I
made the decision this week to delete the Facebook app from my phone, which
will greatly curtail (though not eliminate) my use of Facebook. There were several good reasons to do
so, some of which are as follows:
1)
It is easy to waste vast amounts of time scrolling through hundreds of posts
with varying degrees of importance. I could be spending that time in Scripture,
prayer, writing, practicing piano, or many other more profitable pursuits.
2)
It is dangerous to let one’s ego hang on public opinion. A negative comment, careless
post, or an inappropriate image can quickly turn into a black cloud of anger,
pride, shame, or other sins, and obscures the fruit of the Spirit. My identity
is in Christ, not online.
3)
It is human nature to make comparisons, and comparing the worst of what I know
about myself with the best of what everyone posts online is sure to lead to
negative thoughts. I don’t need to know about everyone else’s perfect family
vacations when I’m sitting home alone.
4)
Social media is predominantly superficial by its very nature. We all present
the face we want the world to see. Yes, in some cases that may lead to deeper
communication offline, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
5)
Social media gives the illusion of intimacy where none exists. Knowing a few
facts about someone or laughing at cat videos they’ve posted is not a
relationship. The church already struggles to nurture authentic relationships,
and social media is not helping. As Sam Allberry put it, friend has moved from being a noun to a verb meaning “to share one's
contact details.” We’re still just as lonely and isolated as ever, we just have
more things to distract us from recognizing that fact.
“Our spiritual condition is one of having spiritual ADD. We are more easily distracted from the important issues of our lives moment by moment. The nature of digital communication is that we are endlessly distracted.”
I
don’t know if my decision will be long-term or not. Such resolutions tend to
creep away over time. I just know it is the right thing to do right now. I know
I can’t love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength when I am also
wondering how many new comments there are to read or when I’m trying to think
of amusing responses. I also can’t love my brothers and sisters in Christ well
when I am annoyed with them for something they have posted or when I realize
how little they know of who I really am beneath the surface.
I
yearn for more intimate relationships with a few close friends and for closer
communion with God. I haven’t seen that happen to any significant degree in
however many years I’ve been on Facebook. Not that there haven’t been good
things there—encouraging words, inspiring quotes, reasons to laugh, prayer
requests and answers to prayer. Social media can be a good thing, but it is not
an ultimate thing.
“I say this for
your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order
and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:35 ESV).
©
2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from
pixabay.com.
