There is a hoax that has been circulating on Facebook for a few years. The hoax seems to have resurfaced this week with a vengeance. It reads like this:
As of September 28th , 2015 at 10:50p.m. Eastern standard time, I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1–308- 1 1 308–103 and the Rome Statute). NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates.
The idea is that if you post this statement on your Facebook timeline that you would retain control of the information you share on Facebook. The reality is that Facebook already has privacy settings that control these things and that posting something on your timeline does nothing to guarantee your privacy. The only thing it does is make you look gullible.
When you are entrusted with the truth, it is critically important you are careful what you say and what you post. Every time you pass on information that is false, it compromises your ability to convey the truth to others. Others begin to perceive that you are unable to distinguish the truth. They will begin to dismiss what you have to say and fail to take you seriously.
These hoaxes (as most hoaxes do) play on our fears. It is that fear that leads us to do something we would not otherwise do. The reality is that the moment we post something on the internet, it is out there for the world to see. It doesn’t matter if we have privacy settings or that post something on our timeline. Once we put it out there, there is no taking it back. The best guarantee of privacy is not to post anything at all.
There is an advertisement for Las Vegas with a tagline: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” I think that a better line would be: “What happens in Vegas gets posted on Facebook.” Complete privacy is a myth.
In the world we live today, it is hard to keep anything hidden. There are cameras all around that are constantly monitoring. As I write this post, I can monitor our church parking lot and school with security cameras. Every electronic message we send has a record left behind on a computer or server somewhere in the universe. Many of us carry around phones that have microphones constantly monitoring what we say. I do not say all this to be alarmist. I say this so that you recognize that complete privacy is more of an illusion than reality.
On a spiritual level recognize that there is NOTHING about your life that is hidden. There is no such thing as privacy. God sees all and knows all. We may be able to hide something from the world for a time, but there is no hiding it from God.
(The Lord) will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV)
I always find it a bit curious how people act differently when the come to church. It as if God sees what they do while they are in church, but doesn’t see what they do when they go out to the bar with their friends. The truth is that God cares just as much about what you do in church as he does about what you do in the bar. He sees what happens in each place equally well.
For many this might be a scary thing to have “big brother” constantly watching over them. But know that there is nothing shocking or surprising to God. The things hidden in your life are nothing new to him. These things do not lead him to anger. He is not watching over you waiting for you to slip up so that he can throw the hammer down.
He watches over us because he loves us. His perspective leads him to compassion. It led him to send Jesus for you. Any anger he has over your waywardness was directed at Jesus on the cross. Praise the Lord your sin is uncovered so that it might be covered with the blood of Jesus. In other words, know that it is a good thing your sin is exposed so that your sin is forgiven.
The other thing about God knowing all is that you have an opportunity for an intimate relationship. The best relationships are the ones where there are no secrets. As long as there is something hidden between two people, there will continue to be a barrier to full intimacy. God has torn down every barrier that separates us. He fully knows us and through Jesus makes it possible to fully know him.
Questions for Reflection
- How is the idea of complete privacy a myth?
- Why do we try to hide things from others?
- How does it bring you joy that God knows you completely?
JOAN says
THANK YOU – I received one of those messages yesterday & realized it was useless. I live by what my mother taught me when I was 10: “Never write anything you don’t want the entire world to see.” It has served me well, and keeps my writing honest. She also told me, “Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.” Very appropriate in these times of constant monitoring. A wise woman before these times- I miss her terribly.
Muriel says
This was very timely and remindful that God sees all.
Kristine says
I post many Biblical verses and faith-focused quotes. While some may not like it, it is who I am and what I think. I have been told by some that my posts uplift them. I’ll keep going with that.