I love Facebook just as much as the next recent college grad. In fact, I often check my Facebook page every hour. I know; it's an awful waste of time. But I think it's great when a friend writes on my wall or comments on a picture I just posted from my weekend at the beach. Really, I think social networking sites can be great for keeping in touch with friends and family. And honestly, it's just fun.
But more than just being fun, if you decide to open a social networking page, and your parents are OK with it, your Facebook (or your MySpace, your enter social networking site of choice, etc.) can be a great witnessing tool.
You know this? Oh.
That's why your "religious views" say something like, "Romans 8:28 is my life!" or simply, "Christian."
Scroll down the page a second. What else is there?
Questionable applications. You've joined a couple of less-than-stellar groups. An expletive from that girl in your calculus class and a skeezy comment from a boy you met in driver's ed on your wall. Your photo album from your cousin's birthday party—the one with the pictures of you and some friends wearing reallllllly skimpy clothing.
Why It Matters
Let's chat for a second, OK? Let's talk about the inconsistent witness you're presenting to everyone who looks at your site. You tell everyone that you follow Jesus by claiming Christianity, but then they scroll down and see the bad language, drunken parties and immodest behavior.
"Oh," you say, rolling your eyes at me because I’m obviously out of touch with reality. "That stuff isn't a big deal. Nobody really pays attention anyway."
Did you know that future employers could check your Facebook when you apply for a job? Non-Christian friends who know that you claim to be a Christian also look. What about your younger sister? I’m sure you’re Facebook friends with people in youth group. These people can all access your site with the click of a mouse.
Look at James 1:22 in the paraphrase The Message. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!” As a Christian, you should be reading and hearing the Word of God. When it says that you should “set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12), then you’re expected to act on that. Even when it comes to something such as your Facebook page.
Has God made a real difference in your life?
Then live like it in everything. Or take God off your Facebook.
Tips for Keeping your Facebook Page Clean
• Give your parents your password and complete access. If you’ve got nothing to hide, this shouldn’t be a problem.
• Be smart when you put things online. Remember it is the Internet. Nothing’s private.
• Even pictures can be a witness. Be careful about the situations you put yourself in, because the pictures could end up online—even from a friend’s camera.
• Delete bad comments from friends who say raunchy things.
