Will You Be My Facebook Friend? Social Media and the Gospel by Tim Chester

Title: Will You Be My Facebook Friend?: Social Media & the Gospel

Author: Tim Chester

Book Information:

• Publisher:10Publishing
• ISBN: 9781906173852
• Page Count: 48

How did I get this book: A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Review: We can all benefit from technology in multiple ways- from texting, to checking sports scores, to listening to the Bible while commuting, to keeping up with friend on Facebook, to checking in on Foursquare, to discovering new books to read on Goodreads, or even reading an uplifting Tweet. 

Technology can be great, but the danger in it is that it can easily become perverted by our selfishness and sinfulness. Also, when we change the way that we communicate, it can alter the message that we convey as well as how it is received by others. Likewise, that same technology used to express what we think changes those thoughts, and ultimately changes what becomes important to us in our lives. 

Sometimes, technology, specifically social networking, absorbs an exorbitant amount of our time. According to page 12, author Tim Chester states that over 700 billion minutes are spent each and every month on Facebook. 

In addition to the above, technology can also become a constant interruption, which over time has lead to poor grammar, affecting the way we express ideas, and as page 13 cites, even losing our ability to construct an argument.

Now that we are able to attain information whenever we like about whatever we wish through smart phones, etc., we lose the importance of learning to hold information in our minds, and as a result, we are prevented from making connections between ideas. This may seem harmless when it comes to learning historical dates and facts, but what happens when the complacency expands to looking up Bible verses instead of memorizing and hiding them in our hearts?

At this point, we start to pay the price for what once appeared so innocent and convenient. Chuck Swindoll is quoted by Tim Chester as writting, "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified."

I don't know about you, but when I read that, it causes me to think of us like sponges. What we absorb is what will come out of us when we are squeezed and under pressure or in tough times. Since the power of life and death is in the tongue, I want to hide the LORD's word in my heart so that I might not sin against Him. Also, when things are happening in your life in real time, it helps to have some verses readily available to speak in faith as well as to praise God in advance while still in the middle of the storm.

Will You Be My Facebook Friend? Social Media and the Gospel by Tim Chester covers the problems with social media (some of which I itemized above), and talks about how we try to recreate our world, space, face, or image through projecting words in hopes of gaining approval. He also discusses how our bodies limit us to a particular place and time, how we can only be in one place at a time, and concludes that another reason we find Facebook so addictive is that it allows us to escape the limitations of our body. It offers intimacy without responsibility, and allows you to say things to a person that you would never say if you were alone in a room with them. 

Facebook also offers us the ability to redefine ourselves and construct our own world without being restrained by others. While Facebook encourages you to live elsewhere, the gospel encourages you to live here and now. So upon further examination of our hearts, are we using it to enhance our real-world relationships, or to simply replace them?

As Tim Chester says on page 41, "Facebook is the place where I show my face or image. For some of you it is the place where you recreate your image and your world through your words. The gospel is the place where God turns 'his face towards us' (see Num. 6:26). It is the place where He recreates us in His image and recreates His world through His words."

This book is powerful, informative, helpful, and yet sobering. This work is very relevant to our generation as well as the times in which we live. I strongly recommend it, as the insight provided therein will cause you to come up higher as well as to make decisions to form positive habits that will impact your life and ultimately eternity. 

Personally, I have switched from relying on the digital Bible app on my smartphone, and have bought a physical Amplified Bible. I will also be spending less time on Facebook, and more time developing real relationships with people by serving and showing them the love of Jesus Christ. I have also started to journal and read various devotional books. 

I am confident that the reader's eyes will be opened upon finishing this to-the-point book, and that they will experience more fulfillment and joy as they shift their priorities as well as their focus.    

Thank you, Tim Chester, for writing this amazing book and sharing it with the world. We sincerely appreciate it.

A Few Quotes: 

• "Social networking has rapidly become a significant aspect of the lives of many people today"-pg.7 
• "New technologies reflect humanity's God-given, Godlike creativity. God gave us a mandate to take His world and invent, create, produce... New technologies are enabling people to keep in touch over long distances."-pg.9 
• "Now texts, emails, blogs, Twitter and Skype enable missionaries to keep in constant touch with sending churches. These may not replace face-to-face contact, but they are a big improvement on occasional letters. New technologies are also enabling the message of Jesus to go into countries where missionaries could not readily go, or to reinforce the work of missionaries on the ground. Once it was radio. Now websites and online TV channels bring the gospel to people while Skype and emails allow follow-up discipleship."-pg.10

About the Author:

Dr Tim Chester is a director of the Porterbrook Seminary which provides affordable, Bible-college level training for church leadership and missional church in the context of your ministry (www.PorterBrookInstitute.org). He is a leader of The Crowded House, a church planting network (www.TheCrowdedHouse.org). He blogs at www.TimChester.co.uk. He has previously been Research and Policy Director for Tearfund UK and a part-time lecturer in missiology. He is the author of a number of books and series editor of The Good Book Guides (The Good Book Company). He is married with two daughters.

This review has also been posted on Amazon and Goodreads.

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