Hi Devin,
I had a Myspace page for about a month and a half until I cancelled my page last week. I cancelled it because I was suddenly convicted of how much time I was spending on it. In my case, most of this could be condsidered "time wasted." In my conviction, I also came to the realization of how strange the concept of Myspace is: online networking with friends around the world, most of whom you will never meet (although the same could be said about this forum I suppose...unless we meet in heaven
). In a society where people are becoming increasingly isolated from one another in their own homes with high-speed internet, satellite TV, cell phones, etc., I'm not sure that Myspace is a healthy ingredient to add to that mix. God has made us sociable creatures who desire to have relationships and in our individualistic society people
are trying to fulfill that desire through community. I'm just not sure that on-line communities are a healthy way to try and satisfy (which it doesn't) that God-given desire.
For me, it felt good to get rid (repent) of my Myspace page and instead spend that time reading, getting outside, being with real people in the real world--doing more fruitful things and hopefully having a greater impact on the Kingdom of God. Additionally, there are a number of ads on Myspace for dating services and weight-loss solutions that appear on Myspace featuring nearly-nude women in suggestive poses. Also, it is well founded that Myspace is a convenient vehicle for sexual predators. For me these were yet more reasons to can my support of Myspace through the deletion of my Myspace page.
Although I made it clear on my page what I am all about as a disciple of Christ, my scope of influence was pretty small as I did not have many Myspace "friends," nor did I have many people viewing my Myspace. It just wasn't bearing any fruit, so I cut it off.
These are just the personal convictions that I had and I don't judge you in any way. I checked-out your page and although I personally find that the background image you've chosen makes it difficult to read your text 8), you clearly have a lot more "friends" than I had and therefore a much greater sphere of influence. If you are truly feeling that you and your Myspace page is having a positive impact on people in the Myspace community and that through it you are appropriately bearing the name of Christ, then by all means keep it going.
One last point: if the "athiest spokesmen have flooded Myspace" as you say, I'm not sure that a good response would be for Christians to try to flood Myspace equally to engage in some sort of on-line holy war. Perhaps the best response to this would be for Christians to get out of Myspace and back into living the countercultural lives that following Jesus looks like.
These are just the conclusions I've come to as one who has dabbled with the Myspace world.
Michael.
