Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. (Galatians 1:10)

Marilyn Monroe was nearly thirty at the height of her sex-symbol status. Marketers used her image to sell makeup, clothing, and perfume. Woman wanted to BE like her. Today we have a multitude of sex symbols to pattern ourselves after.

The extreme celebrity culture we live in creates a strange sort of twist with technology like Facebook and Twitter at our fingertips. As we use technology to reflect our celebrity of choice, we can actually become one. And the person worshiping us? Ourselves! Don't think that sounds right?

• How often do you check your Facebook page?
• How often do you check Twitter?
• How often do you post a picture of just you? Same pose. Different place.

Each of these check-ins/posts can be an adrenaline drip as we seek to be watched, loved, and worshiped by others...and ourselves. It's not a lot different from the wicked queen in Snow White who checked in with the mirror every day, asking "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" She didn't like it when the mirror said to Snow White. And sometimes we don't like it when friend's posts get all the attention. (Have you ever posted something just to be a competitive or passive aggressive with another girl?)

God's Word says we're not supposed to be seeking the approval of people, but of God. If we use our Facebook account to share what's up in our lives, connect with friends, encourage others, and even share Christ, it is a good use of technology. But when we cross the line into obsessively checking to see what people have written in response to our posts or continually posting pictures of ourselves, it's probably time to take a break.


Action Plane
Get on your Facebook page right now and erase anything you've posted in the past week that might qualify as excessive, obsessive, or a search for approval. It will be a good exercise in moderating your future posts.

*This post and action plan goes for Instagram also*