Useful
A great little book. Even if you don't agree with all the conclusions and some of the examples feel a little bit dated, it helps you engage well with the topic
Sam
Will You Be My Facebook Friend?
This excellent little book is about more than Facebook, but really about social media generally. Chester is careful to start with the benefits of social media, but deals with the dangers of time-wasting, narcissism, damage to real-world embodied relationships etc. The good news is that through the Gospel we will see the face of God, from whom all our meaning comes.
Stephen Ayre
Will You Be My Facebook Friend?
I first came across the book as a smug non-user of Facebook nodding sagely as I read about the obvious pitfalls of time wasting, declining levels of concentration and 'selfism' but then was humbled once I'd opened an account to see how quickly I found myself doing the very thing the apostle Paul urges us not to do: 'seeking to win the approval of man' and 'trying to please men not God' (Galatians 1:10). Rather than leaving the reader condemned or mistakenly resolute to change his or her ways through will power, Tim Chester gently points us to Christ who 'more than meets the needs that social media appear to satisfy'.
Louise Roques
Whatever Happened To The Hidden Life?
I first came across the book as a smug non-user of Facebook nodding sagely as I read about the obvious pitfalls of time wasting, declining levels of concentration and 'selfism' but then was humbled once I'd opened an account to see how quickly I found myself doing the very thing the apostle Paul urges us not to do: 'seeking to win the approval of man' and 'trying to please men not God' (Galatians 1:10). Rather than leaving the reader condemned or mistakenly resolute to change his or her ways through will power, Tim Chester gently points us to Christ who 'more than meets the needs that social media appear to satisfy'.
Louise Roques
Will You Be My Facebook Friend?
This week I read this very short book written by the ever–insightful Tim Chester of The Crowded House Sheffiled and Porterbrook network. It is an eye opening, heart piercing and in many ways scary read that offers very timely advice as to our dependence on social media. Some of the statistics in this book are terrifying, for example Facebook was mentioned in a third of all divorce proceedings in 2011. The average person spends more than 20 hours a month on Facebook, nearly a whole day every month. All the way through he advises that despite all its virtues Facebook is very dangerous, it is the classic trajectory of idolatry, that when a good thing becomes an ultimate thing it does serious damage.
If you are a Facebook user I would definitely suggest reading this book, it takes about 30mins to read and is real food for thought (half your Facebook browsing time). As a result of its challenge I felt compelled to close my Facebook page, however let each one make up their own mind but let’s not continue blindly down a potential destructive path that exchanges the real for the virtual and the deep for the superficial.
Jonathan Gemmell
A Vital Check
This week I read this very short book written by the ever–insightful Tim Chester of The Crowded House Sheffiled and Porterbrook network. It is an eye opening, heart piercing and in many ways scary read that offers very timely advice as to our dependence on social media. Some of the statistics in this book are terrifying, for example Facebook was mentioned in a third of all divorce proceedings in 2011. The average person spends more than 20 hours a month on Facebook, nearly a whole day every month. All the way through he advises that despite all its virtues Facebook is very dangerous, it is the classic trajectory of idolatry, that when a good thing becomes an ultimate thing it does serious damage.
If you are a Facebook user I would definitely suggest reading this book, it takes about 30mins to read and is real food for thought (half your Facebook browsing time). As a result of its challenge I felt compelled to close my Facebook page, however let each one make up their own mind but let’s not continue blindly down a potential destructive path that exchanges the real for the virtual and the deep for the superficial.
Jonathan Gemmell
Will You Be My Facebook Friend?
Will You Be My Facebook Friend? Social Media and the Gospel
I received this complimentary copy of the booklet, Will You Be My Facebook Friend, via Cross Focused Media. The booklet is less than 50 pages long and is easily read in one sitting. Tim Chester is the author of this booklet.
About the Author:
Tim Chester is the pastor of The Crowded House in Sheffield, UK. He is also the founder and director of Porterbrook Seminary, and author of over 20 books. You may read his blog here.
Review:
Chester breaks this booklet down into four easily digested chapters:
What's the problem?
Recreating my world
Escaping my limitations
The facebook of God
Each chapter concisely and adequately covers its topic. Tim begins with many of the statistics of how social media's prevalence and provides both dangers and benefits to its existence. He builds on these dangers over chapters two and three, and then provides what a proper focus should be concerning facebook (and other social media) and the Gospel.
Tim uses obvious grace when pointing out the dangers of becoming consumed with social media, yet speaks clearly about the reality of being deceived into creating a little kingdom for myself. I appreciated the balance. I found the third chapter, Escaping my limitations, to be a bit befuddling at first. Chester's main point of the chapter, from what I understand, is that facebook and other social media sites, tend to pull us from real, physical community and deceives us into thinking we are experiencing community when we're online. This is a great point, but I struggled to comprehend what he was saying at times. (This may be just a poor reflection on my reading comprehension...which may mean that I'm really skimming the material? That statement would be humorous if you've read the book)
The most practical and rewarding part of the book was the Twelve Guidelines for Social Media. Tim provides very practical, and Christ-like, application to what he has written. This is crucial to keep the reader from just self-righteous, legalistic impositions on their facebook usage. Tim allows the freedom found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to seep through every page of the booklet and more so in these guidelines. The book is worth the purchase price if only for this list.
Recommendation
I would recommend this booklet wholeheartedly. In fact, I would highly suggest that parents use it as a resource to discuss how the Gospel and facebook fit together. This is something easily digested and is practical in it's material. I think it would be a great resource for youth groups, schools, and church libraries.
A Blessing:
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26 ESV)
Mark Kelly
Gospel Oriented Social Media Usage
Will You Be My Facebook Friend? Social Media and the Gospel
I received this complimentary copy of the booklet, Will You Be My Facebook Friend, via Cross Focused Media. The booklet is less than 50 pages long and is easily read in one sitting. Tim Chester is the author of this booklet.
About the Author:
Tim Chester is the pastor of The Crowded House in Sheffield, UK. He is also the founder and director of Porterbrook Seminary, and author of over 20 books. You may read his blog here.
Review:
Chester breaks this booklet down into four easily digested chapters:
What's the problem?
Recreating my world
Escaping my limitations
The facebook of God
Each chapter concisely and adequately covers its topic. Tim begins with many of the statistics of how social media's prevalence and provides both dangers and benefits to its existence. He builds on these dangers over chapters two and three, and then provides what a proper focus should be concerning facebook (and other social media) and the Gospel.
Tim uses obvious grace when pointing out the dangers of becoming consumed with social media, yet speaks clearly about the reality of being deceived into creating a little kingdom for myself. I appreciated the balance. I found the third chapter, Escaping my limitations, to be a bit befuddling at first. Chester's main point of the chapter, from what I understand, is that facebook and other social media sites, tend to pull us from real, physical community and deceives us into thinking we are experiencing community when we're online. This is a great point, but I struggled to comprehend what he was saying at times. (This may be just a poor reflection on my reading comprehension...which may mean that I'm really skimming the material? That statement would be humorous if you've read the book)
The most practical and rewarding part of the book was the Twelve Guidelines for Social Media. Tim provides very practical, and Christ-like, application to what he has written. This is crucial to keep the reader from just self-righteous, legalistic impositions on their facebook usage. Tim allows the freedom found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to seep through every page of the booklet and more so in these guidelines. The book is worth the purchase price if only for this list.
Recommendation
I would recommend this booklet wholeheartedly. In fact, I would highly suggest that parents use it as a resource to discuss how the Gospel and facebook fit together. This is something easily digested and is practical in it's material. I think it would be a great resource for youth groups, schools, and church libraries.
A Blessing:
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26 ESV)
Mark Kelly
Will You Be My Facebook Friend?
In my hand is a small book (48 pages) with a powerful punch, Will You be my Facebook Friend, by Dr. Tim Chester. This author and church planter makes us stop and ponder the idea of social media. He asks us to examine how we’ve been changed by it. He echoes what God asks us in Haggai, “Give careful thought to your ways.”
Dr. Chester doesn’t preach at us through the pages but lays out a measuring tool to challenge us to take a second look. What does the scale tell us? Have we been weighed and found wanting? His wise, gracious, challenging and thoughtful words bring healing not harm.
I favorably recommend this book expecting pastors to pass it out to their congregation or introduce it Sunday School. The slippery slope is there, but we don’t all have to take the path. When we do what is right in the eyes of God then how can we go wrong.
chris malkemes
Give to the Congregation
In my hand is a small book (48 pages) with a powerful punch, Will You be my Facebook Friend, by Dr. Tim Chester. This author and church planter makes us stop and ponder the idea of social media. He asks us to examine how we’ve been changed by it. He echoes what God asks us in Haggai, “Give careful thought to your ways.”
Dr. Chester doesn’t preach at us through the pages but lays out a measuring tool to challenge us to take a second look. What does the scale tell us? Have we been weighed and found wanting? His wise, gracious, challenging and thoughtful words bring healing not harm.
I favorably recommend this book expecting pastors to pass it out to their congregation or introduce it Sunday School. The slippery slope is there, but we don’t all have to take the path. When we do what is right in the eyes of God then how can we go wrong.
chris malkemes
