(Katie) Recently, my husband decided to take a sabbatical from Facebook. Through understanding his desire for authentic, intentional friendship that reaches beyond the "Facebook Friend" label, I am able to see more clearly the temptations that can come as a result of being a part of social network. I was reading a powerful prayer from Reflections of a Ragamuffin by Brennan Manning in which he prays for strength "to do the truth quietly without display." On Facebook, our lives are constantly displayed before others through our pictures, status updates, and posts. As Christians, how do we ensure that we are not displaying our faith (what we have done or are doing for God) in order to get attention? Everything that we post on Facebook is presented with a "Like" option and I wonder how many of us have become more addicted to people pleasing as a result of this subtle option. Furthermore, I'm convicted that perhaps we've lost a sense of sacredness and that certain aspects of our lives before God are better done quietly. Manning also talks about "escaping our innate poverty" and I wonder if Facebook distracts us from this reality and actually increases our narcissism. Am I really so important that people need constant status updates and pictures from my life? I don't think so! I do not think the world needs to know (or cares) how my husband and I spent our date night, for example. Finally, I just wonder how much Facebook increases the spirit of comparison, jealousy, and envy..all of which do not lead us closer to Christ nor towards shalom within our relationships.
A few disclaimers. These are just some of my own reflections, most of which I am still learning to actually live out in my own life. Secondly, Facebook is not all bad. It provides ample opportunities to stay connected with people that I care about back in Minnesota and across the country.
Here is Brennan Manning's powerful prayer:
Dear Jesus, gift us to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention, to do the truth quietly without display, to let the dishonesties in our lives fade away, to accept our limitations, to cling to the gospel of grace, and to delight in Your Love. Amen
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