This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Do everything without complaining or arguing.
(Philippians 2:14)
I've been thinking about these two passages of Scripture quite a lot lately. The latter one is shared many times a day in various forms in our house ("No, you may not complain or argue about which cup you get!") and so I'm sure that's why it's on my mind. The great thing about teaching our children the truth of God's Word is that we get to hear it all the time too, right? Ah, such a good reminder for me! I am so easily prone to complaining and arguing.
But I've also been thinking about Facebook some, mostly because it is such a time-sucker and I really have to be careful not to let it suck me in. And I've been thinking about these verses in context of Facebook, and what I post on Facebook, and what other people post on Facebook too. And so here is my theory.
I'm pretty sure that Facebook is just this enormous boasting/complaining network.
Think about it. Maybe it's just me but I have definitely shared complaints or boasts on Facebook that I wouldn't really bring up in real life. It's like, "Guess what I accomplished! If I brought this up in the middle of a big group of people in real life it would totally sound like boasting, but if I post it here then 31 people will like it and I will thus feel significantly cooler than I did in high school when nobody laughed at my jokes! Take that, former high school friends whose lame status updates don't get as many Facebook likes as I do!" Or something like that. Or it's "Ugh, the worst thing ever just happened to me," and as we all know as parents, the worst things ever do happen all the time. I could go into detail about those things but it's grossing me out just to think about them so, yeah, you know what I'm talking about.
Anyway, I haven't made it an official goal yet. But I'm considering making it a goal to follow the above injunctions when I post things on Facebook. By not complaining or arguing. By boasting in the Lord rather than my wisdom or strength or riches. Maybe I will post the Bible verses that God is using to teach me rather than some lame complaint that nobody cares about and that I should have forgotten about five minutes ago anyway. If I do, though, you will click "Like" on my status update, right? So I can still feel cool?
Haha, I guess I must boast/complain a lot in real life (I'll have to think on that cause maybe I do!) because pretty much anything that I ever post on FB, I would also be completely comfortable saying in a face to face conversation. Maybe that means that I should change something about my interactions with friends but I quite sure that me on facebook is me in real life.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I totally have to work at not neglecting my present in person relationships by getting sucked into online interactions, for the most part, I really love seeing my friends updates and photos. Sometimes they make me laugh, sometimes they encourage me, other times they remind me to pray and other times they allow me to be an encouragement. And sometimes I am wowed by the talents and blessings of others. There are times where I feel the jealousy or comparison bug but that is an area where grace and truth is always slowly refining me.
Perhaps it because now at least 85% of my FB friends are people that I have consistent interaction with otherwise even if that is via email but I like the little glimpses into people's lives because I love them and I guess I assume that because they also love me, they care to know about my life as well. And if they don't, well they can always hide me from their news feed:).
Anyways. Whoa, long-winded but that is just my perspective.
I think you have a point in that Facebook (and other online forums -- blogging and whatever else people do online, LOL) definitely CAN be used (abused?) in this manner. And of course I've done it. But I don't think it automatically IS that just by definition. :) I know that usually when I post something the girls have said or done (and that's probably 95% of what I post), I vet it with the question, "Will this bring joy to someone today?" And that's my goal in sharing those things. I think like most tools of communication, Facebook CAN be used negatively, or it CAN be used to build each other up. :)
ReplyDeleteMissy, I like Facebook too for those reasons. Maybe it is just that I'm more sensitized to the boasting/complaining thing lately because that's something the Lord wants me to be considering. Or maybe because at least in my head, I am tempted to complain online about things that I think others would be ridiculously annoyed at hearing from me in real life. Or maybe there are just certain people on Facebook who complain a lot and it really drives me nuts. :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer, you're right, I shouldn't have said Facebook only is for boasting/complaining. I reread what I wrote after reading these comments (I meant to before this went live but never got a chance today, oops) and it came across more negatively than I mean it to... like I was just complaining about Facebook. Ha ha. I guess I was. Sorry, everyone...
I took about 18 months off of facebook (deleted the account) and have returned in the past month or so. I find I'm in the same zone of thought as Marissa; what I say on FB is the same stuff I share with those 'real friends' in real life.
ReplyDeleteI do always have to be aware of the temptation to get sucked in again with posting excessive updates of nothing, but I think the extended time gave me perspective and let me know that I can function without it and don't actually 'need' anyone's feedback or 'likes' but that we can have some fun, share some life, engage in support. And sure, I'm still just as annoyed at the whining, but, most people learn/change eventually. I'm surprised at the fun and connection/support there this time around.
I wonder if there is a verse about overloading friends with annoying health articles :) I must say I abuse facebook in that way. A year ago, or more, or less, I can't remember I almost deleted facebook. Instead though, I deleted my entire news feed so I couldn't see anything that anyone updated and I removed the ability for anyone to comment on my wall so they would have to message me instead(which I'm sure freaked people out but I hate feeling like I need to explain to people why and how I use social media) I felt like I needed to use it in the capacity that was healthy for me. It worked. Now if I want to see how someone is doing, I have to go to their page purposely. It also keeps some of my friends from thinking that I hang out with my other friends more or like them more because I don't have comments on my wall like "pick you up tomorrow for our super fun totally exclusive girls day in the city" :)
ReplyDeleteIts great to read your blog again! I had it bookmarked in my other computer and now have it saved on my blogger list again! Thanks for sharing that! The other week I posted something really negative on fb...and took it down like 3 minutes later! Its just negative energy...but I am rethinking some things now about the {boasting} side of things too! Oh man. Its just a whole new level of life we have to deal with now! I do like hearing stories from people and I like "liking" things....like if you did win a free ipad or if you did get an award.....I like knowing that! But if it does cause people to resort to bragging on their walls just to get 100 likes...i don't know...it does seem a bit messed up!
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