Something from ... Gottesdienst and the dangers of social media

Rev. David Petersen wrote an interesting article regarding sins common to man, although I think most people will do all they can to hide these sins or to deny their existence.  His article focuses on a link between internet porn and suicide ... among clergy!  It is a reminder that pastors and their families are human and may struggle with sins that are prevalent among others.  I suppose everyone wants to believe that pastors are above this, but the (staggering!) statistics mentioned in the article state that it is not the case.  I never would have guessed it, either.

Confronting the Epidemic of Pornography in the Church — Gottesdienst

The point of my linking to this article is not to make any confession, but to expand on his thoughts.  Internet porn (or any porn for that matter) is a snare that destroys.  Solomon warns against the adulteress who seduces a young man, stating that he goes off to his death unaware as he goes with her.  From Proverbs: 

At a window of my house, I looked out through the lattice. I was watching the gullible people. Among the young men I noticed a youth without sense. He was crossing the street near her corner, strolling along the road to her house, in the twilight, in the evening of the day, when the darkness of the night was coming. Suddenly a woman meets him. She is dressed like a prostitute with a scheming heart! ... She deceives him with enticing words. With smooth lips she seduces him. He follows right after her, like a steer going to slaughter, like a deer prancing into a noose, until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a trap. He does not realize this will cost him his life. Now, you sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words from my mouth. Do not let your heart turn in her direction. Do not wander on her pathways, because she has brought down many victims. Those she has killed are countless. Her house is on the road to the grave. It goes down to the chambers of death. (Proverbs 7:6-10,21-27)

Solomon portrays an in-person encounter, but I think it extends to social media as well.  People become infatuated and inflamed with images on a screen.  They lust over people whom they will never meet and become disappointed in the spouse with whom they have been united in marriage and with whom they have become one flesh.  People learn to despise what is real for fantasies that will never be fulfilled.  At the least, this puts a strain on a marriage.  Often, it destroys a marriage.  Apparently, it also results in people taking their own lives.

But I think this goes beyond internet porn.  I think people are disillusioned by social media in general.  People cherry pick the moments that they post on Facebook (yeah, I'm old), Instagram, Snapchat, and whatever other platforms are out there.  (I'm not familiar with other platforms.  Yeah, I'm old.)  We look at the cherry picked images and assume that their lives are phenomenal.  We wonder why our life is boring.  We see one person's vacation photos, assume that everyone is going there, and are upset that we are not basking in tropical sun like everyone else.  We become so frustrated with our life, as if we have been cheated or as if we are the only ones with struggles.  

Suicide has become way too prevalent among young people.  I wonder if social media and the fabricated lifestyles depicted there influence it.  In fact, I am pretty convinced they do.  I know I can get mopey about seeing someone's Florida pictures in February.  

Social media deceives us.  It is all a production.  Its purpose is to sell something.  That doesn't mean just the ads, but the idea that someone's life is fabulous.  It convinces you that a day-to-day life in which you take care of the tedious tasks that need to be done to care for your family are evil.  But what God gives you to do to love and serve your family is not evil.  It is the way God makes you active, productive, and beneficial to others.  That may make for a boring social media post, but it is what life has always been about.  

It is not beneficial or even possible to be constantly entertained.  Social media sells you a lifestyle that is unrealistic.  Of course, images on a screen are not real things.  Do not be deceived by them, and certainly do not kill yourself over them.

Your remedy and repentance includes ditching social media--if not completely, then limit yourself a lot.  Go spend time with your family.  Meet up with friends and talk with them.  Chastise each other when someone checks their phone.  Go to church.  (You had to see that one coming.)  Talk with the people there.  Pray for one another.  Partake in the body and blood of Christ.  Hold a hymnal in your hands, turn the pages, read the hymns, and sing with the congregation.  Participate!  

God designed us to be social with real people and to engage in real activities in life that benefit our fellow man.  This is not done by flipping through images.  It is done with your loved ones.  So, click off this post and talk to someone.  It may not live up to your fantasies, but it won't be fake.

A Pastoral Concern: The Christian Witness and Social Media

One of the blessings of social media is that it gives everyone who chooses to use it an outlet for sharing the events in their life, their opinions, and entertaining or educational video clips.  We can amuse ourselves with it for hours--which may not always be the best use of our time.  Still, if you'd rather sift through Facebook or Instagram posts for 90 minutes instead of watching a movie, who am I to say that either is bad?

What is bad is that we forget ourselves very quickly when we post items on social media.  I don't think I have to convince anyone that our filters usually shut off when we post.  It is easy to be bold and brash as we put our opinions on an impersonal screen.  People write things that they would never say to someone's face.  Apparently, not communicating with people in person robs us of some humanity ourselves. 

For the most part, I don't take very seriously what people post on social media.  I probably should take it more seriously than I do.  Others take these words very seriously.  I suppose if you are the one on the receiving end of an insult, you would too.  Some respond with equal venom.  Then, rather than turn the other cheek at an insult, the race is on to see who can insult the other person worse.  You can say all you want about mainstream media dividing Americans, but we do a pretty good job of it ourselves.

All of this leads into the issue I do take seriously.  You who post online: Do you not know that you are still a Christian when you do these things?  Do you not know that you bear the name of Christ and represent him to the world?  And when you post your vicious opinions against other people (usually against politicians), or obscenities, or boast about drunken behavior for all the world to see, what conclusions do you make people draw about you?  If you have not given serious consideration to this before, please do so now.

Imagine this situation.  You are enraged about some proposal or policy that has been enacted.  Your dander is up, and other people need to know it.  So, you go to your preferred social media outlet and write, "Politician Jones is a &*@(#%$ and thinks like a &*@(#%$ and anyone who supports this person is equally a &*@(#%$!!!"  Now, how about inviting Politician Jones to church in your next post?  Or the supporters of Politician Jones?  Would they really be interested in joining you to hear about Jesus after you have represented him that way?  Are you giving them reason to wonder why on earth they should explore the Christian faith if that is how Christians act?

Perhaps I sound like the Facebook police.  Not really.  I still hold to the theory not to take too seriously what people put online.  (It is one of the reasons I barely ever comment online.)  But once comments and posts become vicious and personal, I can't help but cringe.  (Note: I will never call you out online; although I am fearful that my silence may be interpreted by some as "the pastor does not care if I am crude and insulting.")

If you want to express your dissent online, there are surely respectful ways of doing this.  But please consider if you are flaunting a wicked attitude or sinful words for the world to see.  The world might be entertained by that, but surely God's people hold themselves to a higher standard than the world.  If your witness before the world is laced with mockery or disrespect, don't be surprised that the world hates the Church all the more.  It will be because we have given them reason to.