Is Facebook To Blame?

This blog was written in reference to the recent report about New Jersey Pastor Cedric A. Miller of Living Word Christian Fellowship who allegedly blamed Facebook for his sexual immorality and insists that his ministers delete their Facebook accounts (see - http://blog.themonastery.org/2010/11/pastor-blames-facebook-for-adultery)


If we look hard enough we can always find an excuse for our behavior. Some of us have legitimate reasons why we behave badly. Some have been abused as children or grew up without a mom or a dad. Many prostitutes and drug addicts fit that description and are still "looking for love" in a bottle or a needle. The latest craze is "sexual addiction," the term that cheaters use when they get caught being unfaithful to their spouses or lovers.

Blaming Facebook for sexual infidelity is like blaming television and movies for violent crime. There is nothing wrong with television and movies - you just have to carefully decide and choose what you and your family will watch! You have to know the difference between entertainment and reality. There is nothing wrong with Facebook! The only thing that can be right or wrong are the decisions that we make as to how we should use Facebook.

If married men and women choose to use Facebook to flirt and seek out the promiscuously curious then they may eventually get caught up in a web of deceit and sexual immorality. While it is true that the advanced technology increases the opportunities for temptation and the likelihood that past relationships may be rediscovered, it is ultimately the individual's personal moral character and integrity that will determine how he or she will handle every situation.

This is especially true of Christian believers who are supposed to be trying to live up to a godly standard of marital fidelity and sexual morality. I won't delete my Facebook page because it caused some Pastor to stumble.

Besides, I don't need Facebook as a source for temptation. There are a million temptations out there everyday! And even if I threw away my computer and my TV set and stopped going to the movies it still won't stop my mind from revisiting already implanted pornographic images, and it won't stop the lustful stimulation that occurs whenever a voluptuous female is nearby!

Here is the bottom line -

Temptation is a part of a Christian's process. Learning how to handle it appropriately and staying within the guidelines of God's will is the important thing. Remember - there was a forbidden tree in the garden of Eden at the beginning of human existence. It didn't get there accidently. God placed it there for a reason.

I'm not judging Reverend Miller. I don't know if I would behave any differently than he did under the same circumstances. Hopefully, nothing like that will ever occur in my marriage or during my walk with Christ, but if it ever does don't blame Facebook, don't blame it on the alcohol either! Just blame it on me and pray for my forgiveness!