Christians Must Be Very Careful How We Use the Powerful
Communication Tools That Are at Our Fingertips

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Embattled Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has faced a grueling 10 hours of testimony on Capitol Hill, but the scandals and bad news aren’t over yet for the social media giant.

Accused of censoring or silencing conservative voices—most recently, for instance, internet personalities and President Donald Trump supporters Diamond and Silk—Facebook has many other problems to boot. Just this week, a new survey detailed in TIME magazine found that more than half of the sponsors of Facebook ads that featured divisive political messages leading up to the 2016 presidential election have little or no public paper trails and were linked to “suspicious” groups.

Religion and culture expert, national radio host and author Dr. Alex McFarland says that Facebook has changed the way we communicate, view the world, interact with others, and in fact, how much we share about ourselves.

“This world has never seen—and perhaps may never see again—a communications phenomenon like Facebook,” said McFarland, who is also Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at the Christian Worldview Center of North Greenville University (NGU) in Greenville, South Carolina. “There is no other entity, group or business venture that has made such an impact on how we communicate in less than 15 years in existence. But Facebook, and social media in general, has disconnected us too, even while increasing communication. What began as a fun way to share what we’re doing has become a major player in business, politics, election and the economy, among other things. Junior high and high school students are facing harsh attacks online, and millennials can use social media as a superficial connection to their friends, family and co-workers.

“God gave us a voice to use for His glory,” McFarland continued. “With a communication vehicle as large and impactful as Facebook and the rest of social media, think of the positive difference Christians could make. Many are doing just that, but are we doing our part to turn this communication opportunity into a way to bring others into relationship with Jesus? As we’ve seen with Facebook’s recent woes, we must be very careful how we use the powerful communication tools that are at our fingertips. Someone’s soul could depend on it.”

View the media page for Alex McFarland here. For more information on Dr. Alex McFarland, visit www.AlexMcFarland.com or follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @AlexMcFarland.

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For more information on TNG or to interview Dr. Alex McFarland, contact Deborah Hamilton, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Emily Brunner, ext. 100.