facebook-and-flowersAre Facebook friends real? Or do only in-real-life (IRL) friends count? Does it matter?

As our What Every Friend Needs series continues, this online friendship question is an important one. It also underscores

A scare-your-pants-off article in Newsweek hints that online friendships can harm you. Why? Spending time online — and thus sites like Facebook — may rewire your brain, resulting in loneliness, depression, even psychosis. Is this true?

Here is the view of another journalist who also looked at the scary research and takes a common-sense approach to spending time online.

What God Says

More important, what does God say about friendships? God says everyone needs a reliable  friend who you can count on. Can you count on your Facebook friends? Some but not all? How do you know they’re reliable?

Here’s key advice.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

And more wisdom.

Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God —I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33,34)

In Real Life Matters

Nothing beats a hug from a reach-out-and-touch friend in when have real hurts and need real hope.

Meeting up with Christian girlfriends is encouraged. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24,25, NIV).

So are Facebook friends real? What do you think?

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