The Internet and Facebook
I run to the computer. If I’m stressed, angry, depressed, bored it’s to the computer I go. To check my email (again, and again, and again), mindlessly go on Facebook, read look at my feeds, or go on Mothering forums.
Some people run to their TV, others run to people, others text. A few run to Christ when they’re stressed and I long for that to be true for me.
I always thought that the internet was stopping me from running to Christ. Take away the internet and I’d be free. But the more and more cold-turkey trials I do, or the more that I think about it, it really just boils down to a heart issue. If it wasn’t the internet it’d be something else. If I lived in the 18th century it’d be knitting, or cleaning or something else that is less addicting than Facebook. It’s all the same, even with the Israelites. They ran to actual “physical” gods while I run to cyber space (which I suppose is a god too).
So now that I’ve determined my problem (a.k.a. my heart) what do I do about things like the internet and Facebook? Do I tear out my right eye? But if it’s a heart problem I can’t remove everything. Do I keep them because of their usefulness? But, really, how useful is Facebook? What, I can comment on pictures of people that I already know? To keep in contact with people that I really don’t care about anyway? I can spy on people’s more flamboyant sins by looking at their photos? Sigh.
I’ve removed TV from my life and I have to say that I’ve never once, ever, ever regretted it. I don’t need to be able to chat with people about what happened in the latest Lost episode in order to love them. Is Facebook different? Is the internet different?
I guess the real question has to do with time. I spend SO much time on the computer. Is a shallow relationship with God really worth my name on Facebook?
- On June 28, 2009 @ 6:00 am
- In Faith in Life
- Tagged christianity, facebook, God, internet, love, relationship
Jess.. I have the same problem. I’m on the internet all the time. I’m looking at facebook every 10 mins. While I’m doing it I know I should be doing something else because I know I’m just looking because I’m bored. I did a week of praying the sermon on the mount. From chapter 5-7. It helped alot. I prayed it every morning before I went to work. It helped me to focus on God throughout my day and when I got home, I wanted to read books that helped my spiritual life. I yearned to go to the prayer room more. I’ve stopped doing that because of scheduling changes but I plan on praying the Sermon more. I want to it helps. There are 20 sections and you can pray 1 min. on each. That’s 20 mins. a day. Or do whatever. I’ll pray for the both of us to focus more on God and less on the internet.