The Forum for Fakeness

We have a new phenomenon happening in our land. It’s called, Facebook. In an article by Michael Hill of the Associated Press, the author shared how the social networking site can spark jealousy and cause people to be misrepresented.

Well, duh!

It seems that our culture thrives on trying to be something they are not. USA TODAY, in an August 25, 2009 article stated that, “college students say social networking makes them more narcissistic. They also believe their generation is the most narcissistic of all.”

Not sure what narcissism is? Narcissism is: the inordinate fascination with oneself, excessive self-love, vanity, a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

That’s our country alright!

But I see that the same problem is not being put away, by people who profess to know Christ and to have taken on His image and likeness, when they became “born again” believers.

Don’t get me wrong… There is nothing wrong in building good friendships and keeping in touch with one another from time to time, but what kind of person has to keep an hour by hour notation of their every ache and pain, disappointment or frustration, on a wall for all their friends to see? The world doesn’t need to know that you are tired and heading for bed…finally. People don’t need to know what you had for supper every day that week or how many pills you had to take to get rid of a migraine. Everyone doesn’t need to know that you are so tired, bored, depressed, hungry, mad, or that you’ve just had enough of people! If that were so…why in the world are you telling all those people on Facebook! None of these things are anyone else’s business.

Self absorption thinks everyone else wants to know what you’re all about.

Facebook, MySpace and other “twittering” spots can get you in to trouble by what others say or how they “poke” or post or “tag” pictures of you. The pictures can be old and misrepresent who you are now, and as a Christian, your testimony is of extreme importance! You really ought to care how you are perceived. It’s one thing to be persecuted and misunderstood because you take a stand for Christ’s sake, but it is altogether another thing to be misrepresented because of a casual comment that made you look bad or a posting of a picture that put a question mark over your testimony of Christianity.

No Christian (someone like Christ), would ever consider posting a picture of themselves, that was provocative, sensual or questionable in nature.

I personally grieve over seeing “Christian girls” in poses that mimic the world. The playacting of kissing another girl or licking her cheek or laying all over each other in order to pose for a “fun” picture is nothing less than unbecoming for someone who professes to be a daughter of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This flagrant flaunting of sensuality and worldly behavior brings no glory to God.

I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink or WHATSOEVER ye do, do ALL to the glory of God.”

Am I against Facebook?

No. If you choose to use Facebook….then use it for the glory of God! Represent Him to all you choose as a “Friend”. Speak a word in due season…for the glory of God. Encourage and edify others. Speak the truth of God’s Word in love…for all your friends to see. Share your blessings without bragging. You do that by giving God the glory for the blessing! James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…” Post God honoring photos of yourself and your friends that cannot be misunderstood!

If you truly desire to be devoted to Christ, then ladies, please let your devotion show. Let it be seen and heard in you. Instead of crying in a public forum about how hard your life is, share a verse of scripture such as II Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Or…

II Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”


In the past month or so, I have noticed that some of our ladies and girls and even a few guys, are doing more of praising the Lord for His goodness and openly thanking God for their church, their pastor, the blessings of a message they heard etc. The lost world needs to see and hear these things from genuine Christians. Only truly converted Christians have something like this to share. That is how you know the real from the fake.

Which are you?