What's Your "Face" on Facebook?

This was originally posted on Facebook on Saturday November 7, 2009

I just recently went to Normal, Illinois during Daylight Savings weekend to visit my sister Sarah and her husband, Josh. My parents and I had a wonderful time watching Sarah participate in the community play, The Pajama Game, and walk around Bloomington, Illinois to the University where Josh teaches and visit the small bookstore that has thousands upon thousands of books. I personally enjoyed these activities very much but one activity stuck out from them all, more like an individual. It was the pastor of their church.

Sarah and Josh's church is pretty big but quite homey for me. It was very nice and everyone welcomed us warmly. We had a wonderful time singing the hymns but what really hit me, in my personal life was one of the points in the pastor's message. He started talking about the church and the different ministries in the church and how everyone of them make up the church, from what I recall correctly. Now, he gave an illustration that hit me like a ton of bricks. It regarded Facebook. He talked about how you can have a Facebook and put anything you want on there. Old friends may look at your profile and say, "Hey! That Sam Stone is a really good looking guy! God has really blessed him so much!" But in reality, just for example, of course, I am involved in a lot of things that a Christian shouldn't be involved in: drinking, looking at pornography, living an immoral lifestyle, breaking the law, etc. But the old friend just sees my profile. Oh, I post bible verses ALL the time on my status! It must make me so much "holier" than EVERYONE else, does it not? Of course not! All Facebook is is a facade. A "cover up" of what some people really are. That is what really hit me the hardest. I was accused so much of posting things on my status that were true, yes, but was I living them? Of course not! I was involved in a lot of things that I should have never gotten myself involved in! My devotions for last Saturday, which was the day before the Sunday I heard this message, that I read about being a witness in my devotions.
Paul talks about in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 about being a witness and we must always be sharing the Gospel with the unsaved:

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

This really hit me hard: I looked at Facebook before the pastor spoke on it and realized I have been so hypocritical. I have posted things on here that were true, yes, but I did just the opposite. I didn't trust God fully, I didn't read my bible, I wasn't doing this or that. I felt so nasty inside! And then, this pastor gave an illustration on Facebook and how it is a huge factor in witnessing. My "face" on Facebook is not as it should be. I am not perfect but praise God I am getting things right. I am not posting this to be hypocritical; I am posting this for people like you who read this to think the next time you post a comment, the next time you put something "inappropriate" on your "links" or "video" page.

In I Peter 3:15, Peter says, "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"

What is that saying? It is saying to be ready to give an account of what you have been or are doing currently! So, when you post something on your status that says, "I totally got wasted last night. HAHA!!" and your unsaved friend says, "What was that all about? I thought you were a Christian?" what would you say? What is your "face" on Facebook?

Sobering, is it not?