Time to Speak
Ecclesiastes 1, 7, For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
…a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Some who read this will wish I had remained silent on this issue and actually, I have for a while now. It’s been about 6 months since I signed up on Facebook and it’s been all I can do to keep quiet about the godless chatter. But I heard about a situation caused by someone’s words on Facebook that caused them to lose their job. I’m amazed they’re the first one I’ve heard about. I believe it’s my time to speak.
“Social Network” is how Facebook presents itself. That indicates that this is a public forum. PUBLIC! As in, “Anyone can read this.” It is absolutely amazing to me what people will write for the world to see. Some of it’s foul language, some of it’s gossip, some of it’s slander, but most of it is benign nothingness (godless chatter). 2 Timothy 2:16 says, Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Then there are those things that are just none of my business and really should remain that way. I don’t want to read it in a public place. These are things like someone’s intimate feelings for another person or details of a financial situation or emotional crisis. Things only your closest friends and family should hear about.
Like the woman who lost her job and another post from one of my own Facebook friends about a situation at her workplace (that I’m sure her boss wouldn’t approve of), I am seeing people become more and more willing to speak up about everything in their lives. This is too much information and too many of us are spending too much time on something that has no eternal benefit. Several Christian friends have told me that they see these social networks as opportunities to point others to the Lord. Occasionally I see something there that may qualify as good and right and wise according to scripture but it is not the majority of what I see.
Ephesians 5: 15 – 17, Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
I don’t want to say that these sites are evil (though I do think that the evil one could keep us so preoccupied on them that we fail to spend time on more edifying and productive activity). What I do want is for every Christian who uses these sites to seek God’s will for them regarding their time and their time to speak. Watch your words closely. Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
How do your posts and my posts on Facebook or Twitter measure up to this admonition from the LORD? Is it time for you to “speak” on these forums or time to be silent?