Recently I reluctantly joined Facebook. I did it because one of the young ministers in our area suggested it as another way to connect with people, particularly the younger crowd. It may also be another way to share Jesus with a group that may never come to church. I had avoided this for a long time because I believe more in the value of real face to face relationships. However the possibility that more might get to hear the message finally put me over the top.
At first I was pleasantly surprised. I was connecting with people I hadn't seen or heard from in years. Even kids from 20 years ago (who were no longer kids and had kids of their own) However after a few days I realized that to be apart of this required time. Time I didn't have. Time to write something cute or interesting. Time to post pictures. Time to read different posts. (As you know from the frequency of this blog time is a premium for me) What little time I had I preferred to invest in people. In person. Where did all these people get the time? And in all honesty why did they use it to share such useless information that really doesn't matter? Maybe I'm old and getting a little senile but what about jobs, and house work and family and God? Where was the time for God? Now I only have about 30 friends but on any given day there are only one to two posts that are uplifting. Do I really need to know if someone is tired (again)? Is going to their kids ball game? Doesn't like the ending of a TV show? Wants to tell me who will win American Idol? Took some stupid Super Hero Quiz? Needs cards for a card game? Or something for some Mafia game? To the best of my knowledge all these people are supposed to be or at least were believers in Jesus Christ. But you couldn't tell by reading these posts. And some of these are pastors! Yikes! We wonder why our churches are shrinking.
Now I don't care if people want to post these things. I don't have to read them. But in reading them I was shocked to see just how weak our faith is. I was especially disappointed by our pastors wasting time with this. We should be leading the way with positive and Godly posts. and all of us as believers should spend more time studying the word!
So that leads me with a choice I guess. I can bail out and leave Facebook. Or I can start to contribute something positive. I'm not sure what I'll do yet. Give me some time. I'll get back to you. (Soon I hope)
Do any of you who are on Facebook encouter the same? I'd love to hear your comments.
Pastor Paul
2 comments:
I just did a presentation for the church I attend on Wed about using social media (facebook, twitter, etc) for ministry. The church I go to is large-over 1500. The irony of a large church is that it has more opportunities for people to connect through common bonds-problem is, people can't find each other. But with social tools, they can. Take Twitter-millions of people are on it-but they self organize into small groups with common bonds. People leave churches often because they say they're clique-ish. The problem is, those people never found their clique. With social media, they can. That's just the tip of the iceberg. : ) As for your Facebook participation-I suggest stick with it-it's all about relationships and you never know who you'll influence there.
Hello Paul,
Great subject on facebook, you hit it to a tee. I am a member of it too but rarely post. I also wonder sometimes like you do where is the time for God. And I have actually found some of the "real" in some of the people that say they are christians could not tell by some of the langish they use and actions outside the church. Aren't we suppose to be the same in and out? I think Our Lord wants us to be real and not just put something on when we come to His house it is an everyday thing and life we have to choose to live. Sometimes I have to just shut facebook off after only being on for a few seconds don't want to subject myself to some of the topics at that moment and then sometimes it just leaves such bad things and I do not need that in my life, and then on the other hand I have found some post that have been so instrumental to me and others and so uplifting in God Word. I love my overseers post and I get such inspiration from them. I personally am on it to keep intouch with my family in Tenn. and West Virginia and some that I do not get to communicate with in person. Thats the part I do like. To me sometimes it just seems like one is in competion with another church and so on comparing the post but I ignore all of it and just keep going and using it for my family and the Lord! Some things have their good points and some have their bad, but in all perspective I have gotten to pray with some online too. So I guess we can just make the best of the tool we have in front of us, and read what is inspirational and witness and hope that with us using this tool that is available that we can reach someone that may need to or hear something positive we share from our Lord. May God Bless you all
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