AboutFaceBook
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Josh Harris writes on why he stopped doing FaceBook after one week:
But even if I weren't writing a book, I don't need another reason for staring at a computer screen. I'm constantly needing to evaluate is how much time I spend emailing, browsing and blogging. Now obviously a lot of that activity is good, useful work. But sometimes it can be a time-waster. I think God's been helping me improve at knowing when to unplug from cyberville and connect with the real, rich world of reality--playing with my kids, talking to my wife, taking a walk. Throwing Facebook in the mix of my online options is just a little too much for me right now. The other reason I feel right about making my time with Facebook just a visit is a little harder to explain. How do I put this? I found that it encouraged me to think about me even more than I already do--which is admittedly already quite a bit. Does that make any sense? Without any help from the internet I'm inclined to give way too much time to evaluating myself, thinking about myself and wondering what other people think of me. If that egocentrism is a little flame, than Facebook for me is a gasoline IV feeding the fire. I need to grow in self-forgetfulness. I need to worry more about what God is thinking of me. I need to be preoccupied with what he's written in his word, not what somebody just wrote on my "wall." And, finally, I need to read more. There are so many good books I want to read and so little time. If I added up the few minutes here and there that I spent checking Facebook this past week it wouldn't be an insignificant amount of time. I'd rather give that time to reading. Anyway, all of the above is totally personal and is in no way an indictment on other Facebookers. This is just where I'm at right now. Who knows...I might be back when the kids are grown and the book is written and I have more self-control.You can read the whole thing.



12 Comments:
Thanks for your very helpful comments Josh, and thanks for posting them here Justin. JT is helping me work on limiting my internet time by bringing together the most helpful highlights from elsewhere on the web onto this one blog, which I set as my home page and can scan in a few minutes a day (as long as I limit myself to only following up the most useful links!)
Thanks again to you both.
Kevin
good luck trying to delete the account! i remember reading something about how its really, really hard.
Well, Facebook is about to take a huge hit of chronic uncoolness anyway. I signed up for an account this week to keep in touch with some folks I met on a mission trip. SInce I first heard of Facebook 3-4 years ago, I always knew the day I set up an account would be the day it slipped off the cultural leading edge.
I've been on FB for a month or so and I have to say that I tend to agree with Harris. There's really nothing to "do" on Facebook that is worth anyone's time. The only thing to do is feed your own narcissism and obsess about being paid attention to. Maybe bigger people than me can find a way to glorify God and exalt Christ with it. I applaud Harris for bowing out with dignity.
Jayson...you said
"The only thing to do (on Facebook) is feed your own narcissism and obsess about being paid attention to."
Come on...don't make this a bigger issue than what it is. If it wastes too much of your time, then stop.
What's next preaching sermons on the evils of Facebook?
"If it wastes too much of your time, then stop."
Yeah. That's what we're talking about here :) I suppose to be fair I should say the only thing for ME to do is feed MY narcissism, hence I am considering deactivating my account like Harris did. I think that was the point he was making right?
And yeah...if a large portion of a church gets so into Facebook (or the next fad) that they neglect formulating real relationships and spreading the gospel then it would totally appropriate to preach on it.
I've been on facebook about 2 months and as one who works in music ministry it actually has been an important point of contact for people (in terms of setting up meetings, communicating information, etc..). Last year our college ministry found that freshmen students responded more effectively to Facebook notifications than email. Certainly, one can spend too much time on facebook, but it only gets out of control if you let it. The reality is, depending on your culture it can be an important tool to use.
"And yeah...(if it became out of hand)...it would totally appropriate to preach on it."
I'm not trying to argue Jayson. I am really not. My concern is that people who tend to waste too much time on something like Facebook start treating Facebook as the evil that we need to preach about.
Facebook is no different than TV, blogs, or watching a sports event. It is a social utility. It is a tool. We have the unique ability as believers to glorify God with these things. Whether it's reading a helpful blog on paedobaptism or watching the Colts win the SuperBowl with you best friends. It is a tool or an avenue in which you can bring glory to God.
The only two ways it starts becoming unhealthy is 1. if that tool is intriscally evil (pornography,etc) or 2. if we lack the Spirit-filled discipline to use the tool responsibily (i know you agree with this part).
So please please please if you are going to preach, preach on the sinfulness of the human heart and not the "intrisic evils" of Facebook, blogs, or TV.
Let's keep our preaching to the Gospel (in it's entirety).
Blessings,
Jeff
I generally haven't been a fan of social networking sites (myspace in particular). However, I have found Facebook to be a good way to keep in touch with a large group of friends. There isn't a whole lot to do there and that's what I like about it. I hardly find it egocentric to read about what my friends are doing, struggling with and asking prayer for.
My blog is a much worse place for me to obsess about myself :). However, if I want to get a quick overview of what's going on in my friends' lives (not just local ones, but ones around the country), Facebook is a good way to do that efficiently.
And yes, I actually have real-life interaction with those people!
So, I guess my concern is that (especially in Sovereign Grace circles) what Josh Harris said is sometimes put on par with a papal edict.
Of course, not in any official sense of the word, LOL - but in the Christian "peer pressure" sense.
I can just see the parents telling their kids to stay off Facebook because "Josh Harris said so." Sigh....if that's the case, they really, really, really missed to the boat.
Teach your kids discernment and to follow Christ, not to follow the crowd - either the "Christian" or secular. Find the motives of why your kids (or adult friends) are on Facebook and start from there.
Yes, you can spend way too much time on Facebook, like anything. (I personally can get lost in Wikipedia :).). However, if that's where your life is, then you have a problem. Just my 2 cents.
Joshua Harris seems, to me, to be a man constantly under guilt. Fear of indwelling sin maybe? Surely the Cross-centred life should be freeing him from that? Reading that post made me feel really sad for him. Shouldn't the grace of God be freeing us from these kind of guilts and fears?
Sounds more like you are the one with feelings of guilt, James.
I wonder what really keeps us busy. Us or them? Us as in the Christians and them as in the devil and his own. I think it weights both ways.
But one thing I do know.. we ain't got much time. And by the way who really owns facebook?
Have a look at this
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/facebook
Watch out for the logo at the top... surely you have seen that before?
Let me remind you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52MSDUD9UXw&feature=related
We really need to be careful and prayerful.
TIM
ghostouch at hotmail.com
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