These questions have left me wondering the benefits of social networking. Why do I take the time, sometimes wasting my time, to look through the pages of people who have called me their friend? Can I use it for the glory of God? Does it benefit others? Does it further the kingdom of God?
My point with this post is not to determine what I will do with my blog, facebook, twitter, gmail, etc.but to remind myself everyday who I am pleasing, living my life to the glory of God, loving my neighbor as myself, learning to apply Scripture to everyday living.
The recent messages on Sunday morning continue in the book of Romans. This past week the message from His Word was Romans 12:14-21, excellent message by the way.
I am taking to heart verse 9 and 18:
"Let love be genuine...
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
I want my love to be genuine, abhoring what is evil, holding fast to what is good. I want to outdo in showing honor.(Romans 12:9,10)
Never perfectly but always praying the beauty of Jesus will be seen in me. If that means being 'defriended', just another opportunity to be transparent and authentic in love.
4 comments:
I understand your thoughts totally Jody! Sometimes I wonder why I bother with the social network. I have the problem of having young girls on mine who really stress me with their inappropriateness. However, I've used it as a way to minister to them and gently remind them from time to time that as believers our words and actions need to line up with scripture. However, there are days when I want to just delete my whole account!
I can relate with this as well!
Jody...I struggle with Facebook (the only social network I use on a regular basis). I recently received a "friend request" from someone that gossips incessantly. My FB account is private and while there is nothing *secret* there, I had to really weigh carefully whether I wanted this person to have access to what was there. In the end, I decided that if *in real life* I would keep a bit a distance from this person (I do) than I would do the same on FB.
I know there have been some 'bugs' on some of these networks that have caused people's 'friends' lists to be deleted, either in full or partially. Perhaps that is what happened in your case. Is it worth an email or phone call to find out?
I suppose the bottom line with this issue is that we have to take the good with the bad. And that means that at times we will be shocked (I have a lot of my esthetics peers on my FB page and some of them absolutely STUN me with their language. But that's another story for another day!), disappointed and hurt...but we will also laugh, share in other's happiness and celebrations!
I've had a similar experience. A person that I've known for 15 year's de-friended me because we disagreed about something. (Not a fight or argument, just a disagreement.) I was incredibly hurt...I still am. It's something that I've been trying to leave with God, but since I'm human...it still bothers me. I know that I didn't do anything wrong, my motives were pure, and if given the situation again, I would say the same things that I said because they were Godly, Biblical, and said in a loving manner. All I can do is leave the situation with God and trust that He will work it out.
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