In February 2004, a website was launched that changed the world…

● Today it has over 900 million active users ● Over 450 million of these access it using a

mobile device ● According to one study in April 2010, an

estimated 41.6% of the U.S. population had an account on this website

● As of May 2012, this website is worth $104 billion, the largest valuation to date for a newly listed public company

To which website am I referring?

Mark Zuckerberg

What does Facebook have to do

with Christians?

● How many of the 900 million active users today do you think are Christians?

● Westside Church of Christ currently has 85 past and present members in its Facebook group

● 28 male, 57 female

QUESTION: How often do you use Facebook? Monthly? Weekly? Daily? Hourly?

THE BOTTOM LINE: More and more Christians are using Facebook and other social networking services each day. If used responsibly, Facebook can be a great tool for performing good works

● Edification/encouragement

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.”1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

● Edification/encouragement

● Prayer requests

James 5:16 “Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

● Edification/encouragement

● Prayer requests

● Discussion of spiritual issues/ Preaching of the gospel

2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word! Be ready in season [and] out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

● Edification/encouragement

● Prayer requests

● Opportunities to get to know each other better and faster than we normally would

● Discussion of spiritual issues/ Preaching of the gospel

Philippians 2:2 “[F]ulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.”

● Edification/encouragement

● Prayer requests

● Opportunities to get to know each other better and faster than we normally would

● Discussion of spiritual issues/ Preaching of the gospel

THE BOTTOM LINE: More and more Christians are using Facebook and other social networking services each day. If used responsibly, Facebook can be a great tool for performing good works

WARNING:However, if used irresponsibly, the use of Facebook and other social networking sites can lead to all kinds of trouble. We need to guard ourselves against these dangers.

DANGER #1: The risk of representing ourselves as Christians poorly to the world and to our brethren—becoming a hindrance and a discouragement

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Question: When someone logs into your Facebook account and views your posts, photos, videos, likes, and more, do they see content that represents the way Christians should be?

DANGER #2: Forgetting our priorities—spending too much time on Facebook to the point that other more important responsibilities are neglected

“Critics, such as Facebook Detox, state that Facebook has turned into a national obsession that results in vast amounts of time lost and innately encourages narcissism”

Colossians 3:23“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”

2 Thess 3:10“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ”

Prov 14:23“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. ”

1 Timothy 5:11-14“11 But refuse [the] younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that [the] younger [widows] marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

DANGER #3: The risk of becoming guilty of gossip and publicly destroying the reputation of those who offend us

1 Timothy 5:11-14“11 But refuse [the] younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that [the] younger [widows] marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

QUESTION:What is gossip exactly?

● When people, especially when they are Christians, offend us, we need to follow the steps of Matthew 18. Keeping the reputations of all who are involved intact must be of utmost importance.

Matt 18:15-1715 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell [it] to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

Proverbs 25:9-10“9 Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; 10 Lest he who hears [it] expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined.”

Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.”

Proverbs 16:28“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.”

Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name [is] better than precious ointment”

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise [man] holds them back.”

Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath”

NOTE: Think about how many friends you have on Facebook and how many friends your friends have and so on. Think about how quickly and how widely information can leak out!

300 friends X 300 of their friends=

90,000 X 300=

90,000!

27 million!

Facebook is like Pandora’s Box. Once you post it, you can’t change things back to the way they were.

Proverbs 6:16, 19 “16 These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him: 19 A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”

● Vague status updates that imply something negative about someone who has offended you are often worse than if you had been specific.

Examples of ‘vaguebooking’:

Fred: “She is so infuriating. Is this really worth it?”

George: “I really can’t stand some people I am friends with. How can they say things like that?”

Dorothy: “Isn’t worshipping with our brethren supposed to be uplifting?”

Leila: “He is never pleased with anything I do.”

● Publicly pouring out the details of issues that should be kept private because it is just our way of coping, hoping all our friends will take our side and feel sorry for us, shows a lack of faith in God

Hebrews 13:5“For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Matthew 10:29-3129 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Proverbs 18:2 “A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.”

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise [man] holds them back.”

One of the biggest problems seen today when it comes to Christians using Facebook is the way that husbands and wives sometimes talk about each other.

● Lets remember that it is not our place to try and punish people who have offended us by making what they have done public

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

● What should we do if things are not resolved as quickly as we would like? Can we make it public then?

Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath”

Ephesians 4:1-31 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I Cor 7:10-11“To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.”

I Corinthians 7:3-53 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband [does.] And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife [does.] 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

One of the biggest problems seen today when it comes to Christians using Facebook is the way that husbands and wives sometimes talk about each other.

● When we observe others talking publicly about people who have offended them when they should keep things private, let’s be careful how we respond—make sure you are not becoming an ‘enabler’

Proverbs 26:17 “He who passes by [and] meddles in a quarrel not his own [Is like] one who takes a dog by the ears.”

Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful.”

Proverbs 28:23 “He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue.”

Romans 1:24-32 "28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; [they are] whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

● If you get involved, make sure everyone has the right motives, that you keep things as private as possible, and that you figure out both sides of the story

Proverbs 18:13 “He who answers a matter before he hears [it,] It [is] folly and shame to him.”

Ephesians 5:15-16“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

CONCLUSION: More and more Christians are using Facebook and other social networking services each day. If used responsibly, Facebook can be a great tool for performing good works

WARNING:However, if used irresponsibly, the use of Facebook and other social networking sites can lead to all kinds of trouble. We need to guard ourselves against these dangers.