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Social Networking [message #8081] |
Sun, 07 August 2011 12:00 |
james Messages: 2138 Registered: April 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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This is something that has concerned me from the 'get go', Myspace, Facebook, YouTube, Skype, texting, tweeting, instant messaging, blogs, (forums)...I'm not telling, or suggesting, that a Christian (or anyone for that matter) should or shouldn't be involved in these things. I am saying and giving a warning that one should guard against getting caught up in them, because they can become all consuming (even addictive). I understand that this is all new and exciting (the explosion of mobile technology happening almost daily, can you believe the iPhone is already to version #4? iTunes, iPod, iPad, G4...faster and faster, more aps, everything bundled together, using the phone for GPS, internet acess... I get dizzy just looking at them) I mean, who would of thunk it, 10-15 years ago?
I'd suggest anyone and everyone take a couple of minutes and click on PalTalk Room (below in red) and go to Pastor's Blog and read what Joe Brenneman wrote yesterday.
We're to be bold as lions and we're promised perscution if we live Godly in Christ Jesus, but we're also to be WISE and DISCERNING. I fully understand the desire for 'connection' and 'fellowship' with others, probably as much as anyone, but I don't think it's wise to allow these things to rule our lives...and I see MANY people who are caught up in social media to the point they can't carry on a live one on one conversation with another person without constantly checking messages, answering back, and being distracted due to their minds and thoughts being elsewhere. It's just plain old bad manners and disrespectful to the person who's trying to converse with them.
Opps, I'm ranting...well it is the Rant/Rave section, isn't it?
btw: After I'd written and posted this it came to me how Brother Freeman was often charged with legislating behavior and creating legalism. I think this would probably be an example of that...So and so said we COULDN'T talk on cell phones or communicate with our family and friends on the internet, he said that if you used them you were an addict. A 'real' Christian/Overcomer wouldn't have one of those things in his/her home or allow their children to use/have them. Brother so in so went over to their house and 'they' STILL used those sinful, worldly gossip machines...I'm not having anything else to do with them, they're in rebellion.
Think that's an over dramatization? Think again, that's very close to what went on 25-30 years ago amongest our circle of religious zealots...Have we learned anything?
[Updated on: Sun, 07 August 2011 16:15] “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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Re: Social Networking [message #8082 is a reply to message #8081] |
Sun, 07 August 2011 19:58 |
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GWB Messages: 708 Registered: March 2008 Location: Louisville, Ky area |
Senior Member |
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Very good advice, James.
I have to admit, I have been intimidated by the technology from the get go. For one, I have a hard time manipulating what I am supposed to do where. I know all of this can be used for God's Kingdom. I appreciate that fact. I went to business school years ago, so I am a good typer. Other than that, forget it! lol
Secondly, who in the world can't see that all of this technology is being used in bad ways as well. It has united the world. People have information, about a person, that is shared, stored, and who knows what else. Personally, that is scary to me.
I appreciated Bro. Brenneman's Blog. I very much agree with him.
Also, I agree that this would have been another so called "rule" that was not intended at FA.
I have made personal decisions so that I don't get caught up in all of it. I have been guilty in the past. It can take up so much time. If it is for the Lord, and you believe He would have you do it, that is one thing. However, all of this can waste so much time.
Thanks for sharing.
Shalom,
GWB
"Be still and know that I am God."
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Re: Social Networking [message #9700 is a reply to message #9698] |
Wed, 28 August 2013 12:04 |
james Messages: 2138 Registered: April 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Two years later and it's certainly not gotten better. I was trying to carry on a conversation with a confessing believer Monday and he couldn't maintain eye contact during the conversation(I guess if just one person is engaged in the discussion it really can't be considered a conversation, can it? ) but he constantally looked at his 'smartphone #27'<kidding> device to the point I just gave up trying to reach him. I don't think he even realized I'd walked away for several minutes. lol I can easily remember like yesterday how I was amazed the the 'older generation' just didn't get it(sex, drugs, and rock music), how they were 'out of it'....I guess now I can 'get it'. Just because something's new and exciting doesn't necessarily mean 'it's all good'...
I've no problem with using technology to make things more efficient, but MANY today are allowing technology to be used by Satan to ensnare them. Whether trying to rob us of time, tempting to watch/view immoral material, get caught up in gossip, ect.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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