I don’t do social media.
I like my privacy. I don’t want my activities placarded on a web page.
I hate the gossip and half-truths seen there at times.
The written page can never replace face to face relationship for me.
I’am reminded of true friendships first:
- A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
- There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
- Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
- So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
I Found some “Traits of True Christian Friends” from thoughtco.com
“So, what does a true Christian friendship look like?”
- Loves Sacrificially “If we choose our friends based only on what they have to offer, we’ll rarely discover the blessings of a genuine godly friendship.”
- Accepts Unconditionally “We discover the best of friendships with brothers and sisters who know and accept our weaknesses and imperfections.”
- Trusts Completely “We should only expect to share complete trust with a few loyal friends.”
- Keeps Healthy Boundaries “If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong. Likewise, if you feel used or abused, something is amiss.”
- Gives Mutual Edification “We talk, we cry, we listen. But at times we also have to say the difficult things our dearest friend needs to hear. Yet, because of the shared trust and acceptance, we are the one person who can impact our friend’s heart, for we know how to deliver the hard message with truth and grace.”
Through writing blogs I’ve learned some basics of writing and conversation :
- Words on a page can easily be misconstrued. They may seem to say something that the author did not intend.
- Writers hone their craft in the above realization, and so edit, re-read, and re-write,
- Even this effort does not prove foolproof. it takes work to pick words for clarity sake.
An example of this meticulous editing style is found in Paul’s letter to Philemon. In it Paul uses a variety of words to affirm his admiration, his love, and his respect for Philemon his friend. Paul goes as far as to say, “I am sending my heart.” He makes it so clear that the letter is not to flatter, manipulate, or place guilt. He spells it out. He writes to assure his friend. He carefully words his letter to draw out the mutual love he has with Philemon toward The Savior. Lastly he conveys his request.
In closing, let’s make some things clear:
- Social media in itself is not evil.
- Social media creates a format for potential evil. (as any culturally founded network would through abuse).
- Social media, if not guarded against, can draw a person into wrong thinking.
Finally, I will never judge people’s motives, as I cannot ever know them.
At 66 years I am not a part of the Facebook generation, nor even the computer generation. The culture dismisses the elderly in a general sense or projects them as a clique unto themselves. Sorry, with respect to these trends, I haven’t kept up!
I’m not losing any sleep over it. But if you are a social media person, please don’t forget us “uninitiated.
Friends, we have liberty; let’s, in love, serve one another with it! love ya
HI Pastor Tom,
I really appreciated your observation about social media. Thank you for sharing how you feel about it. I would actually prefer a life without it BUT I am a social media person and appreciate real relationships on FB, mostly with other Christians/family who are scattered all over the US and world. That said, there are other groups I belong to, a huge juicing group, that I interact with even teach in. I know many are not my friends, only acquaintances, and I will never meet them but we can have a wonderful exchange of ideas. There are also many believers in this group and we always manage to find each other!
I PRAY before I go on FB because I understand that there is a potential for evil or careless words. Our hearts and minds need to be guarded. I have had an occasion to “un friend” and “un follow” certain “friends” and even family members. When a person is not entreatable and perhaps even evil; there is no place for entertaining them in our life.
It is a tool that I am grateful for as I work from home and do not currently have a car so I have a lot of time at home. A lot of my shopping is done online too.
Yes, I love what you say about not neglecting real conversation and real face to face relationships. I am still one of those who writes thank you letters and sends Christmas cards too.
Perhaps I am very different in my thinking. What you see is what you get with me. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. IF I can live “out loud” in Christ, build up ppl I have never met except for wonderful groups I belong to then that is a sacred call.
I would certainly prefer to be in a face to face relationship with all these folks. I would prefer to live 3 houses down from our four grandkids, son and daughter in law. I would prefer to speak to my brothers, their wives, Rene’s brothers and sisters in person. I would prefer to communicate with missionaries who are friends in person; so FB is the way I do it and with thanks that it is available.
I love your final statement that you will never judge ppls motives. I love that because when I get to heaven and for that matter while still on earth, I stand alone before God; not my husband, not my friends, not my pastor. I will give an accounting of how I spent my time on this earth.
Thanks.
Hi Cathy, when have you ever known me to be controversial? Almost always I avoid it but was stirred recently from an article which described the drug addicted as having no fight, no anger, no spit. I decided to express my convictions and feelings about the threat of it. I tried to be balanced and of course I know that many use the tool for God’s work. Maybe some abuse it. In today’s world we have no choice but to fight the good fight as best we can. Maybe we stir some to their senses. Love you and yours. ts