Monday, October 26, 2009

Social Networks

Dear Victorious,

What do you think of social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and others? Are they Biblical? Do they have a respectable role to play in the life of a Christ-follower?

Martin B. - Lufkin, TX

Dear Martin,

I suspect the story on social networks isn't anywhere near to being complete yet. They are still a work in progress, and the true value proposition is not yet discovered and/or not yet complete. My guess is that the vast majority of people who have signed up for Facebook, for example, did not do so because they saw a clear value proposition that lined up with Scripture. Instead, they signed up because of peer pressure, curiosity or some other motive.

I concede it is possible to use social networks to help us stay in touch with each other. But when it comes to relationships, that is not the mandate we were given by God. Texting something from my cell phone to Facebook so that 200 people can read it and know what I'm doing is NOT loving one another as you would like to be loved (as the Bible commands). So there is a very real and present danger that we fall to social networks in the place of truly loving relationships. And let's face it, most of us don't have the capacity to sustain meaningful, loving relationships with 200 people! So to say that we have 200 friends is probably a strong case of denial on our part.

I'm on the social networks myself. But I have to say that people will know me better by reading my blog(s) or e-mailing with me. And the people whom I most love are not the people I network with on social networks. Rather they are the people whom I make time to invest myself in.

If the social networks ever empower me to make time to invest myself in individuals whom God calls me to love - then I suspect they will be entirely Biblical. Until then, not so much.

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