Social Media Fasts
I’m going to step on a few toes here, but, it’s not like anyone really cares what I say, so…
Something about “fasting” from social media makes me uncomfortable. Mainly, because our lives up until 1.5-2 years ago were largely free from ubitquous Social Media. Sure, a lot of us were on Facebook and writing blogs, but were weren’t live tweeting our morning commutes.
Which means that a fast from these things is really just reverting back to the way life was a few years ago.
If you want to do that, then do it. But I think you cheapen the Biblical idea of fasting when you call it a fast for Lent.
Also, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you aren’t being uppity, but the whole thing reeks of it. You are, in effect, declaring some forms of communication to be less holy than others. Are you also fasting from email? From written correspondance? Probably not. If so, kudos on your consistency.
On the distraction piece: the argument goes like this… “Social Media is a constant distraction, and I want to focus on Jesus in this season.” Good. I commend your honesty. But, I think the biblical prescription for this is Spirit-empowered self-control, no matter what season of the church calendar we find ourselves in.
Traditionally, the church actually fasted during Lent… They either fasted for part of each day… or for one full day each week… or, as in the case of our Eastern Orthodox friends, they maintain a simple vegetarian diet for the duration of the season. The idea was/is to suppress a physical need in order to display that Jesus is more important, and more fulfilling, than even food. “Man cannot live on bread alone, but on the very WORD of God.”
What about turning off Twitter for a month communicates that? It seem like a cop-out, honestly. I have no desire to be inconvenienced, or to experience any sort of discomfort, but, since I’m supposed to fast from something… It seems like an opportunity to display your holiness before others. It seems like a chance for you to build brand you, all while under the guise of religious devotion.
If you do abstain from social media for a season, consider fasting as well. Fast from a need if possible. Of course Jesus is greater than Twitter. But, is he greater than you? Fast from something that demonstrates that.
