Why I Deleted My Facebook Account

About a year ago I was introduced to myspace through listening to others talk. I went to go check it out and was greatly disturbed by the pictures and advertisements and language and filth found on myspace. Thus, I never bothered with it and even preached against it.
A few months later I was told about facebook. I was told that it didn't have the trash on it, and that it was where most "our stripe" was tech socializing. I checked it out and found that the trashy advertisements were not there, the music was not there, and I didn't see any pictures that were morally challenging either. Thus, with the help of my brother in law, I joined.
My first clue should have been the fact that the day I joined, many of our young people and college age and adults "changed their information". It was humorous, and gave me more reason to stay on...every city block needs a policeman!
I have greatly enjoyed catching up with family and friends and school/college peers. It has been refreshing to hear how many are doing and what the Lord is doing with them. I have enjoyed being able to let my parents and sisters and church friends be able to see and share pictures of what all is going on in our lives and how our families are growing up so quickly. I have enjoyed having another avenue to remind people that I am praying for them, to give counsel, and tell them I love them and thank the Lord for them. I have enjoyed getting to know other sound in the faith Christians. I could go on...and my point is (don't miss this) I do not think it is a sin to be a member of facebook. That said....
For me, I deleted my account. Here are my reasons and perhaps the Lord will use them to speak to you as He did me. My counsel for every reader is "Do what the Lord tells YOU to do."
1. Romans 14:20-22, I do not want to be a stumbling block to anyone.
Recently, I had a close friend who mysteriously removed myself and many others from their friend list. It brought great concern amongst us...what had we done to offend them? Come to find out, that person was seeking to remove themselves slowly from facebook due to many reasons...of which I stand behind them. Because of the myriad of emails and contacts asking that person what we had done, they added us again as friend so not to offend. I do not wish to be a stumbling block, and what if, there are others too struggling with things that I am being a stumbling block to? Thus, based upon Romans 14, I deleted my account.
2. Psalm 101:3, I must not set wicked things before my eyes. As I stated above, when I first "joined facebook," there was not the trashy advertisements I saw in 30 seconds of myspace. But slowly, and increasingly, they have crept in. Advertisements of immodestly dressed women have become more and more frequent the last month. Finally, two days ago, on a Google Ad, that was it. I "must not set wicked things before my eyes." I can't, I must not, I will not allow my self to be tempted in such ways. Why? Simple: I don't trust me. I am wicked...and so are you. I challenge you to prayerfully consider this. Thus, I deleted my facebook account.
3. 1 Cor. 10:10 We are not to murmur and complain. We are saved...we are a child of God...we are not to be murmurers or complainers. God dealt seriously with murmuring. Where is the murmuring on facebook? Have you read a status lately? I decided to peek, while writing this at current status' of my friends:

_____ is soooo borred

Why is life so hard

Doctors are a pain in the rear

I have nothing to do today

_____ is depressed and discouraged

______ is wishing she had a real friend

______ hates this month

____________ is sick of being sick

_________ can't stand hypocrites

I could go on and on with others I have read in the last few months. You get the point. Facebook sets the stage for murmuring. I came home a few weeks ago after a rough day. I went into the living room and my wife changed my status to "Travis is :-(" After a sharp rebuke and a new status, my wife was reminded about the sin of murmuring. Thus, I deleted my facebook account.
4. Ephesians 5:16 We are to redeem our time. I am not saying that facebook is a total waste of time...but I did find myself checking on everyone else and updating everyone else on me numerous times a day. There are much more important things to be done. My "Travis is studying for history class" never led a soul to Christ; nor did my "Travis is :-(" show a lost person how great God is. Reality is, most with a facebook account check or update it nearly 10 times a day if not more. For me, I began to compare how many times I thought of a verse of Scripture compared to how many facebook checks I made....thus, I deleted my facebook account.
5. 1 Cor. 15:33 I must be careful who my friends are. On facebook, I have "friends" I've never met or talked to. When I first joined, I was so happy to get friends. Then requests started coming in that I ignored...I could tell from the image that I couldn't be friends with them. Then, people whose lifestyles are...in a word...wicked, requested me as a friend. I offended a few by not accepting this friendship, but I cannot let their pictures of boozing, dancing, and immodesty in my home. That evil communication will corrupt good manners. Then I began to notice as others removed me as their friend after they posted pictures or notes they didn't want me to read...all situations that can be avoided by deleting my facebook account.
6. Hebrews 10:25-26 We are to be encouraging one another with our faithfulness, not discouraging one another with willful sin. Those "changes of information" when I first joined are not so these days. How it discourages my heart to see our young people flauning their wicked music...when they know it is wrong. How it is discouraging to read the criticisms by others of yourself and your church. How it breaks your hearts to see those who you loved and invested in drinking their beers and cursing our God. How it breaks hearts to read or see pictures of those you love, flaunting adultery and sin. Thus, I deleted my facebook account.
I could give you more reasons as to why the Lord led me to do so, but just one will suffice.....
7. God told me to. John 14:15.
I love you all hope you stay in touch via this blog and email.

On another note, the Lord confirmed this in my heart...He had been speaking to me about it, and just now I saw this posted on facebook. Thank you Lord for confirming Your will: http://kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com/