It was 2007 and I had just returned from visiting a friend in London, England. The weekend was one of those legendary ones. You know, the kind you reminisce about, saying things like: “This one time when I was in London,” or, “Yeah I've met pirates on the Thames before, no big deal,” and feel very cool and posh about.
My return was met with an email from my friend saying she'd posted the photos from our adventure online and I could access them if only I would create a Facebook account. Unable to resist seeing the–what were sure to be—legendary photos, I created a profile and quickly adapted to the worldwide social media mutiny on the way we communicate.
Social media made perfect sense to me. At the time, I was living overseas with limited communication opportunities. It wasn't long before I was dedicating more and more Internet time to social media. It also wasn't long before I wondered how I ever managed to communicate by letters or phone calls. They were so…tedious.
When I created my online profile I had a few blanks to fill in, including a photo, something about myself, and my interests. I could make my profile say anything I wanted.
Online profiles are the new self-portrait—no longer limited to artists or writers, or people with cameras. The social media profile is a pixelated digital collaboration designed to present the self we want others to see. When creating a Facebook profile, you can even check mark what you're looking for and display it right on your page. The options are: Friendship, Dating, A Relationship, or Networking.
What are you looking for?
Relationships are important. God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other. So it not only makes perfect sense we would seek to make connections but it is understandable why we place so much importance on them. However, we must be careful not to confuse our Internet popularity with our self–worth. Regardless of how many Facebook friends or comments someone has (or doesn't have), our self–worth should come from God, for it is He alone who makes us worthy.
Here's a challenge: ask God to reveal your motivation for making online connections. If you suspect it's to fill a void in your life, know this is a void no social network can fill—not online, not anywhere. The void, as cliché as it sounds, is God–sized and no other relationship will be enough, no matter how many Facebook friends, Twitter followers, or blog comments you have.
In my experience, the easiest way to test your motives is to ask God to show you. Psalm 139:23 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts.” If you're willing to hear the truth of your motives, God will tell you. Sometimes it is painfully humbling to hear, but in the end, you will be thankful you asked and your faith will be strengthened.
For me, I found social media so exciting that I easily lost sight of why I joined in the first place. When I finally considered what my profile said about me, I concluded I was more concerned about looking cool than being real. It was clear I wanted everyone to know how fun and exciting and important my life was. I was bragging.
Something else to ask yourself: does my online profile bring glory to God? Our lives should reflect our hearts, and if our hearts and minds are fixed on God, then it will filter down into every aspect of our lives—including our virtual lives. If our lives are led by God's Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit will be evident: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Deciding to have an online profile is a decision each person has to make individually. While it's easy to see the arguments for or against social media, it is ultimately the questions we need to ask ourselves, which will make it clear if it's a healthy medium for us to engage in.
Once I admitted my social media motives, I found it easy to change my profile. The shame I'd initially felt for being so shallow was taken away and I was able to find a way to engage in social media that was still exciting, but also real. Even now I have to check my motives, but asking the questions: “What are my motives?” and “Will this bring glory to God?” often makes the decision to post or not to post easy to make.
