A Letter to Facebook Friends

My friend Rachel recently quoted this letter on her blog.

What the letter from A Concerned Pastor's Wife says is so right on... I'm going to quote it here too.

Dear Young Facebook Friends,

You have requested me to be your friend on facebook.  I was reluctant to accept, but took the advice of my husband who said that it would be a good way to know what is going on in your lives and to be an encouragement to you.  What I have seen has left me confused, sad, and frankly disappointed.  I see where you say you love God and the Bible is important to you, and I don’t doubt that; I really don’t.  Perhaps that makes me even more sad.  I wonder how certain aspects of training have fallen through the cracks.  I wonder where we have failed in training your parents so that they can adequately train you.  Are you wondering what I am talking about?

I am talking about the manner in which you portray yourself on facebook.  The unwholesome talk that comes from your fingertips; the OMG(taking the Lord’s name in vain); the careless words and chatter that you don’t stop to think about how it is perceived; even calling people “suckers” and telling them “they suck.”  You may say these things in jest but it doesn’t’ change the words, the meanings, or the degradation of your character.

Then there are the pictures you post.  Besides the fact you portray yourself as a narcissist when you post picture after picture of yourself in pose after pose, there are the poses themselves.  To be blunt, you might as well “pimp yourself out.”  I am not sure what the motivation is in posing in a sexual manner, angling the camera so we can see down your shirt, wearing shorts so short that it looks like you have none on.  You fondle poles, you pose as if kissing or licking other girls,  and pose like gang members.  It makes me wonder just what sort of  boys you are hoping to attract with your pictures because I am pretty certain it won’t be the Godly young man that is being raised to be a man, husband, and father.

With a burdened heart , I exhort you to please think about the kind of person you want to be, how you want to be seen, and most importantly how you can glorify God in the comments and pictures you post on facebook.  Take some time to reflect on  “Finally Brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. “Philippians 4:8,9

Lovingly,

Your Concerned Pastor’s Wife