Facebook turned five yesterday. Happy birthday to them. In honor of their birthday, Dr. Mohler recently wrote a good article about the use of Facebook on his blog. He listed 8 suggestions on how a Christian should use this social networking tool.
1. Never allow social networking to replace or rival personal contact and communication.
2. Set clear parameters for the time devoted to social networking.
3. Never write or post anything on a social networking site that you would not want the world to see, or anything that would compromise your Christian witness.
4. Never allow children and teenagers to have independent social networking access (or Internet access, for that matter).
5. Do not allow children and teens to accept any “friend” unknown to you.
6. Encourage older friends and relatives to sign up and use the technology.
7. Use the social networking technology to bear witness to the Gospel, but never think that this can replace the centrality of face-to-face evangelism, witness, and discipleship
8. Do all things to the glory of God, and do not allow social networking to become an idol or a display of narcissism.
I appreciate his balance in acknowledging that these sites are something Christians can use, but also pointing out some obvious dangers. I believe all his points are helpful but want to draw attention to several in particular. First, never write anything or post anything that you would not want the world to see. Many seem to treat Facebook like it is IM, where only they and one or two friends can read or see what is posted. However, it is going out to all your “friends” and then any friend that is linked to them and down the line. All that to say, many times your reputation is on the line with a much broader audience than you may think. I recently read an article written to artists that pointed out that when something is posted on Facebook, Facebook then has the rights to all material, to use however they desire. That ought to give some concern, but I read another article in a secular magazine that said Facebook is one of the top reference websites companies are now using to check a persons background and character, and have had many people who hire college age people say it is always checked by them. Yahoo, suggests one in five companies use such sites when hiring. So, any posts or pictures that you put up or that a “friend” posts of you may impact your ability or inability to get a job in a very demanding job market. Look at the impact one action or one photo has had on Mr Phelps this past week in the secular world. None of these points mention anything about the more important fact that as a Christian or a child in a Christian home you take the name of Christ with you even into your Facebook account. Now for one seeking to honor Christ this should not be anything that scares them, but for some it may be a good reminder. If you don’t want Christ to see or read it, don’t put it out there for the rest of the world to read. If you don’t want Christ’s name attached to a photo, post, or comment, then don’t post it.
Second, Dr. Mohler mentions that no child or teenager should have independant access to a Facebook type account. This may seem too harsh or untrusting for some parents but consider this. Facebook and other networking sites are “a whole new world”, and a world for which many parents have never guided or taught their children how to behave in. When are children are younger we spend so much time teaching them what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior wise when in the home, at church, or in public. The internet offers a world that is unreal, yet where reputations are made, lost, and lived out in today’s world. Take a look at one of these sites and begin sifting it through simple biblical principles. One principle that seems often overlooked is that of considering the weaker brother. (Do your photos and posts and comments exhibit such love?) There are other more blatant ones like gossip, modesty, humility, joy (Do your status updates exhibit the fruit of the Spirit?) The point is not to enter into legalism to to try and help our children and teens. Children are not naturally going to be able to discern all of this, for that God has given them parents. Are we guiding our children and teens as to what is appropriate and honoring to Christ in the world of Facebook?
Dr. Mohler also mentions that you should encourage older family members to sign up. It is a wonderful way for them to keep up with you, but also creates accountability. A world with people all the same age often creates all kinds of problems and self absorbtion or generation absorbtion. Knowing that grandma will be seeing or reading what is posted might help you to think twice before you pose for a picture or type a quick response, and may help you determine what is truly appropriate or non-appropriate.
So, in conclusion, use Facebook, but use it for the glory of God! This does not mean that you have to mention God or Christ all the time, but it does mean that every post, every comment, every photo ought to be done with their honor in mind.
Tough economic times got you down? Maybe a little Mozart will help. Amazon is offering the MP3 Download of this album for $2.99. You can listen to a samlple of the music on the website as well. The music is performed by a variety of artists and Orchestras from London Philharmonic to individual artists. I am not a huge classical music listener, but I like to have some in my library. 99 songs for under $3 seemed like a pretty good deal.
This coming Lord’s Day we will be completing our series on the Life of David. In the morning we will be looking at David and Saul: A Lesson in Authority, and in the evening we will be looking at David and Bathsheba: A Lesson in Sin and Repentance. I believe the final message, David and Bathsheba, is my favorite in this series and I hope you will all find it to be one of the most evangelistic and hopeful in the series. Even in this dark time in the life of this “man after God’s own heart” we find Christ shining brightly. I wanted to give the body at Edgewood a heads up on this with the thought that they may be able to try and invite others to come hear of Christ as seen in the life of David.
Heather had all the kids in the car the other day and during the ride Lauren saw a pay-phone out her window and yelled: