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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Social Media Revolution• A fad? “The biggest shift since the

Industrial Revolution.”• 50% of the world’s population is under 30.

96% of Millenials have joined a social network (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace).

• Facebook tops Google in weekly traffic in the U.S.

• 1 out of 8 U.S. couples met through social media.

• Years to reach 38 million users:Radio – 50 yearsTelevision – 13 yearsInternet – 4 yearsiPod -- 3 years

• Facebook added over 200 million users in less than a year. If Facebook were a country, it would be THIRD (behind China and India).

• Fastest growing FB segment: 55-65 females.• iPod application downloads hit 1 billion in 9

months. Info gleaned from (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzZyUaQvpdc&feature=player_embedded)

Social Media Is Here to Stay!

It is critical that we learn how to communicate in and through this important new medium.

The Dangers of Life Online• This new medium has created new

dangers for ourselves and our families.• Cyberbullying – Def. “Sending hateful

messages or even death threats, spreading lies about people online, making nasty comments on their social networking profiles, or creating a website to bash their looks or reputation.” (“4 Dangers of the Internet”, www.WebMd.com)

• More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.” (http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html)

• Predators – “1 in 7 have been solicited online.” (“4 Dangers of the Internet”, www.webMd.com)

• Pornography – Every second...- $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography- 28,258 are viewing pornography- 372 type adult search terms into search engines- And every 39 minutes, a new pornographic video is made in the United States (Internet Filter Review, 2006)

Have we taken steps to protect our family from these dangers?

Challenges Christians Face Online• Lowered Inhibitions• We know the consumption of alcohol

lowers inhibitions. But the internet?• Fact: Many say/do things online they would

never do in public or face-to-face.• Will we be held accountable for what we

say/do online? Mt. 12:36, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.”

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body,

whether good or evil.”2 Corinthians 5:10

• The Expression of Feelings and Intent• For some reason, misunderstandings

seem to occur more often with online postings, email, etc.

• Brevity? Frequency?• Prov. 10:19, “When words are many,

transgression is not lacking.”• Some suggest that this new method of

communication has altered our ability to converse with one another in negative ways (i.e. impersonal, blunt, less sensitive).

• Immediate and “Private” Access to Sin• The Prodigal Son had to leave home to go

to the “Far Country” (Lk. 15). People today don’t have to leave their living room!- Pornography- Gambling- Marital unfaithfulness- Inappropriate humor- Ungodly entertainment- Greed

• Done in private. Right?

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare

before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Hebrews 4:13

Maintaining Christian Status Online• Treat Facebook As A Public Place.

Because It Is.• FB is a public forum. More see your posts

than just your “friends”. Be careful what you post! E.g. pictures, personal information, comments.

• We have families to protect and an example to maintain.

• “But set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith.” (1 Tim. 4:12)

• Sarcasm Is Easily Misunderstood. Use It Sparingly – If At All.

• Thomas Carlyle went so far as to say, “Sarcasm I now see to be, in general, the language of the devil; for which reason I have long since as good as renounced it.”

• Jas. 3:6, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

• The devil can use our words for ill.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,

that it may benefit those who listen.”Ephesians 4:29

• Don’t Go Public With What Is Private.• There is a prescribed way in Scripture to

handle grievances, insults, etc.• Mt. 18:15, “If your brother sins against you,

go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”

• Things can escalate and involve others.• Mt. 18:7, “Woe to the world because of the

things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!”

• You Have A Right to Your Opinion. You Have No Right to Offend Others.

• Rom. 14:19-22, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. {20} Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. {21} It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. {22} So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.”

• Note: “Don’t destroy the work of God for the sake of food” (v. 20).- These were important matters – matters of conscience!- Still, they were warned not to allow their opinions to cause others to stumble.

• Divisive comments are often used to gain attention. Don’t give it to them. Ignore them.

• Rm. 16:17, “Mark those that cause division and ignore them.”

One more thing... Be Conscious of Boundaries Which Should Exist Whether Online or Offline.E.g. conversations between men and women, adults and children, older and younger.

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, {2} older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Tim. 5:1-2)

Maintaining OurMaintaining Our

STATUSSTATUSAs AAs A

CHRISTIANCHRISTIANWhileWhile

ONLINEONLINE

Sunday, August 28, 2011

SOURCES:“Social Media and Christians”http://toddbishop.tv/2011/04/29/social-media-christians/

“Facebook Etiquette for Christians”http://fidesviva.com/2011/07/14/facebook-etiquette-for-christians/