Before I begin, I want you to know I have wanted to write about this for a while, but I have been hesitant to. Why? Well, I obviously am aware of how many people I may offend. This is a subject that I know several people will find offensive and want to dispute my feelings, but after much consideration I have decided to write it anyway. I don’t think a lot of people realize the ramifications of the things they do, and how it may affect other people. That being said, I also feel it needs to be said, and hopefully instead of getting offended, you will examine your thoughts and actions and hopefully see the point I am trying to get across.

Who doesn’t have a Facebook account? It’s a place to reconnect with people we haven’t talked to in years, keep in touch with friends who move away, and just see what the people we see on a daily basis are up to. We post pictures, read blogs, and occasionally take whatever quiz our friends are passing along. I personally love Facebook because 90% of the people I love and care about live at least 1500 miles away from me and it’s easy to keep in touch in a very involved way, or just in passing. They can see pictures of my boys and know what is going on in my life without them being upset when I just don’t have time to call them. But in the 3 years since I have joined the FB world, there have been many times I have asked myself “What was that person thinking?”

One of the most popular fads that has come through the social networking site was the quest to raise awareness for Breast cancer. Some of us were shocked and appalled when women started posting the color of the bra they were wearing, and some innocently joined in thinking it was just a fun little game. Yes, I said innocently. I do not believe that every woman who participated had thought of what this would do to their friends of the opposite sex. In fact, I know of several people who had no idea until it was brought to their attention. My own family (who are Christians) played along and when I opposed and told them why, they completely understood and were regretful. But unfortunately this is not the only time immodesty on Facebook has been an issue, and I will again say I believe it is not always intentional.

Is what you are posting going to lead to a visual image you wouldn’t want anyone else but your husband to have?

In our house, we discuss modesty and impure actions all of the time. I have 3 boys and odds are against them when it comes to such things as pornography and unclean thoughts. They are young men and are just constructed that way. We discuss how to keep their minds clean and try to think of every instance we can to help them. But sometimes things are just going to come up that will completely blindside them, and for that it is not all their fault. The reason we discuss these things is because my husband has had to learn them. He has allowed me to share with you that he has deleted many friends and even his own Facebook account because sometimes the posts women put up are too much for him to handle.

So let me ask you to reevaluate what you post on Facebook. Is what you are posting going to lead to a visual image you wouldn’t want anyone else but your husband to have? (yes, this includes telling everyone how much you enjoyed your bubble bath or shower. Believe me, I know how absolutely relaxing it is, but you never know who will be affected in a way you wouldn’t want them to) Do you post words or abbreviations for words that would be slang for something else? (yes, this includes OMG) Do you have pictures on Facebook that leave an ungodly image of yourself? (yes, this includes pictures from 5 or 10 years ago)

Again, I am aware that a lot of women will be offended by this article, but I would ask that before you post anything to Facebook, ask yourself these questions

• Does the picture/post show that I am a Christian?
• Will this picture/post be seen by a man and make him have unchristian thoughts about me?
• Is this a picture/post I would show God if He was my FB friend?

“Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12b

Let’s be careful to examine ourselves, and strive to not be the reason a man stumbles or falls from God because of what we post on Facebook. It can be a truly great thing if we let it, and it can also be a disastrous thing if we let it. Which will it be for your FB friends?

By Wanda Gail Coker
Wanda Gail and her husband, James, are graduates of Bear Valley Bible institute of Denver. They currently reside in Woodland Park, CO where James is serving a pulpit minister at the Woodland Park Church of Christ. They have been married for eight years and have three boys: Caleb, Mason and Jacob.