Pastors, Facebook is a great way for you to build and maintain relationships with people both inside your church and in your community. But Facebook is not without its risks. Every time you post something, you risk hurting, offending or distancing yourself from people. So, here are 18 things you want to avoid doing on Facebook…
First, the ugly…
1) Post something out of frustration in the heat of the moment. We all get frustrated at times. And if you want to engage people authentically, you need to “keep it real.” But Facebooking when angry, frustrated, or hurt is never a good idea. Take a few minutes (or a few hours) to cool down, and then think again if you really want to use Facebook to vent.
2) Criticize people. Even if you don’t use a person’s name, chances are you’re Facebook friends with that person or someone close enough to the situation to know who you’re really talking about.
3) Embarrass yourself. Expect everyone in your congregation and your community to see everything you post to Facebook. So, don’t post anything you wouldn’t be comfortable saying or showing from the pulpit on a Sunday morning.
4) Embarrass your family. Our spouses and kids say and do funny things all the time. Most of those things can be posted to Facebook with no problem, and they help people to see you’re a normal person with a normal family. But be sensitive and when in doubt, ask your spouse and kids if it’s OK to share a quote, happening, or pic online.
5) Criticize other churches in the community. Every church has a different mission, ministry philosophy, style of worship, and theology. But we all share one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. We should be known for our unity not our division.
The self-absorbed…
6) Only talk about your church. Pastors, when people become Facebook friends with you, it’s because they want to engage with you – a real person – not a spokesperson for your church.
7) Share everything posted to the church FB page. Even if you post personal updates to your Facebook profile, don’t repost every church update as well. Some – yes, all – no.
8 ) Just talk about yourself. When you go to a social event, do you like hanging around with people who only talk about themselves and never ask you about you? Don’t be one of those people online either.
Stay tuned… tomorrow I’ll post #9-18. And later this week I’ll post 8 things Pastors should do on Facebook.
What things have you seen pastors do to hurt their reputation on Facebook? What would you caution pastors against doing?
32 Comments
I believe in the law of the Harvest: you reap what you sow. Give and it will be given to you, in good measure. I encourage my congregation to tithe, not only because it enables the church to pay it bills and do ministry, but the more generous we are toward the things that matter to God, the more blessed we are. I want the people I pastor to be blessed AND be a blessing! Unfortunately, 20% of the people of most congregations carried 80% of the church financially. I no more agree with that than I do with unethical pastors who fleece the congregation. But there are a lot of caring pastors who simply want the people of God to have all that God offers to them and that requires obedience to the Word of God. Go figure!
Preach it, Sister!
Since when did God ask for money? When did the Lord start taking a tithe from Ceasar?!?
I'm with YOU broke tither. as Leviticus 21:14 says "he who has to ask is probably better off with nothing as the devils spirit always comes a'knocking at the most inopportune times"…..
Mal 3:8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions.
2Co 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Co 9:11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
The LORD has never asked for money – he commands it, as the other commandments. After all – HE already owns everything "the cattle on a thousand hill belongeth to him."
As far as FB postings? If it be good, as if it came from the LORD – post it. I sincerely believe that there are only two places from which a man can receive anything – One comes from above, and is the truth of God (as well as a blessing)
The other is from beneath – it is the lie of the Devil – and proves to be a curse
Tithing is not under the new covenant terms.
God will not bless you by the tithe you give,that promise was in direct relation to the old covenant.
We however have to support the body of Christ as we are able.
Good point raised in regards to ruining reputation on face book.
Good advice for Pastors and all believers alike in regards to being careful with what is posted/communicated. I see how quickly this turned to the topic of money however (where our heart is).
Whatever the case, although tithing was very much considered under the Old Covenent, we must not dismiss it in the New Covenent. In fact, many people would say that those is Christ will give beyond what was commanded under the tithing commandment in the Old Testement, as love will do much more than the law would ever do.
However, money and giving (the need of the Church, the Saints, and the Pastor) is spoken about in the New Testement. Here are just a few to consider: Rom 15:25-27, 1Cor 16:1-3, 2Cor 8:1-6, 9:4-7. Luke 10:7, 1Cor 9:4-15, 2Cor 11:7-9, 1Tim 5:17-18.
So very true…..I believe it is most important to be real. Not only to your congregation but also to your community. They desire to relate to a "real" person no matter whether in your professional position as their minister or as a family person. It is time to dump the religeous (sic) attitude so many of us carry. Over many years we have not only built "walls" around our fellowships but also around ourselves…. let us break them down with the hammers of openess and honesty!
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We have an awesome Pastor and I know he is not perfect just as I am not perfect. That is true of everyone for we all fall short of the glory of God. It is through His Grace and Mercy.
Should your pastor every be able to tell you
“I need you and your wife to stop posting about hanging out with the “blank” family”
This is a family that left the church and thu aren’t fans of our pastor but we still have a good relationship with them.
We are also on staff.