Should I be on Facebook?

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I’ve been a long time Facebook user and have given it up occasionally(like during Lent etc).Have not been on it for the past 2-3 months.

I don’t miss it. However, I feel that I could evangelize to friends using the platform. Maybe share an article or like a page/article that is pro-christian. The media can be pretty one track these days.

Is it worth sacrificing relative peace of mind(as I get riled up with certain peoples ignorant comments and articles) to evangelize.

Also, In the past I did not have as many work friends as I do now on facebook. I would have to be careful with what I post.
 
JSAD said:
I’ve been a long time Facebook user and have given it up occasionally(like during Lent etc).Have not been on it for the past 2-3 months.

I don’t miss it. However, I feel that I could evangelize to friends using the platform. Maybe share an article or like a page/article that is pro-christian. The media can be pretty one track these days.

Is it worth sacrificing relative peace of mind(as I get riled up with certain peoples ignorant comments and articles) to evangelize.

Also, In the past I did not have as many work friends as I do now on facebook. I would have to be careful with what I post.
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There is not reason not to get on Facebook, but I would separate my personal life from my work life. If you have any work friends do not have them for Facebook friends.

Also, don’t use your regular email account as your Facebook email account. Instead get a “disposable” email account like from Yahoo and keep that just to yourself… That way, your employer won’t be able to find your Facebook page using your regular email address (which they probably already have).

My :twocents:
 
I used to be on Facebook but I stopped using it. It it just a monumental waste of time.
 
I would say if you don’t use it, don’t bother.

I use it and it is handy, but I heavily filter it. Part of the problem (though it’s also useful) is that if people get annoyed by your attempts at evangelization they will probably just set your posts to ignore (which you won’t know about.) I have probably about half the people on my friends list set to ignore, and then I have an extension I added on that screens out any posts that mention, for example, the current US presidential election major party candidates. 😃 For me, Facebook is a way of sharing cute baby pictures with far away relatives and for coordinating playdates etc with some other moms who live near me.
 
If you get riled up over it, that’s probably a sign that it is not the best place for you to evangelize.

I don’t discount the possibility that a comment a person makes or a story they share might pierce through an unbeliever’s armor and serve as the catalyst for their conversion. But much more often than not you just see people doubling down on their own opinions.

In general, it is a better use of time to focus on the people you interact with in the real world (though the irony isn’t lost on me that I am giving you this advice over the internet :o).

FYI, you can always choose to put your work colleagues in a group and then set your default so that your posts are visible to all your friends, except those on your co-worker sub-list. I have such lists for “acquaintances” and for “colleagues”. Of course, I seldom post anyway.
 
I DO use facebook to evangelize and it seems to go over well. I would just caution one in what you write and how you present it. I don’t knock or criticize someone else’s religion or beliefs, but try to present the word of God in a soft and gentle way. “Love one another,” He said. Read and reread whatever you post before you hit “send” if you share the WORD. Peace.
 
pensmama87 said:
I would say if you don’t use it, don’t bother.

I use it and it is handy, but I heavily filter it. Part of the problem (though it’s also useful) is that if people get annoyed by your attempts at evangelization they will probably just set your posts to ignore (which you won’t know about.) I have probably about half the people on my friends list set to ignore, and then I have an extension I added on that screens out any posts that mention, for example, the current US presidential election major party candidates. 😃 For me, Facebook is a way of sharing cute baby pictures with far away relatives and for coordinating playdates etc with some other moms who live near me.
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I use it sometimes just for the funny stuff or snimal things. If I get something religious I pass it on. However, I had to post not to send me anything about the election be a use I wouldn’t comment on it or forward it. I was getting very upset that s relative was sending me these. That said, I had to quit Twitter as I was getting very upset and uncharitable about the election and some anti Cstholic things being sent. I’d be really careful though if you’re still working just in case. If you really want to evangelize you could always emsil your friends articles you find online in Cstholic publications. There’s a lot of good stuff I e sent from Churchpop.com about Catholic practices and saints.
 
JSAD said:
I’ve been a long time Facebook user and have given it up occasionally(like during Lent etc).Have not been on it for the past 2-3 months.

I don’t miss it. However, I feel that I could evangelize to friends using the platform. Maybe share an article or like a page/article that is pro-christian. The media can be pretty one track these days.

Is it worth sacrificing relative peace of mind(as I get riled up with certain peoples ignorant comments and articles) to evangelize.

Also, In the past I did not have as many work friends as I do now on facebook. I would have to be careful with what I post.
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It’s no wonder your peace goes away when it is doused with other peoples opinions about religion and politics. When people get together in person, religion and politics are usually avoided just to keep the peace, but not online.

Computer courage makes people say things they wouldn’t ordinarily say. People sitting around for hours staring at a screen. Before you know it they’re all fighting with each other online. Posters getting mad at their spouses after they quit the computer and return to reality. Next thing you know they’re doing it at work! I’m all for a Computer Temperance movement. I want to see Carrie Nation going through coffee houses smashing the free wi-fi modems with a baseball bat.
 
Mary_Estelle said:
I DO use facebook to evangelize and it seems to go over well. I would just caution one in what you write and how you present it. I don’t knock or criticize someone else’s religion or beliefs, but try to present the word of God in a soft and gentle way. “Love one another,” He said. Read and reread whatever you post before you hit “send” if you share the WORD. Peace.
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Indeed. Some people have the temperament to be able to charitably respond and put forth the Gospel message and the moral teachings that flow from that. Others are easily goaded into snarky comebacks and angry rhetoric. If you’re in the former camp, Facebook can be a great place to evangelize. If you are in the latter camp, you are better off not posting.
 
I wonder about the idea of “friends” being people you will never meet or see or give anything real to.

I ditched it when the “friends” I had never heard of starting creeping in; like a gigantic spiders web.

People matter more than that. And so do you.
 
I really despise Facebook, especially during an election year. Fortunately I have long deleted my account and now just join forums that I am interested in like this one. 😃
 
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