I like using Facebook. I like most of the functions in this particular social media and how it can help me to keep in touch and to ‘socialize’ with friends especially those in different places quite far away from here. I like posting pictures or updating status, for me my Facebook page is somewhat like my ‘online scrapbook’ haha.. Sometimes I like to just flick through to earlier posts or pictures just to bring out the mostly good memories they had; the reason I posted them in my Facebook page. I also like to scroll down the news feed just to read or see random posts from online friends. So why now I declare a strike to this dear Facebook?
One godly woman in my Facebook friend inspired me. Approaching the new year she posted a status declaring that she would be away for a while from Facebook just so she could hear more clearly guidance from God for 2014. Can Facebook be such a distraction in hearing more clearly from God? I believe it can.
When the first thing you do when you have ‘nothing to do’ is to scroll down the news feed, instead of reading bible (many people install Bible apps in their smartphone too but how many choose to open it compared with opening Facebook and other social media? …Hey, I did that too! I easily chose to open Facebook rather than my YouVersion Bible! *oh-oh*). Or when the first thing you do when you wake up is to check your Facebook notifications, instead of giving thanks and praying to God that He still gives you another chance to live? It was as if my hand was programmed automatically to grab my mobile phone as soon as I woke up! How scary is that? How scary this device and any form of social media can be so controlling our lives? I’m not trying to be religious here, there’s nothing wrong in the nature of this online thing, but after reading the status of that godly woman (she’s a pastor from US and I met her in several occasions when she ministered in Jakarta and Melbourne) I come to think personally that the time I use to opening my Facebook can be useful for doing other things. And just so to know to what degree this thing can have control over me?
Then I also have other particular reason. As our time for a holiday in Indonesia coming soon, I and my husband have this desire to fast for the needs of both our parents especially for their repentance and salvation. As we will be physically there with them, we just want to be an open vessel for God to use us for His purpose. We pray that God through His Holy Spirit will give us heart of love and boldness to obey and do what God will be going to do through us to them. This thing about our parents’ salvation is ‘very complicated’, but we’re just trying not to lose our heart but to keep hoping God will do His miraculous works in their lives. So, if now what we can do is to the length of prayer and fasting, we just want to do it rather than not doing anything at all. I’ve been fasting in the kind of not eating or drinking, or giving up coffee and tea for certain time, or dessert (those loveable things from life! haha..) and this time I just want to give a go for something different, so Facebook came to my option! Every time my hand ‘automatically’ grab my mobile and thinking of opening Facebook, I know I’ve made right decision to fast on this thing because it does have some sort of ‘control’ over me.
At first I felt I might miss the ‘hottest update’ (haha) but after doing it for a week it doesn’t really matter anymore.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” – Matt 6:22-23
Limiting my eye from seeing what other people post in Facebook does help me to focus on what is crucial, therefore helping me to guard my heart from unnecessary temptations which may exist in Facebook.
Nevertheless, no offence to all Facebook users and friends, this is just my own personal sharing. Just like what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:23,
“Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up” (CEB)
“Some of you say, “We can do whatever we want to!” But I tell you that not everything may be good or helpful” (CEV)
Oh, and if you read this through my Facebook post, it’s because this blog has been programmed to publicize all my entries automatically to my Facebook (and Twitter).. so consider that doesn’t count 😛
ps: as I’m trying to find images in correspondence with this post, I’m surprised to see there’s a lot of options of “Facebook fasting”, meaning that people must have realized how controlling this thing can be and for whatever good reason they have, at one time they just have to have a strike on Facebook! lol
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