The Facebook Persona

We’ve all seen it. That student in our ministry who is really involved, loves Jesus, is the example you point out whenever the deacons complain about the stains in the carpet, that shining star whom you love. And then you see their Facebook page and wonder where you went wrong.

It’s something that’s been going on for hundreds of years (the fancy word for it is “compartmentalization”). Basically we are taught to act one way in one place, but act a completely different way somewhere else. And church is a perfect example. I was always told how to behave and dress in church. It was strange I didn’t have to behave that way anywhere else…

Even when we were in high school we did the same thing, said things not church-appropriate, took pictures our parents never saw. The only difference is that Facebook allows everyone to see what you say and think all the time. Facebook friends aren’t separated into school, work, family and church. SNL even did a sketch about what to do when your mom wants to be your Facebook friend. The internet and social media hasn’t made us any worse at being a Christian witness, it’s merely shown us how bad we really are.

So how do we combat this? Matthew 5 tells the familiar story of how we are the light of the world, a city on a hill. Here’s the catch, a city on a hill can never be hidden. It is always there, always visible. It is impossible to hide. Christ is meant to always be visible. Even a few chapters later Jesus is having this same discussion with the Pharisees. Matthew 12:34 tells of Jesus explaining to these examples of pious religious life that the mouth only speaks what fills the heart.

As hard as it is, our calling is primarily to speak to people’s hearts, to heal the hearts, to hide God’s Word in their hearts. Doctors prescribe medicine to deal with illness, not symptoms, and we have to be careful not to focus too much on the symptoms, but rather deal with the root of what causes these Facebook profiles.

Plus, it’s fun to freak them out a little and let them know their pastor is looking at their profile…