The Glory Of God & Facebook

Huh? What in the world do these two things have to do with the other? A lot!

1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Scripture clearly calls God's people to do all to the glory of God and in the name of the Lord Jesus. That includes eating, drinking, speaking, sleeping, parenting, fighting cancer, enduring the recession...and yes, socializing. We are to do everything in order to make much of God. Philippians 2:14-15 admonishes us to...

Philippians 2:14-15 [14] Do all things without grumbling or questioning, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

In other words, we live in a sinful and fallen world. As God's children, we are to shine brightly and live blameless and innoncently in this crooked and twisted generations. We are to live in a way that shines forth the gospel and glory of God in Christ Jesus--the perfect image of God. Included in "doing all for the glory of God" is time spent on networks like Facebook, Myspace, etc.

Now one of the things that I've noticed on Facebook is that people (in general) like to use it as a platform to complain and grumble (Philippians 2:14-15). That is what Scripture explicitly counsels us not to do in this twisted generation. Grumbling and complaining is the opposite of showing the glory of God. Perhaps you've seen this or done this. I know I have before but grew increasingly uncomfortable with idea.

Joshua hates it when...
Joshua's tired of...
Joshua can't stand...
Joshua is angry with...
Joshua is not looking forward to...

First things first. Joshua hates it when people talk about themselves in the third person. That's a joke of course. But you do understand what I'm talking about when it comes to the open grumbling and complaining.

There are some of you here that have used the little "update" feature for some really great encouraging thoughts from Scripture. Others have used it for updates on what the Lord is teaching them or doing with them. Those, I think, are great uses for that feature. But let's make sure that we don't fall into the sin of airing dirty laundry, venting, complaining or tearing down others in social networks like these. That is not to say that it is ok in private--it's not. I am sure that a little leaven will go a long way into causing others to stumble into the same sin. And I am sure that this does not promote the gospel in any way whatsoever.

Joshua doesn't know of anyone here (on TALIA) that has complained with the update feature, so please don't think that this is a rebuke to anyone in particular. I was just thinking about my tendency to sin by complaining and recalled how I see a lot of updates on Facebook and a lot of grumbling and complaining. Perhaps we can all be a little more mindful that God has given us another platform to make much of Him.