As a pastor, I don’t know what it would be like to have the power to command your congregation in such a way, but I appreciate that this pastor identified a real problem and has expressed his concern.
One of the phenomenons we find in such a social interchange is that it is easy for persons to develop an “avatar” of themselves. Hey, life, work and marriage is hard business (committed to the commitment, as we say) and it is a real temptation to slip into virtual reality, where you can be as you “imagine” yourself to be, and where others can foist themselves off on you as they also imagine themselves to be. There is only one problem with this: There is no reality here. There is no dealing with the harsh, everyday realities of personal shortcomings, financial straights and normal interpersonal struggles and relationships. For the emotionally immature and undeveloped, some of these social interfaces provide a great medium to escape personal responsibility and “life as it really is.” Is it any wonder that John Lennon’s song, Imagine, still sells so well in this emotionally undeveloped age?
So let us be careful of the relationships we develop in such ways. Remember, the potential for deception is very great on this modern stage. And let us also be careful to not find ourselves being discipled in the fine art of gossip, or at least grandstanding, all in the guise of some relatively new phenomena known as “social networking.” I really don’t need to know that you “washed your car” and “kissed your dog” today. Spare us.
The Holy Spirit’s admonition is more relevant than ever to these times:
“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you…” 1Th. 4.11. NASB
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,” 1 Thessalonians 4.11 NIV
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