Many people today use the internet. Using the internet to do research for papers or classes is something that we are all familiar with in a school setting. It also has tremendous social capabilities. There are millions of people worldwide who use Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and a whole host of other social networking sites and blogs. These sites allow us to keep up with family and friends whether they are 10 minutes away in the next community or whether they are on the other side of the world. Facebook and Twitter allow people to say anything that comes to their minds. This can be beneficial because we know what people think and why they feel that way. This, however, is also a great disadvantage as not every user of these forums uses these websites wisely. One girl down in Texas, for example, recently got hired at a Jet’s Pizza location in the town of Frisco. She posted something like this on Twitter “ewww tomorrow I start this stupid job”. This was followed by a thumbs down sign used a number of times. Her manager-to be saw that and responded “You’re not starting your stupid job tomorrow because I fired you”. Proverbs 4:23 tells us:”keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life”. In other words, what’s on the inside in our hearts eventually comes to expression either from our mouths or online in the form of a tweet or a post on Facebook. Although this passage applies to our lives in school, church, and the workplace, it applies here too. We must be careful about what we say and what we choose to view online. Why? Because employers are increasingly taking to Twitter and Facebook to check up on potential and current employees. This means that if you post a mean status about your current boss, for instance, you will most likely not be hired for a particular job. The same goes for those who post themselves doing things which are stupid at best or illegal at worst, as employers look to see what kind of judgment someone has. The internet is a great place to gain knowledge, provided that that knowledge is wholesome and God-glorifying. “The tongue of the wiseuseth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness”(Proverbs 15:2). When we sin online we must seek forgiveness for it and strive to better. May God give us the grace to be witnesses for Him while we are online!
Kevin Rau
Young Calvinists 