Friending Old Flames on FaceBook

Worth the read:

And brings more to the forefront various concerns I’ve had about how some people I really care about, especially young people, interact on FaceBook. I SO don’t want to be the overly-concerned critical adult … but at the same time, I cringe at how much personal information is being revealed and stored PERMANENTLY about these pre-teens and teenagers. I’m not sure they (and their parents) understand the permanence of the internet—college, jobs, ministries, future relationships. I wonder if they understand that the zillion things they “heart” on FaceBook and the zillion groups / causes / fan pages they “like” might affect them in the future?

(Says the woman with the self-revelatory blog with a steady stream of 1,000+ readers every week. Yes. True. But I am AWARE that what I am sharing is staying around forever. And believe it or not, I don’t actually tell you a BUNCH o’ stuff—some things are only for my husband, best friend, pastor and elder. The rest? Yes. I do share openly because I hope and pray that somehow my authenticity will encourage Christians to a) stop FAKING it and pretending that they have it all together; b) run to the SAVIOR to find grace and mercy in their time of need (not to articles/podcasts/whatever to just try to DO better and BE better); and c) seek out the protection and blessings of sound doctrine taught and applied under ecclesiastical authority (i.e., the LOCAL CHURCH) because the Christian life is not some sort of Lone Ranger / act like a good person phenomenon. Or, at least, it’s not supposed to be.)

ANYWAY … the article on old flames and FB is worth the read, especially for those of us with the sad history of having old flames. (HT: Challies.com—for the article, not my sad history.) And please, yes, do think and talk and act with care and forethought re: internet / FaceBook use. I’m looking forward to Challies’ book next year on such things.

I’m still cookin’ along with a high fever and other, unmentionable, flu stuff, so I won’t be as accessible today. But I hope you have a wonderful Friday and head into your weekend blessed, blessed, blessed!

Your friend,
Tara B.