From the Pastor’s Desk (182)
You have heard me making brief comments about Facebook the past two Sundays during my message. Since I didn’t explain in detail my concerns about social media, I think it is necessary for me to share my thoughts about it with you at least once.
First, there are many positive things about social media including Facebook. We can use it to connect people from all over the world for a common purpose or to accomplish some things. For example, New Life LT (Leadership Team) members use Facebook page to share, discuss and make decisions. I am also connected to friends from the church in New York City that I grew up in. I am also part of several different pastors’ networking groups on Facebook.
Second, we can promote a cause or event using Facebook. We just had our Late Night with New Life this past Friday. And one of the mediums we used to promote the event and invite our VIP friends and family members was Facebook. So, we are very appreciative of social media such as Facebook.
Third, I personally appreciate well-taken pictures of nature, something God created for us to take care of and enjoy. I also like watching those moving or funny video clips that inspire or lighten my heart. And I enjoy seeing pictures of family or friends with descriptions underneath that cause me to thank God for the beautiful relationships He has blessed us with.
However, I do have some concerns about social media such as Facebook. Just like many things in life, Facebook is neither good nor bad. For example, a scalpel in the hands of a robber becomes a dangerous thing, but in the hands of a surgeon, a useful thing. Similarly, Facebook can be either useful or harmful depending on who uses it or how it is used.
Facebook is also very similar to money. We can possess money and use it to help people around us. But we can also be possessed by money and use it to hurt them. It looks as though some of us are consumed and obsessed with Facebook.
Therefore, let me give New Life a challenge in regards to Facebook or other social media. How about not getting on Facebook until we spend at least 30 minutes a day reading God’s word and spending time in prayer on bended knee? First of all, reading God’s word and spending time in prayer is a beautiful, necessary and right thing to do as Christ-followers. But doing them before we get on Facebook will reveal what our priorities are and what we are passionate about. If you take on this challenge and follow through, your spiritual muscles will grow and you will find yourselves not being consumed or obsessed with social media because your time with God will be so sweet and delightful.
So when I talked about pictures of food that people put on Facebook, it really was not about the pictures. Instead, it was about going to Facebook first before we spend time with God in His word and prayer or spending too much time on it at the expense of neglecting our more important responsibilities.
I challenge you to take on this 30-minute challenge of reading and prayer before you go on Facebook. If you do, you will begin to see Facebook and other social media from a very different perspective.
Your pastor,
Eric
No Comments to "Some Concerns about Facebook"
