A Social Media Purge

John recently decided to go through and clean out some of his friends and followers on social media. He had noticed that his spirit has been a bit negative and even critical in recent days. He wondered if perhaps social media was having too much influence on his spirit. What could it hurt if he went through his accounts to see if maybe there were some friends on Facebook that did not belong? While he was at it he would check out who he was following and who was following him on Twitter. He discovered that there were some Facebook Friends that needed to be deleted. There were some followers on Twitter that needed to be blocked. Here are some of the friends and followers that he decided he should eliminate.

Ahab. John read some of the posts of Ahab and noticed that he has a personal vendetta against a man named Naboth. He makes all kinds of accusations on his page. He decided that he does not need to hear these accusations, so he deleted him from his Facebook friends.

Jezebel. Hmmm. He should have noticed she was big in slander groups. Block.

Potipher’s wife. Now that is embarrassing. John does not even remember accepting her friend request. He would never have done so if he had noticed her seductive profile pic. Why does she keep going on and on about that coat?

Shimei. Now, this friend was not really slandering as far as making accusations are concerned, but he was always throwing insults towards someone he does not like. It seems that every time he posts he has to hurl a stone of criticism towards someone named David. John did not really need to hear these underhanded remarks, so he unfollowed Shimei.

Judas. Judas seems like a pretty nice guy and claims to be a follower of Christ. However, it seems he is always talking about money. Every time he posts it is about materialistic things. He may not be a bad guy, but John wants to keep his mind on that which is eternal.

Saul. This particular friend has a tendency to attack God’s anointed ones. John detected a bit of envy in him as he is always tearing down others in order to build up himself. John decided it probably would be best if he did not keep him as one of my friends. John does not want any part of lifting up his hand against God’s anointed even if its on social media.

Ahithophel. He was a friend to one of John’s closest friends. Something happened and he became his enemy. John felt he was affecting his spirit so he decided to remove him from his friends.

Diotrephes. This guy appears to be quite a big shot in his church, but all he does is find fault and criticize. He doesn’t like the way the pastor preaches, he doesn’t like the way the money is being spent, and, well, he pretty much doesn’t like anything and he lets it be known on his Facebook page. John unfriended him.

Eliphaz, Elihu and Bildad. John unfriended these three because they are so negative towards everyone. They find something wrong with every Christian who is going through a difficulty. Rather than encouraging they seem to be judging. John decides he doesn’t need their critical posts in his Twitter feed.

Alexander the Coppersmith. Now here is a guy who has made Paul his personal object for destruction. Wow, this guy is hateful. I think he is a bit obsessed with Paul, so he is using anything he can to hurt him, even lying about him. Why the need to comment on every post he makes? Why does he twist every statement out of context? Block.

Absalom. This guy is a rebel. He likes to criticize authority and get others to follow him instead. Why is he always talking about his generation? He even criticizes his own father. Of course, he does so by talking about how he is doing ministry better. He is smooth but he is obviously a rebel. I’m tired of hearing him go on and on. Mute.

The Serpent. This guy loves to use questions to start an argument. He enjoys making people doubt the truth by asking questions to get them to doubt what they believe. He talks like he thinks he is smarter than God. John blocked him.

It is sad but amazing at how many use social media to perpetuate Satan’s messages.

Most of them probably did not realize just how much Satan has manipulated them. Apply biblical principles as to who you would allow as friends on social media. It can not be enough that you were classmates or that you grew up together. It’s not enough that you are family friends or even family. No, we must decide that Philippians 4:8 would be our guide. For example:.

I want friends who tell the truth. Truth is not what someone may have heard. The truth is the truth. Too much speculation and retelling of gossip gets posted on people’s social media sites. I will distance myself from those people. People who like to tell part of the story or the embellish the truth in order to hurt someone else are people I don’t need influencing me on social media

I want friends who are just. There is nothing more unjust as trying to accomplish justice on social media. People who carry out their vengeance or justice online need not be my friends.

I want friends who are pure. Purity is not the absence of impurity. Purity is the presence of righteousness. I don’t need their shady postings or postings that do not perpetuate good things. When they post about their unscriptural lifestyle it does not meet the definition of purity even if they quote a Scripture verse now and then.

I want friends who are lovely. You might need to go to first Corinthians 13 to fully understand this one. Hateful people are not good friends for social media. A lovely person is someone who does what they do because of love not hate. Haters are not the right kind of friends for me.

I want friends who are promoting a good report. That’s pretty simple. Don’t tell me all the bad that is happening in this world. Some people are merchants of bad news. They love to talk about the sins of other Christians, the fall of preachers, the failures of leaders, or anything else that is bad news. I wasn’t told to go into all the world and spread the bad news. I was told to spread the Gospel so I want friends who perpetuate good news or should I say the Gospel.

I want friends who recognize virtue. The kind of friends I want on social media are people who are looking to do and speak right in order to edify other Christians, not speak of evil. I guess I want friends who want to use social media for the good it can do not the damage it can cause.

I want friends who promote praise. There are plenty of negative people posting all over social media. I want friends who are uplifting and whose postings lift up the name of Jesus and bring honor and glory to him. You don’t glorify God by tearing down others. You glorify God by lifting up Jesus.

Social media has an effect on me and it does on you as well.

Perhaps it’s time for you to check out who your friends are on social media, and then to do some unfriending, unfollowing, and blocking.

This article in its original form originally appeared in the book, Satan’s Toolbox as the chapter, “A Few Facebook Friends to Delete”.

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