a bad face publicly on your Christian witness? Are you laughing at your old sins with that old buddy from college or high school?
Fourth, is Facebook giving me the peace of the Lord, or agitating me? (And please note the very real difference between that peace that passes understanding and that “peace” we receive when we feed a habit, when we get a fix.) Am I jumpy when I don’t get to log on? Am I more keyed up after I’ve logged off?
Fifth, am I honoring those in authority over me? Wives, are you failing to honor your husbands because you’re too busy reading about your friends? Children, are you failing to honor your parents because you’re too busy sending flair?
Read the whole of it here: HT
I don't get this at all. These are guidelines for using Facebook, not about whether you should be honest. When did we Calvinists slip back into Pharisee mentality and legalistic fundamentalism? This is as stupid as saying alcohol is a sin because some people abuse it. We need to quit creating artificial sins; there are enough real ones to occupy our attention already!
I honestly do not see it as Pharisaic or legalistic in any way, shape or form. Though as Calvinists we do affirm that it is our indicatives that define our imperatives, wherein it is the axioms founded in the Gospel in Scripture where our works find it's root, we too however affirm that we have a greater standard to live by. In having a clearer view and distinction about Gospel language, a greater burden is then placed upon us of having more tender consciences, and a greater desire for godliness, holiness in sanctification in truth. This is what I hear from this article by RC Sproul Jr. Not legalism, but a raising of spiritual issues that concern the borders of godliness or godlessness.
I think that this is a great page and people tend not to understand like James that these things distract us from God. Ive read other topics where christians try to defend something that is sinful just because they like doing it and it doesnt seem to be that bad but really the "smallest" sins in Gods eyes and just as bad as the "big" sins it is all sin.
Now going on facebook is obviosly not a sin I am not saying that but it can easily lead to sin as non-christians posts about sinful things can easily lead to yourself having sinful thoughts or being tempted by them. We should desire to make ourselves as pure as possible and if you are dirtying yourself with something on a social networking site you should remove yourself from the thing that is causing you to become less pure then you should/can be.
Personally I found that pictures of the opposite sex that were attractive would distract me and it can lead onto worse things.
Hello Adam! Thank you for leaving a reply.
What you said is one of the dangers that surround engagement in social networking sites. But I think a more basic danger is how time is lost and how the soul is shriveled up unknowingly. People spend hours upon hours on facebook and yet nothing is gained. Though of course, facebook can be a medium for spiritual gain and the heralding of the gospel, but it's painfully obvious that the majority of Christians do not do this.
Time in Bible reading/meditation and prayer is replaced by login time on facebook. Instead of seeking the fellowship of the saints one is consumed with the latest update.
May God help us. May He wean us away from earthly pleasures and lift us up on heavenly ones.
Come on down to Mcgreedys .we are serving up your favorite idols,me,myself and I……full of calories,consumer mentality,escaping reality .Feed that …and let go my ego!I want what I want…and I want it now.I want want what I want and I don’t care how!
Personally, I think facebook is a wonderful tool – if used responsibly and with Godly wisdom.
It is an opportunity for me to show my ‘friends’ what my Christian life is all about – they see me enjoying life and enjoying God. I am able to be salt and light in what is sometimes a very dark place. I also feel my presence (as an evangelical Christian) helps some people to restrain their language and comments. In the past I have been able to take young women aside and express my concerns about a picture they have posted or a comment they have made. Nothing heavy and condemning – just loving concern. It has been very well received and I feel it has had a positive affect. Isn’t this part of discipleship?
I do delete some people from my newsfeed when they write comments that I simply do not wish to read – or frequently contain gossip or swearing. This way I only get to find out what they are doing if I choose to go on their profile – most of the time I don’t bother, except perhaps on their birthday to leave a greeting.
Let’s face it – new technology DOES make sin easier, but that doesn’t make the technology bad. It simply exposes the depravity of man’s heart. Where once we thought we were so righteous…suddenly we’re looking up old flames! Not good. Recently someone I know actually left her husband to go off with an old boyfriend found through facebook. I do not blame facebook. I feel that this was something she was going to do and if it had not been him it sadly may have been someone else – and if not through facebook, maybe through a dating site or some other networking site. Tragic.
I include bible verses in my status updates…put the verse first and then the reference. If people see the bible ref first they don’t read on! I talk about my church, my faith – people respect that.
My spouse knows my password and has access to my fb anytime he wants it. Not that he ever does. I do not add old boyfriends and have refused friendship requests from them. You don’t need to go into why and explain yourself.
Facebook has been a great tool for our church. In Bible days people lived in small communities – they knew each other intimately. Today we drive to our churches and live apart from each other. Facebook helps us stay connected. It encourages us to live as Christians in front of our worldly friends.
If we don’t learn to use technology responsibly and for good then we have lost a battle…how many of us would stop using digital cameras because paedophiles use them for sinful aims? How many would get rid of our mobile phones because they too can lead to secret texting and marriage break-ups? I respect those who shy away from facebook because they don’t want to get their hands dirty…but at the same time, we are called to be salt and light in a very dark world. Be in the world, but not of the world….we can’t hide away.
Not only has facebook become a god, but also its fruits are now evident that it is satans strategy. I totally agree with the person who says that some (not all) christians clothe what is sinful with a garment of ‘mode of evangelism’ just to hide themselves into the sinful nature. My concern however is not christians but believers. All Believers will enter the kingdom of God, but not all christians will. Light and darkness can never work at the sametime, wickedness and righteous can never walk the same path. God is for purity while satan is for wickedness. God is for hotness while satan is for luke-warm and coldness. Its time christians desire to be hot for God. Church of God rise up!