Facebook Deletes

Several years ago, I was Student Pastor at Fellowship. During that time I became Facebook "friends" with hundreds of students.  After I left the student ministry, I moved into a ministry that works with pastors.  I started to get a lot of "friend requests" from them.  One day I looked at my friend list and I didn't have any idea who 75% of these people were.  So I decided to do a little cleaning out of "Facebook friends."   Because there were so many students on my friend list, I decided to delete those who I haven't seen or talked to in years.  Am I really their "friend?"  No.  Did I get a Christmas card from any of them?  No. 

A few days later, I received an email from a parent and good friend who wasn't happy that I deleted his daughter off my list.  He took it personally.  I've heard other people express their anger about being deleted.  I have some thoughts that may be controversial to some of you.  

First of all, I have no idea if someone has deleted me or not.  I'm sure that I've been deleted, but I never knew it.  How do you know you've been deleted?  Secondly, I think some people take Facebook friendships way to seriously.  Facebook is not about a true relationship with someone.  If our Facebook friends reflected true friendships, I would have about 10 friends, not counting family.  My Facebook friends do not represent true community in the Biblical sense.  If someone deletes me,  I don't give it a second thought (unless it's my wife).  Especially if I haven't had any contact with that "friend."

Lastly, take your real friends more seriously than you do Facebook friends.  It may change some of your relationships for the better.  Don't let Facebook determine your self esteem. Facebook is fun to play with, but don't let it dictate how you perceive people and their feelings about you.  It will drive you crazy. 

If you disagree with these statements, you may delete me.  But I will still love you (if I know who you are).