Facebook

Facebook is every promoter’s dream! If used right we have the power to market, influence and dominate any particular demographic that we so desire. I love it! It’s what I use to showcase Gospel events, promote this website, and of course meet new people to share thoughts, ideas and silly videos. The question for all out there is, 'Is the ordinary Christian really using it in the manner that they should?' Unfortunately my eyes have beheld material by my fellowman that is distasteful and has what I call; showcased disloyalty to our Lord...

For those that may be reading this article and you are outside of my geographical location, which is the lovely island of Trinidad and Tobago, Facebook has two name synonymous with us Trinibagonians and they are ‘Fassbook’ and the other I shall not put here.

Let’s for a minute, think about how quickly and widespread any piece of information on Facebook can be seen, just by the updating of a status, posting of a comment, picture, note or even the giving of a silly poke. It really is the website that has revolutionized how we dispense information… With that said I have a serious question.

Why is it then with such a power do we abuse and misuse it? This is the ultimate business tool! Marketing made easy through social networking. Therefore we as children of the Most High should be doing what? Kingdom Business! In the book of Luke, Christ said ‘….occupy till I come’. That means to do business till He comes...

Question I would like to ask you is, what have done for the enhancement, furtherance and steady progression of affecting the international community for Christ. When has it last been that you decided that you would use it for something more positive, than draining your brain on Farmville? In this article I would be highlighting some of my observations from my now 1832 friends. (Wow and to think that I’ve ignored hundreds)

So many of us youth, especially you teens, have been engaging in activity that I seen on my home screen daily and honestly it makes me raise a brow or both. At one time the latest craze was the quizzes. I didn’t mind if I saw some doing one or two, but when Christians were engaging in the sex positions quizzes I had a problem.

If it weren’t those it was the games. Some of us spend hours on these games and what do you have to show for it at the end of the day? Have you done anything truly productive beside plowing your virtual land, sowing and reaping your crops for money and taking in lost sheep? Don’t get me wrong! I have no problem with persons playing once in a while. I have a concern, not a problem, when I can trace their activity for hours at a time for days and weeks and you think to yourself do they do ANYTHING ELSE BESIDE WASTE TIME HERE?

Photo Fanatic!

Beside the fun we may get from these games, I love to see photos of my friends. Occasionally I’ll post my photos portraying my style and let friends see what I’ve been up to in what events etc. I make sure to always be mindful that the pictures are not the following:

1. Seductive – My mother says I do something with my eyes in pictures that looks sensual. (Really mummy! If it’s anything I got it from you!) So I take time to scrutinize them before posting. Ladies we know you’re hot and beautiful already, so don’t go off showing the duck mouth pose, with the winks, and shirt opened which carries me to the next point.

2. Revealing – There’s a way to look attractive with your clothes on ladies! Oh, and this one goes for the young men as well. I don’t need to see your chest, your buns, or how stifled your sensitive areas are in jeans! Yes I’m talking to both sexes. Let us practice modesty and have anything that moves like jello tightly sealed up! (Hmmm well Esther you putting yourself out there for scrutiny. Is now self they going through you profile with a fine tooth comb..,Uhhh Whatever!)

3. Raunchy – I tend to get loud and silly with CLOSE friends but that display of behavior isn’t called for on Facebook. Be a lady and show your elegance and class. Remember that a picture says 1000 words.

Keep It To Yourself.

I like many others that I know, work tiresome jobs and have our own issues to deal with. We need to draw the line and know when to keep private matters private. You may be upset with someone, sad about the loss of something or feeling ill. However we do not need to know in your status the events of your entire day. I know of a particular couple that make their arguments very public! That is not the place to throw words for one another!

On another tangent, I’m putting myself in the shoes of a serial killer. (I watch a lot of Criminal Minds on TV). When you daily post your whereabouts for weeks, you become predictable. They get to know your routine and can locate you with all your information that you post. I’m just saying that we need to keep the privacy bar on high. Posting your EXACT address, email, phone number, place of work, church, school, etc is not quite the way to go. Persons heavily monitor our information believe it or not. You may be thinking, ‘Essy over-reacting. People don’t do that!’ Trust me they do. I have seen it!

Some People On Facebook to Mind Your Business Alone

Like it or not, some persons live to mind your business on Fassbok. Just to prove what I’m saying I’ll share with you a funny event. Some time ago myself and two other leaders of church groups on work decided to engage in a little experiment to get comments on Facebook. What better way to attract a crowd other than a relationship status change right? So I linked with a friend of mine and we simultaneously changed from ‘single’ to ‘in a relationship’ with each other. The comments poured in!

I took inspiration from two friends that did the same thing some months aback, and I must say that Christians can surprise you! Here were some of the combined findings from our fake status change.

1. Many of my friends felt betrayed that I hadn’t told them way in advance. Really I found it shocking that only two were able to determine that it wasn’t true. (Come on you all should know me better than that by now! Mummy gave me a boofing! Imagine your mother quarreling off the hook and you’re on the other end of the phone laughing)

2. From all parties involved we were given comments that showed many were happy for us and with others, comments came from the green eyed monster called Envy.

3. With my friends that had done it before, in the girl’s case, she commented that she got all sorts of reactions. One guy in his ‘spirit’ felt troubled and needed to talk to her seriously, of course she laughed it off, because he liked her a long time and was on his own agenda (My question was..,why wait to break up  a relationship before she knows how you feel?)

Others said that they knew that they were going to hook up, and in my case persons complained that they didn’t see the signs. In my two male friends side lady friends didn’t communicate with them for days and they all of a sudden got a cold shoulder. (Interesting so that meant that they were friends hoping for benefits? I don’t understand. Yes these things happen in the body of Christ!)

I just highlighted a few of what went on but it was worse. Regardless of how ‘Christian’ you may appear to be, some persons daily bring to life Jeremiah17:9 which says:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

It amazes me the acts that we would engage in to get what we want. We must always ask God to reveal the errors of our ways and pluck out the roots of our sinful nature.

After calming my mother down about the issue, she brought the valid statement of how heavily we depend upon what people would say instead of God and His word. She said when you younger girls begin to take what friends say about you and your boyfriend being together seriously your judgment is clouded. If ever things are not right in the friendship you tend to reflect on what people commented in past and try to justify what people see as favorable and what God says is not!

I’m being real with you, I see it happening even now. Most times those people just comment to seem nice but they’re waiting for your separation, broken heartedness, and depression. We live in a real world with real issues and these are the things that parents won’t sit us down to talk about, or that you wouldn’t hear from the pulpit.

After much discussion with many adults, and young people alike who are strong in the faith, we all agree that it is the ultimate evangelistic tool. The activity on Facebook must reflect God’s glory and honor Him alone. One friend of mine always says that we are the only bible that some would ever read. What have you written upon your heart that is now being placed on Facebook? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (or in the case the fingers type).

Let us stop wasting our time, picking fights, being mindful of other person’s private lives and start doing the things that pleases God.

Written by :

Esther James

 

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