Sharing, Spreading, and Stirring
I’m old enough to remember when “being social” meant that a person enjoyed being around other people. People invited others into their homes, went to “social events,” and found other ways to share in the lives of one another – in person.
It is sad to me that much of that has been replaced by what is known generally as “social media.” It is also very sad to me that the media being referred to is often something other than social.
I think that I may have an account on more than one of those social media platforms, but I’m one of those dinosaurs whose primary outlet is Facebook. I know that there are other social media sites that are newer, trendier, etc., but I guess that I’m at the stage in life where many people find that change become more and more difficult.
Did you notice that I mentioned that Facebook was a social media outlet for me? I did not say that it was a major “inlet” for me. There is a reason for that.
Quite a while ago, I made the decision to “follow” on Facebook very few people. That number is limited to members of my family (including some cousins who are on Facebook). The only other things I follow are our family’s website (faughnfamily.com), the church where I serve as an elder, and just a few other places where I could receive information about positive things being done locally and around the world by Christians.
I know that this decision has meant that I have missed out on some information about people I know and care about. I also know that some may wonder why I no longer comment on things that are posted.
I’m sure that your children and grandchildren are wonderful and that you are as proud of them as I am of ours, but I guess I’ll never know about their latest accomplishments from Facebook. I’m also certain that, like the rest of us, you have had some real “mountaintop experiences” in your life as well as times that literally brought you to your knees.
It might be the case that I could have helped in some way at various times. While I regret not “being there” for people who might have needed me, if the only interaction we have is online, I was probably unaware of some real needs.
The reason for my decision and for me not knowing about a lot of things that others know about is fairly simple. I gradually became aware of the fact that far too many people were doing something else when they were sharing.
Far too many, even those who refer to themselves as Christians, were (and I guess still are) spreading things that were/are totally foreign to the will of the One whose name they wear. I’m not just thinking of erroneous doctrines here. I’m thinking about attitudes, language, morals, choices of entertainment and friends, “social causes,” and a host of other things.
Along with that, what was/is all too often being shared does little more than have the effect of stirring strife, dissension, hard feelings, etc. I know that this is totally a “judgment call” on my part, but some of what I used to see looked a whole lot more like hatred than love to me.
I realize that I’m running the risk of being totally “politically incorrect” with this next observation, but I think it at least deserves some consideration. In my opinion, way too much of what I used to see did not resemble either sharing, spreading, or stirring. A lot of what appears on “social media” very closely resembles spewing and what is being spewed is very obnoxious.
It may be way past time for those who claim to be Christians to read again what the Lord told His apostles on one occasion:
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).
It might also be helpful to consider these (and other) passages from Proverbs:
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends (Prov. 16:28).
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses (Prov. 10:12).
Some might wonder (and be justified in doing so) why I don’t just totally shut down my Facebook account. Believe me, that has been seriously considered more than once – sometimes more than once a day.
Here is why (at least so far) I’ve resisted that temptation. I realize that I don’t have nearly as much time left on this earth as I’ve already had. I think that it would be wise for me to spend whatever time I have to at least try to share in the lives of others in a positive and helpful way, to spread the gospel of my Lord the best I can, and to “…stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24).
I may not do those things as well as I should, but I can sure try. That seems to me to be a better use of my time than a lot of other things I could be doing.
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
