Is Facebook Causing Me to Sin?

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:16

Let me start by saying that I have accounts with four social media channels including Facebook. I also create content for social media for work. So I'm just sharing my thoughts as I navigate. I don't have all the answers.

As I scrolled down my Facebook news feed one day, I found an article that said Facebook can significantly increases jealousy, anxiety and depression for many users.

Perhaps this shouldn't be a shocking revelation since I've certainly felt some envy as I've looked at Facebook. Yet I never connected my Facebook use to sin.

I didn't really want to cut off my Facebook account. I like keeping in touch out-of-town friends. Plus, social media is really important in marketing these days. And that's my business.

So after talking to God about my dilemma, I came to some conclusions. I think this is God's answer for me at this time.

1. Perhaps I should spend less time on Facebook.

2. I can choose who shows up in my news feed. If there are certain people who trigger jealousy, I don't have to unfriend them. (Though that could be an option.) I can just adjust a setting that hides their posts.

3. I can ask God to help me count my blessings and be joyful for others who experience greater blessings. God is big. He can do stuff like this!

4. I cannot allow anything -- Facebook, the culture, Internet, friends, etc. — to cause me to sin. So ultimately, I need to cut anything out of my life that causes me to sin. Just like Matthew 5:29 says.

Is there anything in your life that's causing you to sin? Ask God for wisdom, and then obey what He tells you to do!

Stacy