Freedom of Facebook: Danger or a gift? (part 1)

Have you ever stopped to wonder how long you spend on facebook? Why you are on there? I have recently been doing so and it has led me to some heart accessing questions. I have been particularly led to this as I write my essay on ‘freedom’ and look at the freedom of access to information we have with such social networking sites as these. I will share with you the summaries of my research.

1.  Emotional immodesty - Samelson (Emotional Immodesty on Facebook) states that we can be prone to emotional immodesty in how we use Facebook. She gives examples of people who feel the need to expose the emotional intimacy of their relationships with their friends, their spouses, their children's births. She gives examples of tweets and status that reveal too much (even if about spiritual things). I have been challenged about how much I share on Facebook and why I do it. The writer of blog 'Perjoyance' (Facebook: A Christian Perspective) states that Facebook can enable us to fall into a place of narcissism where we promote ourselves and assume to expect that "everyone is interested in you". 

 2. Superficial Relationships  -  

The 'Perjoyance' blogger states, “Facebook also poses limitations on relationships….how we distinguish between ‘friends’ and ‘facebook friends’…Written words can lack the meanings we mean, we can use it as an online space where we sort out our problems or where we can quickly share our opinions and gossip…..It’s important to remember how much more sufficient real face to face physical friendships are, and they should have priority. Sometimes its worth asking, am I spending more time communicating on facebook than in ‘real life’ with my friends?

3. Excessive Time Wasting
Both Curtman (Christian Perspective) and the writer of 'Perjoyance' explore how Facebook can be a danger in excessive squandering of time. Curtman states that they did a survey in America at four evangelical Christian colleges found that "students between the ages of 18 and 27 spend an average of 18.6 hours a week using Facebook." According to Col 4:5 he says to “walk in wisdom,” requires our “redeeming the time.”  And so he states “The Lord will hold us accountable for the stewardship we practice regarding our time.” The writer of Perjoyance states of his attendance to facebook, "The number of times I have checked facebook in the morning before reading my Bible is actually ridiculous.” I too have drawn back from Facebook as I review 'how much time have I spend on Facebook?' Is it helpful for my mind? 

4. Facebook - tool for evil???

Curtman goes as far as to suggest that Facebook can be used as a tool 'for the Savour's work' or a tool for 'Satan's work.' He states,

"Your Facebook page can be used to spread the message Christ wants the world to have or the one Satan wants the world to have.  It can be a tool to bless men’s souls or to blight them.” 

But how one might ask? He states that we can use Facebook to big ourselves up, to post things that are emotionally intimate, to mix with the wrong characters, to browse on that which is unhelpful or time wasting. Countless people, he states, have committed affairs because of Facebook. Alternatively, he says, we can use it to bless others, to promote the gospel and the Church. He reports that it is surprising how many professing Christians never mention their faith at all on line. He asks some challenging questions,  

“How are you using your Facebook account?…What are you doing with your Facebook account other than publishing your secular interests and activities?....One day Christ will hold Christian Facebook users to an account for how they used this powerful communications tool that He allowed them to have in their hands.”

5. Facebook and the power of Testimony
Curtman also looks at our testimony as represented by what people see through Facebook. He quotes the apostle Paul said, “all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient” (1 Cor. 6:12) and suggests we are to be mindful of the ‘law of expediency’ when we use Facebook,

“Nothing communicates a Christian’s testimony more clearly than what they put in their Facebook profile, and what they otherwise post on their Facebook page....  few things can compare with Facebook in communicating quickly and clearly whether or not a Christian has a heart for God.  What does what you have “up” on Facebook say about you, and where you are spiritually? 

 He says don’t just think about your own testimony but the testimony you give about the way you have been raised, your family, your friendships and your church. Does what you write reflect well on these people? Is the testimony I present of myself and to others one of salt and light (Matt 5) or rather a stumbling block to ourselves or others? Wow I am challenged!

I have mostly looked at the 'dangers' of Facebook in this entry but in Part 2 I will look at the ways in which Facebook can also be a wonderful gift!