It’s Complicated with Facebook

By Tyler Williams

When we turn on the radio, watch the television, go to school, try on new shoes, or read a new book or magazine, we are faced with one common thread that has connected human societies since the beginning of time. Popular culture—with changing styles and fashionable pleasures—tempts Lutheran youth to compromise the truths found in the Holy Scriptures. In its place, it offers hollow and fleeting contemporary trends.

Today’s popular trend is being a part of Internet sites like Facebook.com and MySpace.com, where high school and college students can interact by sharing information about themselves and by gathering up lists of friends to create what many are calling their personal online “social network”. And many means many. Facebook.com is reporting that 85 percent of college students at supported schools are members on the site, and three out of five students in those colleges log on every day.

With this super-popular pop culture phenomenon, Lutheran students must decide how—if possible—they can be a part of the wave of youth logging on.

Lutherans must realize first that these Internet networks are an extension of the already troubling society in which we live. Secularism, humanism, homosexuality, and alcoholism often temporarily satisfy our sinful, worldly appetites, and it is not an y different on these Web sites.

And sin is all over Facebook and MySpace.

On Facebook.com, students have the option of indicating that they desire a relationship with a man or a woman or both. When it comes to romantic relationships, the site places heavy emphasis on relationship status, even allowing persons to post if they are interested in a relationship or just “random play.”

For many, the site does not serve any purpose other than self-glorification and indulgence in sinful personal gratification. Many act egotistically and use the site to market themselves to others, often promoting their tastes, their abilities, and their characteristics to sell their name to the world. They forget about their higher purpose on earth: to receive the gifts of God, not the glory of men.

Is it that Facebook and other similar sites are worse that the society around us? Can we avoid these evils by not logging onto Facebook?

Whether we log on to these sites or not, we are all guilty of these sins. We have served ourselves, not God. We do what is best for ourselves, and we forget about our purpose. It is the world that is plagued by the chronic condition of sin. It’s just that Facebook, with its organized interpretation of what’s popular, shows us the deeply infected society in which we live.

In fact, according to the site’s “Pulse” section, which determines what is most popular in pop culture based on student profiles, The Da Vinci Code—a book that mocks Christianity and blasphemes Jesus Christ—is the most popular book among Facebook subscribers.

With all of the negative aspects of these social networks, should Christians be a part of this latest craze? The apostle John wrote in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (ESV). While we are expected to live in the world and be a part of its society, God calls us through His Word to live above the worldly standard.

Being a part of Facebook-like Web sites—much like our interaction with others in society—is not wrong in and of itself. But the Christian must ask himself if his actions in society are helpful to himself and those around him.The Christian must question whether or not he participates in these social networks for the right reasons. And the Christian should avoid the evils that are common among groups and users of sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Another idea is to leave the sites altogether and search for a non-secular Web site for online interaction and friends. Higher Things has created a new alternative site for Lutheran students where the focus is different. The Higher Things forum (http://forum.higherthings.org/) is a site where you can create your own profile, discuss issues with other Lutherans, or just chat about anything going on in life.

Unfortunately, being pure and without sin is hopeless for us all, like a terminal illness. The only cure is forgiveness by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lived a life free of sin and gave Himself on Calvary for our sake. Because of Jesus Christ, we now live with the knowledge that our sins are forgiven not by anything we have done, but because we have become heirs of salvation having the hop e of eternal life.

Tyler Williams is a pre-seminary student at Concordia University Wisconsin and is studying theological languages and philosophy. He serves on the editorial staff of the student newspaper, The Concordia Beacon. E-mail him at Tyler.Williams@cuw.edu.