social media | Melissa's Musings

Social Media affects all parts of our life. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube (just to name a few) are ingrained in our day to day routines. During the recent pandemic and social media has been the place to get information, to attend church and to just stay in touch. There are some really good things that occur on the platforms.

I love keeping up with my extended family through Facebook. I have watched my great-nieces and nephews grow up through posts. I have reconnected with school friends and teachers. I have been able to host “watch parties” of church services for The Bridge on Sundays during our time of social distancing. It’s been great to share my church with others all over the state. Our small group has been meeting through WebEx and we even had a family wedding via Zoom. All of these things have been great. I love seeing posts that recognize local accomplishments during this time. We’ve seen food distributed by schools and organizations, hand sanitizer made and distributed by local distilleries, masks being handed out in central areas. All of these things have been good.

But, along with the good, there are some bad things that occur because of social media posts. Information that is not correct is often posted as fact and then the false information gets passed along (very quickly). Those that live with a “glass half-full” attitude concerning life, can promote panic among others. (I suspect the hoarding of toilet paper was exacerbated by panicked posts.) Rumors become “truth” in a flash when they are shared across the social media platform. It’s easy to make negative and/or hurtful comments with a post on Facebook or Instagram. There is empowerment that comes from the facelessness of a keyboard. We will post words on these sites that we would NEVER say out loud to a person’s face. We attack friends and family with a simple comment.

And then, there’s the Ugly. Social media platforms while promoting social equality and interaction between users, has given us a way to deepen the gulf between the differences. Political ads and campaigns have always been harsh and often ugly. But, social media has allowed “US” to be included in the muck and mire. Opinions are no longer welcome (unless you agree with me?!) Because the written word doesn’t convey emotions, there is no tempering of the vitriol that we spew to protect/support THE side. Half-truths and out and out lies take an equal if not greater footing with truth. I’ve seen (and felt) relationships dissolve for these reasons. I believe in healthy debate. I think you have as much right to your opinion as I have to mine. But, I don’t get the need to attack, the need for emotional vomit when I say something that is contrary to your thoughts.

Another aspect of the ugly side of social media is the opportunity for sex trafficking. Underage students are posting/receiving explicit photos on various platforms. Sex traffickers seek out the disenfranchised youth and make offers that are “too good to be true.” How many busts have been reported that originated in a chatroom or some other social media app? My kids grew up at the beginning of chat rooms and there were way too many girls/guys sneaking out at night to meet someone they only knew from a chatroom. Sometimes it turned out ok. But, the times that it didn’t outweighed them.

So, what’s the questionable part of social media? I will admit to be old. But, I will add, that I have also been called an “over-sharer” on social media. With that in mind, I have to wonder some posts I’ve seen most recently. Is it really necessary to document every moment of the day and post it for others to see? Am I missing something here? I understand the YouTube tutorials and have watched several to figure out how to use or do certain things. But, why do I need to see how you get dressed for the day or other intimate details of your life? Most of us wouldn’t live on a busy street and leave the windows uncovered for any voyeur to watch the details of our daily lives. So, why do we exhibit these same things on the web? Is privacy being sacrificed on the altar of self-importance? Have we raised a generation that does not know how to be an individual and only feels accomplished when others “like” or comment on our posts?

We live in a world of fast food and microwaves. We have lost the art of planning, patience and perseverance. I would hope during this time of recovery, we can take the time to consider our interactions and decide:

Finding the good things and keep them up
Being aware of the comments I make and the way they may hurt others.
Avoid being pulled into the dangerous world of misinformation and vitriol.
Concentrate on encouraging the living breathing people around me.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we have all seen acts of service for others affected by the storm. Churches, organizations, businesses and first responders have all banded together to do what is needed to evacuate and to provide food and shelter to storm victims. Teams of people from schools, religious organizations, neighborhoods as well as out-of-state volunteers have come into the area to clear out debris and start the recovery process. The response has been immediate and awe-inspiring. The servant’s heart has had ample use this month. The opportunities for selfless service have been endless as have the opportunities for those seeking the limelight of recognition. Does the motive for serving matter?

Having a servant’s heart means to put other’s needs ahead of our own. A person with a servant’s heart doesn’t look for rewards or recognition or even gratitude. In our social media heavy world, we walk a fine line between giving information and seeking recognition. There were many, many groups posting on the various social sites about helping after the storm. These posts were important because they got information out to those that needed it in a rather efficient manner. Volunteers were organized. Needs were recognized. It worked pretty well. There were lots of photo ops with people working and helping both neighbors and strangers. Our city came together to help. As the days passed, I began to see more “LOOK AT ME” posts. The transition was gradual, but the “where can I help” posts became selfies touting “look what I did today”. The photo ops were still there, but the focus was changing to “ME”. Needs were still being addressed. So, I kept asking myself, “Does it matter why we serve?”

This is a question I ask myself, quite often for some very different reasons. I have years of experience leading worship in churches. I started singing in church when I was 5 years old and sang “Little Baby in a Manger” at the Christmas Program. I’ve sung solos and in groups. I’ve played the piano and the organ for several congregations. I’ve even played my trombone on several occasions. I know that I can sing. When leading others in worship, I had to review my own motives every week. Was I singing because I wanted God to be honored or was I really enjoying the spot-light? To be honest, there was a little of both most of the time. I love music and I love to sing. During a season of my life, the only reason I had to be in a worship service was because “I” was on stage. I did not participate in anything else. I realized that I wanted (maybe even needed) the reward of recognition that came through performing on Sundays. But, there were also times when the greatest worship time I received was in rehearsing to lead others in worship. It was in those moments when I KNEW that God had given me a purpose.

In the 80’s, I heard a sermon that addressed the many people who had come to salvation through the work of some well-known and fallen evangelists. Jim and Tammy Bakker & Jimmy Swaggart were known as ministers of God’s word. They built their ministry serving others and reaching out to others in need. The Bible was taught. People were saved. But supporting the ministry became the primary need. People were no longer encouraged to be involved in their local church. Once the performers became more important than the God they served, things came crashing down. A lot of people were hurt and turned their backs on God as a result. I believe we have to look at our own motives for every act of service.

In most cases, I don’t know that it matters to anyone else why we choose to serve others. As long as we are meeting the needs of those around us, we are fulfilling a purpose. In the end, though, we have to stand before God and give an account of our lives. I will have to own up to the times that I was more interested in the praise of others than I was in following Him as a servant. I will have to admit the times I was fishing for a compliment. I will have to confess the moments when I wanted my star to shine brighter than any other. I will have to face the moments when performance and not service was my primary goal.