I deleted my Facebook account

I just recently read a convicting article about Facebook and other "social networking" websites.

I have found the internet and other social networking sites to be greatly distracting to my relationship with the Lord.

[url=http://charityministries.org/theremnant/2009/4Q/theremnant-2009-4Q-social-networking.a5w]Social Networking ~ A Blessing or a Curse?[/url]

Link From Charity Ministries.

Read the article and share your thoughts...

Doug

Bottom line: his article is too broad and, from my perspective, too busy "fencing" the "law"/"devotion" ('loving God w/ all of your heart, soul, & mind').

70 years ago it was radio & 50 years ago it was the television & 10 years ago it was the internet, now it is this page or that page, etc.

To me, it is just legalism. If one man wants a facebook page, let him have his facebook page, if another man doesn't want a facebook page, don't try to convince him to get one. Live as a free servant and don't burden one another with adiaphora.

Edit: the temptations are real that he mentions, but no more or less than "real" life, like going to work, riding the train, etc., if it is more than you can bare, then get rid of it. I have a friend that just got rid of the internet at his house, threw away books, etc., b/c he is drawn to porn, so he had to cut things off & pluck things out, but it is erroneous to conclude that everyone must...

DougRenz wrote:
I just recently read a convicting article about Facebook and other "social networking" websites.

I have found the internet and other social networking sites to be greatly distracting to my relationship with the Lord.

[url=http://charityministries.org/theremnant/2009/4Q/theremnant-2009-4Q-social-networking.a5w]Social Networking ~ A Blessing or a Curse?[/url]

Link From Charity Ministries.

Read the article and share your thoughts...

Doug

I encourage you in this endeavor with the Lord, When God has convicted your heart, let not another man's opinion influence your walk with Christ. Keep your eyes (like flint) set on the Lord!

The last two sentences of that article is, "I urge you, fathers, please take warning. May we each watch jealously over our relationship with our heavenly Father."

I do not know anyone that cannot "amen" that.

God bless you!

Doug,

I do not have to read this link to know there are real dangers for the reasons mentioned. I, finally, have set up a FB page and while I have had wonderful times on it - similar to SI - I am amazed at the trival stuff posted! Hey! Most folks must be dreadfully bored!

(I do not suppose Paul West would feel comfortable posting on SI a pic of the deer he saw in his back yard and it was a beauty):-)

ginnyrose

KrispyKrittr wrote:
Most of us also spend way too much time on SI. I know I have over the years and thats why I have not been seen very much on here in the last 6 months. Conviction.

Krispy

Me too, Krispy. One of the reasons, I will admit, to my lack of frequency to SI is due to a number of topics that ensue on the forums, such as the continual rediculous debates over Bible versions. It's nearly pointless!

Facebook is a wonderful tool for families and friends to connect--it is likewise a wonderful tool for the gospel. I believe men like Martin Luther will stand up at the judgment and condemn us if we do not seize these tools which are laid before us. Luther seized the power of the Gutenberg press to fuel the fires of the reformation -- why should we not seize the power of social networking/micro-blogging sites to do the same thing?

Use caution? Sure! Be balanced and conscious of our time? Absolutely! Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch? NEVER! The basic principles of this world only serve to steer us towards more harmful bondages. Use the tools set before you to spread the fire of God that burns in your heart. Amen and Amen!

Peace,
Jeff

I felt my conviction a LONG time ago. Deleted my facebook account, sold my X-Box 360, stopped playing poker, along with a HOST of other things. I prayed to God to drastically change my life twice, and twice He has done so! Now, I'm married and have a child on the way. All that in a matter of about 2 years if you can believe me. My wife and I were just blessed with a new car as well. In the past 2 years, my life has FLOWN by, literally. I thank God for it too! Praying for a deep revival in my heart has brought about such change that it has given me eternal life. Now let me tell you, I'm only 19.

Brothers and Sisters,

I've also mulled this Facebook issue over a few times, having an account myself. I'm still inconclusive, but I do have a few thoughts I'd like to share - since my name was personally brought into this:

Firstly, Facebook is not SermonIndex, and contrary to what some deem appropriate, we as brothers and sisters are permitted to have other interests in life outside of posting Paul Washer videos and putting up Ravenhill quotes. I'm sorry to burst the bubble, but I am not some super-spiritual ascetic who processes Spurgeon sermons and reads Puritan books 24/7 :) I would totally burn out if that were the case and be of absolutely no use here at all! So, for relaxation, I enjoy playing with my son and spending quality time with my dear wife; I enjoy hunting and fishing; I enjoy travelling and going to the beach; I enjoy studying foreign languages; I enjoy playing classical guitar; I enjoy mortuary science and thanatochemistry; I enjoy history - particularly European, American Civil War, WWI and II; and I also enjoy a strong, competetive game of chess.

