Facebook "friends"?

I recently read a blog post which had a title much like this blog post. The premise of it was that, as Christians, we have no business in front of a screen with fake "friends" but should be in face to face interaction with real "friends". (Oh the irony that this article was posted on Facebook) Of course, most of you know by now that I've been in a rather long season of shaking off the shackles of legalism so I naturally bristle when people call things evil that are not evil. This particular blog post gave me such a reaction. But more than that, I want to defend Facebook for a few minutes because it's not only NOT evil, it has actually been a huge blessing to me and has given me a wide range of real friends (not in quotes) even though many I've never met face to face.

Before Facebook existed I lost touch with the majority of my old high school friends. Once it came along, I reconnected with many of them. I see their kids pictures and achievements. I know their struggles and they know mine. During this very dark season I've been in, high school friends that I haven't seen in 30 years came out of the woodwork to minister to us in very tangible ways; bringing food, offers to sit with my mother, offers of help with the work of closing out Mom's estate, taking me to lunch, attending my mother's funeral. That would not have been possible without Facebook.

We have a dog. His name is Buddy. We took this dog from a family who could no longer keep him. They live in South Carolina and I've never met them in person. But they have a terminally ill child and have faced a mountain of difficulties all known to me only through Facebook and blogs. I've known their family for years. When they needed to find a new home for Buddy, they put out a plea on Facebook and through a network of great dog rescue people I know, we transported Buddy from South Carolina to Alabama and he's been with us about five years now. Plus I keep up with their son and his condition and I know how to pray for him and for them every day. That would not have been possible without Facebook.

I posted daily updates on Facebook during Mom's illness and especially during her final days. It was a great one-stop-shop to keep friends and extended family informed on what was happening moment by moment. I had people I've never met from all over the country writing to me and praying for me and offering me much needed advice. I have blogging friends from back in the day when I was a serious blogger that I only keep up with now through Facebook. One posted this as a comment to one of my messy, sorrowful posts:

Angie, though we've never met I consider you a close friend and my heart is broken for what you are going through. Please know that we are praying for you and you are never far from our hearts and minds.

That would not have been possible without Facebook.

Facebook is my online journal. I have used it as therapy to put down my thoughts and emotions through our many trials this year. It is where I go to see what's happening with hundreds of friends I wouldn't have time to interact with personally on a daily basis. But it gives me a quick glimpse at everyone and I can laugh with them, see their needs, find out how I can pray, and be encouraged. It's an outlet for me to write down everything that's on my heart that day.

Of course, it can be used for evil just like the car in my driveway can be used to rob a bank. That doesn't make car ownership evil. Sure everyone needs balance in their lives and if you have no real "friends" you might want to step out in the world and meet some folks. But without Facebook, we would have missed a myriad of blessings and ministry from the people who came around us and carried us through it. Without Facebook, I would miss the opportunities to do the same for my friends (some in person and some not). Some of my truest friends are those I've never seen in person. Some of my most fake "friends" are some I know face to face. Friendship cannot be measured by the mechanism of meeting or staying in touch. It is measured by the sacrificial love and ministry to one another. I'm thankful for my friends.

Dear Mark Zuckerberg, I love you. That is all.