Why I Left Facebook

I signed up on Facebook Fall 2008.

Prior to that, I had quite a number of friends who would send me “friend requests.” Up until that time, I stayed away from Myspace and other sites like that. The only site I did sign up for was LinkedIn, because it was professional in nature.

When I started getting requests from my Christian friends, I figured I might as well take the plunge. And so began a 2+ year relationship with the social networking site. I enjoyed reconnecting with old, new and current friends. I dabbled and then got completely sucked into FarmVille when I was laid off. I spent countless hours on that app when I should have been looking for a job. Finally I made the wise choice and shut that time-waster off.

Overall, the experience has been a positive one. Truly.

Allow me to take this moment to state something up front: I’m not knocking anyone who uses Facebook. Part of me will probably miss it. This was a personal decision for various reasons I’ll try to outline below.

Why I Decided to Leave Facebook

As my readership can attest to, my blogging frequency dropped significantly in 2010. This was primarily due to my job last year. Because my job took me back out of my home office for the first time in three years, I found myself struggling to juggle all my priorities–God, wife, children, etc.–effectively and still have time left over to write.

I dried up spiritually and even now I’m wrestling with my relationship with God. I’m wrestling with the obstacles that are barring me with my time alone with my Lord and King.

I’ve read several posts over the past few years about people who have gotten off Facebook, but it was this post by Tim Challies that helped me make the decision: Facebook Makes Us Miserable. I have a lot of respect for Tim; he’s a sharp guy and I admire him for how well he writes and how consistently he blogs. I liked his post, although I didn’t necessarily agree with all his points.

Still, I see the dangers in Facebook and, quite frankly, I’d rather shut down my account now before anything does happen. So, here are some of my reasons for doing it:

1. Deep down, I know some of my family members–who shall remain anonymous–don’t trust it completely and would prefer that I not be on it. Should I not be concerned?
2. When I’m sitting with my family watching a show or movie, and a Facebook notification pops up on my phone, I just have to check it. Not good.
3. I get frustrated when I’m trying to compose a really awesome post and my three year old wants my attention . . . hmmm, what’s priority here?
4. I feel like a voyeur most of the time, scanning the News Feed. Am I that bored that I have to see what everyone else is doing?
5. I’ve had messages from a former (female) friend–and I do mean “friend”–initially asking to connect and then just an out-of-the-blue message giving me an update on her life. This is someone I don’t need in my life any longer for a variety of reasons. The most recent message confirmed what I had always suspected: she hasn’t changed and the world still revolves around her.
6. As tired as I get in the evenings, I still have enough energy to check Facebook, but not enough to write a blog post or read all the books I’ve been meaning to catch up on. What is more important?
7. I’ve resolved to start removing things in my life that are taking time away from my time with God.

I will still have to be on Facebook for a portion of each day as I manage my church’s Facebook account as well as the church’s Twitter account. But these are for my ministry for my church and I’m doing it that for God.

I can hear you asking: “So why can’t you make your personal Facebook page part of your ministry?” I could. I tried. But I feel like I’m failing in that regard because of the other temptations that Facebook provides. I don’t need it. I don’t want it any longer.

Those are the reasons why I’m leaving Facebook this week.

What about you? Are you considering the same? Are you struggling with the decision? Would love to get your input.

May He Increase!