Now, of course, I agree that all these things are stupid and trivial in light of scripture and eternity - but I also believe God permits them in my life to the point where they do not begin to overtake my true and sole passion: [i]Studying the Word of God for life and a greater inner conformity to Christ.[/i] That said, I would never post a video of a deer in my backyard here on SI - for the same reason I wouldn't play a game of chess or bring my hunting rifle to a Bible study or fellowship meeting. Not because it is "vain" - this we already know - for I am not ashamed to let people know the true me, that I have a few non-religious hobbies, etc. I simply acknowledge that it is not appropriate to [i]post[/i] them here on SI, as opposed to my more personal Facebook page. My Facebook friends, for the most part, include my immediate family, cousins, wife's family and other close people and employees I interact with daily face-to-face or over the phone. They already know me.

Now, some of my friends on Facebook happen to be members of this very forum whom I've never met. Some of them include Zac Poonen's sons - who occasionally post football stuff and sports articles and mountain climbing pictures on their own pages - ah, but brethren, who cares? Are we not allowed to have non-sinful hobbies, and times of recreation and refreshing...and share them with our friends without judgment of being vain and trivial? Why judge another man's servant? To his own master he either standeth or falleth. Yea, God is able to make him stand.

If I can film a deer in my backyard for my brother in Austin (who is wanting to go hunting with me this winter) and for a hunting buddy of mine in San Antonio, I feel it is truly unfair to suffer a backlash here on SermonIndex for being "trivial". In fact, I take umbrage to this, and would greatly appreciate it if nonspiritual references to our own or others' Facebook accounts would be excluded from these public walls in the future.

Thank you dear brethren for this consideration. I'm not upset, but just a little concerned that if we don't stop now, this sort of thing will spread to other posts and get out of control. Quite simply, if you do decide to close your Facebook, do it as unto the Lord. But if you decide to keep it open, again do it as unto the Lord. Col. 3:23; 1 Cor. 10:31; Acts 24:16

1 Thess 4:11

Brother Paul

greetings

I do not have a Facebook account or twitter account either. I will say at this time I do not see an issue with using these kinds of avenues for communication with others but as with everything all things in moderation. I have wanted to sign up and use twitter for awhile now, I will say that I follow both Greg and Paul washer via my iphone, but every time I go to sign up the Lord stops me. I have this overwhelming since that I am not to do this. I don't hold this conviction as a standard to others, rather I know its for me to submit to and I do.

As for having hobby, I have several that some might find to be surprising:-) I agree with what Paul shared in his post, that the Lord does permit and allow us to have hobbies. As long as they are kept in there proper place, I count them as a blessing from the Lord.

Just my thoughts on this
God Bless
mj

No, dear friend, it was not pointed at you or anyone else - but these kinds of assumptions are what I mean about the Facebook stuff getting out of hand and pouring into the forum. The truth is, I'm not even sure who you are - unless your handle in Facebook is [i]"bible4life".[/i]

Can you see how confusing all this can become? For this reason, please keep Facebook things in Facebook, and try not to bleed them over into this forum, unless they are of an exemplary religious nature and will be edifying for all to read.

For the record, [i]I[/i] too post Paul Washer videos...and take quotes from all different men of God as my "status". There is no cornerstone on this.

i can say that sermonindex can also be used to much to just like facebook. Even though sermonindex is a godly site, we can also spend too much time on it but if we our using it to learn and not go back and forth arguing it is great for us.This is my favorite site.I also would say the fact that nobody responds to my posts on facebook and not even my friends has also made me want to get off facebook, its just a big waste of my time and no one cares anyways unless the person posting is someone they like or close to, facebook just shows me how know one really cares about you more than anything, this site i would say the people care and that is why i stay

This hits close to home! You are right! I've been just as much convicted over the time spent here on SI as on any other social website, including Facebook or YouTube. It disturbs me sometimes that SI can become more used as a social platform than a sermon archive, but we also have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Many good things can come of the resources found here, but if the time you're spending here is usurping the time God wants you to spend elsewhere - i.e. with your family, in the Word, quiet time at the feet of Jesus - no matter how many enlightening discussions you involve yourself in here, or how many sermons you listen to, your poor stewardship in time will nullify the effects of whatever you glean from these walls.

All great thoughts. My decision to not use FB as a tool of evangelism or connecting with friends and family is "unto the Lord".

I believe for myself I would rather talk to my family or friends on the phone or face-2-face than via FB. This issue then with using FB is an issue of conscience unto the Lord for each person.

The pull to 'update' my FB page and to "tweet" was too distracting for my life. If it brings Glory to God for another person, then Praise God!!

Yes, there are many distractions and "noise" in this world to pull us away from our relationship with the Lord. We just need to listen to Him.

In His Love, Doug