Facebook Headquarters
We know there are many uses for Twitter, Facebook and other social networking forums in personal and business applications… It helps get our message out, but most importantly create relationships that help build long term collaborative partnerships. I have also been very convinced and passionate about being very authentic with my use of Twitter and Facebook, which includes my desire to follow Christ and His Lordship over my life.
Last fall, I mentioned an article about “Thinking Biblically About Facebook” and I thought I would reintroduce the topic with some of my own updates and observations. Let start with these “6 Facebook Opportunities” presented by Justin Buzzard who is a pastor at Central Peninsula Church. He did a message on “Thinking Biblically about Facebook”.
6 Facebook Opportunities: 6 Ways to Love God and Love Others Through Facebook (Leveraging)
- Can get back in touch with old, far-away friends in an easy way, showing them how you’ve been changed by Jesus
- Opportunity to to be vulnerable as well and open you life to people.
- You should be honest/authentic, but not a complainer
- Can use Facebook as an extension of face-to-face relationships/can be used to enhance time with people
- Get to know people better/better love and care for people when you’re with them because through Facebook you know more about who they are and what’s going on in their life
- Can use Facebook to think about yourself less and others more
- Facebook can be a tool for getting outside of yourself/your problems
- Can use Facebook to sharpen/discipline what you do with your time
- Status updates and built in accountability
- Can use Facebook to quickly announce/make great things happen: events, face-to-face time
- Instead of taking 45 min. to call 10 people to come over for a spontaneous evening of fun and fellowship, use Facebook
- Can use Facebook to influence other people for Jesus. Create a new culture with your status updates: use to influence, love, encourage, teach, and challenge people towards greater love for God and other people.
I believe these are helpful in understanding practical ways to use Facebook Biblically and to glorify Christ.
This is good stuff. I was against the idea of Facebook and other social networks because I’m just old fashion, I like to interact with people face to face. But I’ve noticed that most people aren’t “old fashion” anymore and the way to communicate with people seems to be through social technology.
I recently attended an outreach training conference and was challenged and encouraged to use Facebook (and others like it) for the sole purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God through evangelistic efforts. That’s pretty much all I do. I look for opportunities to insert the Gospel when I interact with my FB friends.
In my brief two month life on FB, I’ve notice how open people are about their life, minute by minute. This information makes for a great prayer list, because you get to “see” how people are responding to everyday life. It also can be a stumbling block if you are not careful because people are so open with their life. You definitely need wisdom (from God), discernment and good discipline.
In summary, I do agree that we must think biblically and live accordingly when it comes to Facebook or any internet social network for that matter. There are a lot of worldviews out there, but only one is right. As christians we must represent the truth, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and promote a biblical worldview with every avenue possible….all for the glory of God.