Can Facebook Really Ruin Your Marriage?

There's an article being circulated from ABC News that exposes Facebook as a growing factor in divorce cases.

You can learn a lot about a person by becoming their friend on Facebook. It may really bring out some qualities that have been hidden in regular life. And the weird thing is, these posts are volunteered freely for all friends to see. I don't think Facebook is to blame for divorces, but I do think Facebook is revealing what is already there. If someone has a propensity to cheat or flirt, that can now be documented on Facebook.

Some character issues may be revealed that don't require any posting. The ABC News article quoted an author saying that Facebook can turn people into jealous and distrustful people. Really? Facebook can do that? I'm pretty sure that these are issues that people already have, and spending time on Facebook may reveal and fuel something that is already a problem.

I remember hearing on the radio that employers will one day use "Facebook scores" to evaluate whether or not someone is worthy to hire as an employee. Yep, the compilation of your posts, friends, and likes say something about you that technology turns into a number, just like a credit score.  Facebook exposes what is already there.

I often have to remind myself that things are not as they seem. That's a major theme we find in Revelation. In fact, the title Revelation explains an unveiling of something that is already true. In this era of technology, we have a small taste of this reality. People are not always as they seem.

What do you think your Facebook score would reveal about you? Thankfully I am more than a Facebook score, but it doesn't hurt to do a little self-evaluation. Of course, there is a more powerful revealer of our hearts that not only exposes sin, but has the power to create life:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intensions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from its sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:12-13)

You can opt out of Facebook, but no one can avoid the word of God. A Facebook score is certainly an imperfect judge of character, but the word of God truly reveals. It not only reveals our own wretched condition, but the Righteous One who "by a single offering... has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Heb. 10:14). Facebook may reveal that your spouse isn't who you thought she was, or maybe even that you aren't such a great spouse. But the word of God reveals our bridegroom who is called Faithful and True. And that is what he is making his beloved. Nothing less.