Apr 22, 2010
From a biblical perspective, Facebook is no sin. From a social perspective, the character of Facebook is, like anything else, what you make it. Let’s throw MySpace and all other Social Networking sites into the mix too. Thumbnails are the little photos that Facebook users have all over their pages. While you can’t control what people use as their thumb, you can say “hey, not on my page you don’t.” Why though, do some NTCC folks have some of their OWN photos that look like that?
Here’s how it works
In Facebook, you first setup your home page. Then as you add people to your “friends list,” each one creates a constant connection from your page to the friend’s page, and a thumbnail photo of the new friend also appears next to his name on your page. Click on that photo, and you’re then taken to their page, and you see all THEIR friends. Each person has their OWN list of “friends” (connections) to whomever they choose. Thing is, all your friends are exposed to anyone that can visit your page. That means your friends list people can contact your family, church members or fellow ministers, from your list. You can become the conduit that channels filth to your brother or sister.
Some of the resident evils of Facebook and MySpace are cases where for example teens, find themselves in contact with the wrong types of people and sometimes run off to meet them; then it’s a very bad situation. In that sense, these sites are a tool of evil. In the business world, it’s a tool of productivity, etc. So what about Ministers of the gospel, whose wives display themselves with their legs revealed, cleavage, their hair cut and faces painted? Why are they in NTCC? That’s not what we are, neither is it godly. Does that show everyone that you aren’t really “one of the NTCC nuts” but you’re part of what’s “in?”
For the average Joe who wants to share his photos with his family and friends, or maintain a private dialogue with others, Facebook is fine I suppose. If Joe gets rank, that’s entirely up to him. If a Christian posts risque’ photos of her/himself? It is hard to reconcile that with shamefaced, modest, humble and chaste behavior. I don’t have a Facebook right now, but maybe someday. If I do, it will be up to me to keep it clean, and I don’t see why people want to publish information about themselves anyway, so maybe it’s just the fun of it.
One more thing
NTCC follows a system of ethics, not unlike many other institutions such as the military, non-profits, doctors, counsellors, businesses and so forth. You who are ministers know what they are. The New Testament teaches us, without regard to a certain churches or denominations, that certain people are not to be fellowshipped with. But some of you have your church members on your Facebook, along with X-ers and ministers, etc. So you are putting church members, members of OTHER Pastors and churches, at RISK on your Facebook, making them accessible to haters of the church. How is that ethically right? It’s time to clean up the mess.
Eph. 5 (8-13)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
I Cor. 5 (11-13)
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I Cor. 15 (33)
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
2 Thess. 3 (6)
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
II Tim. 4 (14-15)
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
Col. 1 (27-29)
Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
The Apostle said that he labored and strived to both preach Christ, AND WARN PEOPLE. That’s why I feel no grief about warning you. I’m not “posturing” as one man said, or seeking vengeance on this blog. But these X-ers have been flying under the radar long enough, creeping among you, ostensibly as your friends, while sowing discord and driving wedges. It is high time for NTCC’ers to realize that these serpents hanging in nearby trees need to be grabbed by the tail and yanked out, and removed from the garden. Remember, no one can control your Facebook but you.
Here’s how it works
In Facebook, you first setup your home page. Then as you add people to your “friends list,” each one creates a constant connection from your page to the friend’s page, and a thumbnail photo of the new friend also appears next to his name on your page. Click on that photo, and you’re then taken to their page, and you see all THEIR friends. Each person has their OWN list of “friends” (connections) to whomever they choose. Thing is, all your friends are exposed to anyone that can visit your page. That means your friends list people can contact your family, church members or fellow ministers, from your list. You can become the conduit that channels filth to your brother or sister.
Some of the resident evils of Facebook and MySpace are cases where for example teens, find themselves in contact with the wrong types of people and sometimes run off to meet them; then it’s a very bad situation. In that sense, these sites are a tool of evil. In the business world, it’s a tool of productivity, etc. So what about Ministers of the gospel, whose wives display themselves with their legs revealed, cleavage, their hair cut and faces painted? Why are they in NTCC? That’s not what we are, neither is it godly. Does that show everyone that you aren’t really “one of the NTCC nuts” but you’re part of what’s “in?”
For the average Joe who wants to share his photos with his family and friends, or maintain a private dialogue with others, Facebook is fine I suppose. If Joe gets rank, that’s entirely up to him. If a Christian posts risque’ photos of her/himself? It is hard to reconcile that with shamefaced, modest, humble and chaste behavior. I don’t have a Facebook right now, but maybe someday. If I do, it will be up to me to keep it clean, and I don’t see why people want to publish information about themselves anyway, so maybe it’s just the fun of it.
One more thing
NTCC follows a system of ethics, not unlike many other institutions such as the military, non-profits, doctors, counsellors, businesses and so forth. You who are ministers know what they are. The New Testament teaches us, without regard to a certain churches or denominations, that certain people are not to be fellowshipped with. But some of you have your church members on your Facebook, along with X-ers and ministers, etc. So you are putting church members, members of OTHER Pastors and churches, at RISK on your Facebook, making them accessible to haters of the church. How is that ethically right? It’s time to clean up the mess.
Eph. 5 (8-13)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
I Cor. 5 (11-13)
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
I Cor. 15 (33)
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
2 Thess. 3 (6)
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
II Tim. 4 (14-15)
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
Col. 1 (27-29)
Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
The Apostle said that he labored and strived to both preach Christ, AND WARN PEOPLE. That’s why I feel no grief about warning you. I’m not “posturing” as one man said, or seeking vengeance on this blog. But these X-ers have been flying under the radar long enough, creeping among you, ostensibly as your friends, while sowing discord and driving wedges. It is high time for NTCC’ers to realize that these serpents hanging in nearby trees need to be grabbed by the tail and yanked out, and removed from the garden. Remember, no one can control your Facebook but you.
Posted by mck at 9:31 AM 0 comments
May 2, 2010
PSALM 101
A Psalm of David.
1 "I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer."
A Psalm of David.
1 "I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer."
Posted by mck at 6:54 PM 0 comments
Ck1-
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May 6, 2010
Just a quick note about the blog post about Facebook
The recent Facebook discussion was about following the bible's instructions, not my instructions concerning personal communications. Decisions concerning this, as always, are up to you. However, I think some may be reacting too harshly, because there is nothing wrong with Facebook in itself, as I said before. So don't just Knee-jerk and throw out everyone. People are going to freely communicate in this new techo-world of ours, but courtesy is always in order, (the bible requires it) in groups both secular and religious, and Facebook can be a GOOD thing too, you just have to be careful.
There are many people that don't attend NTCC any more, who haven't done damage to anyone, and no one should be mistreated in any way. If you plan to remove someone from your Facebook list, at least give them a good reason and explain yourself. The same God that said to mark those that cause division and avoid them, said "love thy neighbor."
Mike Kekel
The recent Facebook discussion was about following the bible's instructions, not my instructions concerning personal communications. Decisions concerning this, as always, are up to you. However, I think some may be reacting too harshly, because there is nothing wrong with Facebook in itself, as I said before. So don't just Knee-jerk and throw out everyone. People are going to freely communicate in this new techo-world of ours, but courtesy is always in order, (the bible requires it) in groups both secular and religious, and Facebook can be a GOOD thing too, you just have to be careful.
There are many people that don't attend NTCC any more, who haven't done damage to anyone, and no one should be mistreated in any way. If you plan to remove someone from your Facebook list, at least give them a good reason and explain yourself. The same God that said to mark those that cause division and avoid them, said "love thy neighbor."
Mike Kekel
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