I’ve been getting into conversations with several parents in the past week about facebook. Here are some good reminders from my friends at the Gospel and Culture Project – I copied some of the bullet points, but the whole article is worth reading:
First, here are nine ways not to use Facebook :
1. Don’t use status updates to complain.
2. Don’t measure your worth/identity by the number of your Facebook friends and interactions. Facebook measurements are the opposite of gospel measurements.
3. Don’t value forming Facebook (virtual) friendships more than real world friendships.
4. Don’t diminish your face-to-face time with people to check what’s going on in your Facebook world.
5. Don’t be someone online you’d never be in person.
6. Don’t hurt and exclude others (intentionally or unintentionally) through use of applications such as “Top Friends.”
7. Don’t allow Facebook and online life in general to make you a more distracted person.
8. Don’t allow Facebook to tempt you away from your calling and work.
9. Don’t let Facebook cause you to think about yourself more than you already do. You were created to look outside yourself toward God, other people, and the wonder-filled world he has made for you to enjoy and cultivate.
In the same vein, here are six ways to use Facebook to love God and others, and care for your own soul:
1. Use Facebook to get back in touch with far-away friends, showing them how Jesus has changed you.
2. Use Facebook as an extension of face-to-face relationships and to enhance time with people.
3. Use Facebook to take the focus off of yourself.
4. Use Facebook to sharpen and discipline what you do with your time.
5. Use Facebook to quickly announce and facilitate great face-to-face gatherings.
6. Use Facebook to influence other people for Jesus.
May we work to put our use of Facebook beneath Jesus’ feet, along with everything else in our lives.
Read the whole article .
Great post. I’ve definitely been guilty of status complaining at times. Facebook is really all about sharing between people, and if we see that from God’s perspective, it’s a tool to spread His lordship to those we influence.
Facebook for me has lately like you said been a place to complain when it really shouldnt be. Many people i know get wayyyy to immersed in the imaginary world of Facebook and it is quite sad to see it before my eyes. I will definently be changing my habits and use it for greater good and to connect with people i dont normally get to see and hear from. Hopefully through doing this i can come to a greater understanding of my devotion to god by also using to keep connections with godly people. Tired of killing time just sitting on here haha
thanks for posting this, it’s definitely changed my perspective on facebook. I know so many people-including christians- who have great personalities in real life, but post disgusting things on facebook. Hopefully more people will see this and change their ostentatious online ways. I am tyring to find equilibrium between my facebook profile and my ‘real life’ self.