"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me but all things edify not," (1 Corinthians 10:23 KJV).
Have you noticed in the break room lately, nearly everybody is hovered over an iphone? We don't seem to find each other as interesting anymore compared to the zany postings and snarky comments we read online. In spite of Facebook, we're actually not talking face to face as much anymore . Social media might more aptly be described as "anti-social" media.
What about the drama of settling matters online - which might mean posting an oblique message over personal interaction with others. It's so much easier to copy and paste a designer rant onto our timeline than actually talking to people. Plus we get the added benefit of a multitude of people clicking 'like' next to our post with a thumbs up. What an ego boost!
Granted, sometimes it feels good to get something off our chest online, but when we have a grievance and find it too difficult to speak face to face to the person whose views or actions offend us, it would be more productive to send them a personal message spelling out what's on our mind and allow God to take it from there, or choose to say nothing and simply trust Jesus.
What do you think? Has social media strengthened or weakened the fabric of your social connections? If it makes you more accessible, more mindful, more courageous, and more honest, choose "like" - if not, you know what to do.
Lord, give us the grace to use media in a way that brings you glory, and not allow it to make us weaker people, or less than what you would have us to be.
Copyright 2015 Toni Babcock
Toni M. Babcock is author of The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens.
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