Social media.

Recently, I signed up for Pinterest.

And, although I originally thought that it would just be a great way to organize the recipes, projects, and ideas I find on the internet, I quickly realized that I was spending quite a bit of time browsing through the things that others had pinned, looking at houses I'll probably never have, recipes I can't eat (because of food allergies), and clothing I can't afford.

For quite some time, I've been thinking about the impact that social social media and the internet has on my life and, more importantly, how I interact with these things in light of my faith.

A blog entry written by my (wise) older brother, which you can see here, and an extremely thought-provoking article that he posted a link to, found here, have been instrumental is causing me to search my heart for my true motives when using technology.

I've been asking myself questions. Does my faith have any bearing on how I use the internet? Shouldn't it, since my relationship with Christ should be reflected in every area of my life? What attitudes do I have because of social networking that bring me closer to Christ or draw me further from him?

Do I use Pinterest to catalogue DIY ideas I've found so that I can make a gift to bless a friend OR do I use it to look through pictures of things that I want but will never have, making me discontent with my own life?

Do I use Facebook in a wise way, to keep in touch with others, while still making sure that I spend less time contacting through Facebook messages than I do showing genuine interest in my friends through phone calls and face-to-face interaction OR do I simply waste time with impersonal "contact"?

Do I use this blog to encourage others, to present valuable ideas and to show the joy that Christ brings to my life OR do I use it as a place to focus on myself, generating selfishness and a self-centered lifestyle?

I've been reflecting on Scripture in order to answer these questions.

James 3:1 says, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."

And Proverbs 17:28 says, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent."

Unfortunately, I know that my use of social media has been reflective of my self-centeredness and has served to make me discontent with all that Christ has given me, more often than I would like to admit. There have been times when I should have kept silent and times when I should not have presumed that I had something to teach.

So what does all of this mean? As of now, I haven't come to the conclusion that I should cease to use the internet. Or that I should delete my Facebook, Pinterest, and Blogger accounts. Right now, I'm simply realizing the need to pray and think through the things that I put on the internet and the fact that all of my thoughts should be taken captive for Christ, including those that are influenced my social media.

Christ is not outdated. He does not simply live in ancient Israel. In fact, if being in Israel this summer taught me anything it is that he is alive and continuously working in the lives of those who believe. So, even though it might seem that Christ has little interest in Facebook or Twitter or any other internet site, his love for us as individuals and his desire that we surrender every area of our life to him, dictates that my social media usage brings him glory. And that is what I'm going to continue to strive for.