Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. –Psalm 119:37
Early this summer I finally gave in and entered the 20th Century. I got on Facebook as a ministry tool. I had been told of the benefits. I have seen some use it effectively in this way. I just signed off of Facebook. Here is my last post:
NOTICE: I would love to communicate with any of you, the old-fashioned way, email or the Web, www.revivalyearnings.org. However, I have decided that Facebook is not best for me. I love being in touch. But I have to be responsible to the Lord for the stewardship of His time. Also, I’m sure no one will feel so free to be profane, vulgar, crude or offensive on my email.
It’s been an eye opener to say the least. No doubt, I am a dinosaur. We don’t even get TV reception; haven’t had it for several years now. Therefore, when I am in a place where a television is on, I am stunned. Maybe Puritan would be a better word for me. That was originally a slur, and probably would be intended that way today if used to describe me. So be it.
I assure you this is not a case of feeling ‘holier than thou’. Quite the opposite actually. Most of the people on my Facebook would call themselves Christian and would therefore, I assume, desire a life of holiness. I cannot speak for others, I’m simply not free to use the language others do, or recommend the same movies or books or music or TV shows. Decades ago, I went to an evangelist’s house to visit. He was one that I considered the premier Southern Baptist evangelist at the time. I looked up to him. He met me and another friend at the door with a Penthouse magazine in his hand, said he was doing research for a message against pornography. I remember thinking that he must be way more spiritual than I was; I certainly couldn’t handle that. Turns out he couldn’t either. Think the worst.
My definition of vulgarity is outdated, no doubt. One day I may have enough nerve to spell out some of the ‘borderline words’ that I believe have long since crossed the line unnoticed. Someone slipped in during the night and changed all the labels. These are words that originally denoted sexual functions and body parts and bodily functions and now are common parts of speech. I’ve even seen some of these words as adjectives for God. I realize this is done in ignorance, and in that sense, innocence. But sometime, somewhere, somebody has to say something!
I’ll give you an example. You may think it totally innocuous. It was my ‘cuss word.’ Quite sometime ago the Holy Spirit convicted me of it. My hammer on the thumb word was ‘dadgummit!’ If you think through it, it’s just another one of those alternative words for taking God’s name in vain.
The main reason I’m signing off of Facebook is grief, deep, bitter disappointment. To me, Facebook is a parable of American Christianity. Remember, most of my ‘friends’ are Christians, self-proclaimed. I’m not judging, just observing. The standards of holiness have been lowered to non-existent among church people. In response, I wrote an article, My Greatest Fear, which has since become a Gospel tract. You can find the article on my website. My greatest fear is that some of my friends and family members, and church folks across the nation are deceived into thinking they are saved when they are not.
Culture changes. Language evolves. God’s Word does not.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:29-30
Your friend in Christ Jesus,
Dan Grindstaff