We’ve all seen ‘Facebook Guilt’ in one form or another. I’ll share a couple loosely quoted examples:
- ‘I care about America’s soldiers – IF YOU CARE TOO YOU MUST REPOST THIS.’
- ‘I’m putting this status up for one hour today to stand up for ___ rights. If you feel the same way YOU MUST POST IT TOO – IF YOU DON’T I’LL KNOW YOU DON’T CARE!’
- I just gave $_ to ___ because I love ___ – if you love ___ you’ll do the same RIGHT NOW. If you DON’T you’re a cold, mean, heartless person!’ (Ok, I may be exaggerating here.)
We get it. You feel strongly about this. Reading your message you’re sending is akin to being whapped over the head with a frying pan though and we’re not going to re-post your message.
We Christians take Facebook Guilt to a new level with unresearched prayer requests.
- ‘Pray for sweet so and so who shot himself in the face with a ____, he’s hanging on for dear life so he needs all of our prayers! REPOST this if you believe in the power of prayer!’
I think it’s great to share prayer requests with your family and friends on Facebook – but when you see a sensational, heart tugging story I encourage you to do a quick search in Google to see if it might be outdated or even a fake story altogether. The internet is loaded with ‘urban legends’ and sadly that includes some of these emotional stories. When you post them without at least doing a quick fact check, you’re contributing to the problem.
This situation came up just this week, a friend of mine joined Facebook and came across this request and posted it. I recognized it and sent her a link to show her it is at best outdated, at worst, a complete lie. She was relieved to hear it and sad to know she’d been praying for a situation that didn’t exist.
The worst sort of Facebook Guilt I’ve seen perpetrated by believers goes something like this (again, loosely quoted – I actually held back some of the worst of it):
“I believe in Jesus and I’m not ashamed to post it here for all the world to see. Do you believe in Jesus? If yes, repost this status on your profile for one hour today to prove it to everyone. Some believers will do this. Some will not. Those who don’t are denying their savior. I know who my Christian friends are and I’ll be watching to see who stand for Christ with me!’
As I read this, my heart filled with horror.
- First, they’re embarrassing the Body of Christ with this threat laden nonsense. Imagine what the un-churched think as they read it.
- Second, just because they felt it was important to make a public confession at that moment, how dare they demand it of others? Do I have to act like a bonehead in public just because you have?
- Third, how could they suggest that those who prefer not to post about their faith on Facebook are denying Christ in some way?
I’m sure they had the best of intentions, I don’t believe they meant to be so mean spirited. Consider that the next time one of your well meaning Facebook friends posts something like that and send them a private message with a link to this post.
Facebook and other social media sites can be a great mission field. When we live out our live on these sites we have the opportunity to demonstrate our faith through kindness, encouragement and friendship. If you feel led to share your love for Jesus with your friends and family, I pray that you’ll do it with wisdom and love.
I have received a couple of e-mails like this as well as sms and I always feel so embarrased to know that people are being coericed into doing what they would normally would not like to do. Sharing my faith on facebook is not about what others compell me to do but what genuinely come out of a loving heart to the lost world. Jesus Christ did not go about solicting for prayers for others but doing the work as required by His father who hath sent Him. Let us follow our master in how we reach out to the lost world.
I would suggest that people should disregard such mails when they see it (if you love the Lord, send it to 14 people…..).
We should not make people to be guilt-laden.
It’s unfortunate when people lie. The thing about false posts is the authors are prophesying those things into their lives – and there is only so much we can do for such people.
Researching stories is always a good idea too.
God bless
I shy away from those things you “repost.” I learned a lesson once doing it because I thought the repost was funny and wanted to pass it on or have others “like” it; then I found out I offended some friends. I have never offended anyone with bible verses or quotes I post on facebook, this reposting is where I got into trouble. As I prayed about it, God made it clear that those posts to make people pray or feel bad can lead them astray and have a skewed image of who He is. I don’t post them anymore no matter what they are, I am just staying away from it. Thanks for discussing this! Blessings.
SO glad you are addressing this. Many of my friends tell me they send these because they “just like the content”. That’s great, but then just hit forward, and then go down and DELETE the “Forward this to ____ people and something will happen you’ve been praying for.” To me, when we post this on FB or send these on emails, we are showing others we are trusting in the MYSTICAL, not trusting in the Godly.
I ignore these types of Facebook posts and emails. Manipulation has no place in the Body of Christ. God looks at the heart of each one of us. Scripture reports when God is tired of fake outward observances and desires obedience over sacrifice. More than posing on Facebook or sending an email we need to attend to our inner attitudes, judgments of others, and submit to God’s leading to rid ourselves of these sins. Living a life of His love is a wonderful testimony to others and an invitation to know Him.
Okay, one more comment here…I have been pondering this topic today…how are we as Christians showing God when we copy and post the ones especially that say, pray if you care, something will happen in three days..etc? Doesn’t that show a cheap and cheesy God? God doesn’t need our prayers, He surely doesn’t need us to guilt people into prayer. Prayer should come from the heart. I am so glad that others are willing to discuss these issues that some may say are insignificant, yet as Christians one small compromise that we don’t even realize can lead us away from where we want to be. I have been there…I believe these “little” issues matter BIG. This was a great topic to discuss!
Also, not to get off topic, but I get many text messages too with the same type of messages, forward and be blessed by God..etc. I wonder how God feels about these?
Hello everyone. I just found this site while I’m drinking my morning coffee and I am very grateful. Great site love it!!! I would like to add my two cents about the facebook guilt. I find it silly but thats just me I suppose. My FB page is personal not for business so everyone I’m friends with I know and they know me. If they know me they know my beliefs and I know theirs. I don’t feel the need to pressure anyone besides not everyone I know are Christians. Lastly I am a firm believer in actions as opposed to words. Prayer….Love…..Gratitude. Words to live by. God bless.
I agree with you. The best way to do God’s work and show your faith is to do it in real life, not on facebook. Live your life in the best manner possible according to the Word of God, which includes acceptance and tolerance of others and their faith. Help those that you can in real life and give where you can.
I have no problem with people expressing their religious views on facebook but I have seen many of these such statuses from friends of mine that seem to attack other religions in the name of their own Christian faith, I wish they realized that they are doing their faith no service and making the rest of us look bad. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you for this excellent post. I would like to repost on my blog if you will permit it.
You sure can