I joined Facebook a while back for several reasons.  I wanted to keep up with my daughter who was attending college… I wanted to re-connect with friends from high school and college… and I wanted to stay in touch with my other two children and be somewhat of a fly on the wall as they interact with their friends as best I could.

Two of those goals have had positive results…. I have really enjoyed the reconnecting with old friends and it has been convenient to stay in touch with my daughter.  But I have also been disappointed too…

While going to my kids “friends” pages I saw videos, pictures, and read posts that were to say the least… disappointing.  You see, I am one of those parents who ascribes to the “Trust But Verify” doctrine.  I’m also one of those that takes to heart 1 Cor 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

To this point, I haven’t found anything on my children’s pages that would be considered inappropriate… however… on their friends pages (And pages of friends of my own from high school and college) I have been grieved at times.  For instance…

One young person I baptized a number of years ago stated they were now an agnostic…

Some of my children’s friends posted videos, pictures, and have made comments that are extremely disappointing and quite different from the kind of person they presented themselves to be while in my home.  Aside: I have also been grieved upon hearing the kind of pictures young people send of themselves by “MMS.”

Some of my own friends, who I remember having a strong faith years ago, seem to have taken a turn away from God since I knew them…

As I read and observe all the things different people post on Facebook, I am reminded of what it is recorded that Jesus said as found in Matthew 12:36-37

    I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,  37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

That applies to everyone… including me… even regarding the posts on Facebook.  It is my observation about friends who seem to have turned away from God that brought to my mind Colossians 1:21-23…

    And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, 23 IF indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…

The #1 affirmation and proof of salvation is continuation in the faith.  It simply is not possible for a person to be saved… and then fall away from Christ.  Those who Christ saves will continue in the faith.  If/when they depart, they were never saved to begin with.  They didn’t lose their salvation… they never were in Christ.

Facebook offers several opportunities that otherwise might not be available…

A way to encourage others…

An avenue by which to know who to pray for…

A way to network with people for God’s glory… 

AND…

It is a good way to apply 1 Corinthians 15:33 as a protector of our children.