SOCIAL NETWORKS

Today's world is filled with a wide variety of ways to "keep in touch" with other people--family, friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends, strangers.  As a Christian, I find that it can be daunting to keep up with all of this technology and "friendship" that is offered.  I have to ask myself if this is the KIND of relationship I want from these people.  It is NOT face-to-face always.  The most satisfying has been SKYPE, and the Google chat line.  These offer me a free look and/or chat with family who are thousands of miles away.  I thank God for those opportunities.


But my experience with Facebook, for example, has not been as pleasant.  I have "looked into" other peoples' thoughts and it has been very upsetting to see just how far Satan has gone in this world.  Of course, I knew he was strong before this, but when you see it in people you know, it gets very scary.  I fear for their souls and pray for them.  


Social networking can be important if we are sending messages that are uplifting and important.  I think that when others are made fun of, it is not a good use of the medium.  And if someone writes something and permits comments, they should not be alarmed to see that not everyone agrees with their thoughts.  If they don't really want comments, they should ask if anyone likes their thoughts, then their egos will "get stroked," so to speak.  


Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told the disciples to go out into the world and spread the Gospel message---that there is eternal life for those who belief in Him and what He did for us as our Savior.  It took me over 40 years to truly understand what the Cross was all about, and now I look back and realize why I was so unhappy all of those years.  My joy is so wonderful and I want everyone else to have it too!  I wonder how, in this day and age, people can NOT have Christ in their lives and claim to be "happy.


Social networking may give us insight into others' thoughts, but it will not give joy.  For me, that can only happen within my relationship with Jesus.  It's the vertical relationship, not the horizontal ones, that gives truth and joy to our lives daily.