Decision Theme: Identity
Anyssa Neustel
Psychology
13 April, 2016
Dr. Moulds
Decision Theme: Identity
I chose the following decision theme from the handout: Facebook and other social networks… Do they assist or impede in identity formation? Explain and how will you advise kids about using or advising Facebook. This issue is prevalent among today’s generation of adolescents, and future ones. Because technology continues to grow at a rapid pace, it does not always allow older generations to keep up with the latest trends. The growing concern and risks that come with technology’s advancement in the lives of many adolescents causes conflict between their generation and their parent’s. This conflict is beneficial, but can be taken too far. In the same way …show more content…
The vast number of people throughout the world who use the internet and social networks that are inevitably linked to it. Adolescents can be tempted to begin searching promiscuous or accidentally seeing photographs, videos, or slanderous words that they would have otherwise not have seen. This issue raises the bar for Christians to educate their adolescents as to what is God-pleasing and what is not. While the gospel should be told in all its sweetness, it can not be devoid of the law. Adolescents should be taught how to build one another up through social media, rather than be torn down. They must also be taught that others can and do skew their identity through the use of social media, causing a great threat to the adolescent’s well being and safety.
Through teaching adolescents how to properly use social media as a tool rather than a communication device to show off or meet people, they may begin to find their identity not in the social media, but in other sources. While this is not certain, it could be done. In order to this, I would propose that Christian schools should include a small section in either a health or sexuality class that helps students see the importance of being cautious on the internet, and that it does not determine who they are as a baptized …show more content…
Willmon argues that the identity of the Christian is within Christ not themselves (Willmon, 915). Much of society embraces self value or discovery rather than the gospel that gives the adolescent an identity freely, and while questioned often by the adolescent, is in tact and a promise of eternal life and salvation. The Church has succumbed to the world’s lies with music and doctrine that reaffirms the secular belief that a person decides who they are, and that even in baptism they have some kind of “right” to decide for themselves to follow Christ (Willimon, 916). The world, and specifically social media will encourage the adolescent to “branch out” or “find themselves,” and when these difficult law bound rules of the world begin to weigh on them the church should be there for the young Christian. Therefore, encouraging the adolescent and helping to nourish and maintain their faith and identity in Christ through Word and Sacrament. The world and the identities it renders are temporary, but the Word of God and the identity which it establishes through the means of grace is eternal even after
Psychology
13 April, 2016
Dr. Moulds
Decision Theme: Identity
I chose the following decision theme from the handout: Facebook and other social networks… Do they assist or impede in identity formation? Explain and how will you advise kids about using or advising Facebook. This issue is prevalent among today’s generation of adolescents, and future ones. Because technology continues to grow at a rapid pace, it does not always allow older generations to keep up with the latest trends. The growing concern and risks that come with technology’s advancement in the lives of many adolescents causes conflict between their generation and their parent’s. This conflict is beneficial, but can be taken too far. In the same way …show more content…
The vast number of people throughout the world who use the internet and social networks that are inevitably linked to it. Adolescents can be tempted to begin searching promiscuous or accidentally seeing photographs, videos, or slanderous words that they would have otherwise not have seen. This issue raises the bar for Christians to educate their adolescents as to what is God-pleasing and what is not. While the gospel should be told in all its sweetness, it can not be devoid of the law. Adolescents should be taught how to build one another up through social media, rather than be torn down. They must also be taught that others can and do skew their identity through the use of social media, causing a great threat to the adolescent’s well being and safety.
Through teaching adolescents how to properly use social media as a tool rather than a communication device to show off or meet people, they may begin to find their identity not in the social media, but in other sources. While this is not certain, it could be done. In order to this, I would propose that Christian schools should include a small section in either a health or sexuality class that helps students see the importance of being cautious on the internet, and that it does not determine who they are as a baptized …show more content…
Willmon argues that the identity of the Christian is within Christ not themselves (Willmon, 915). Much of society embraces self value or discovery rather than the gospel that gives the adolescent an identity freely, and while questioned often by the adolescent, is in tact and a promise of eternal life and salvation. The Church has succumbed to the world’s lies with music and doctrine that reaffirms the secular belief that a person decides who they are, and that even in baptism they have some kind of “right” to decide for themselves to follow Christ (Willimon, 916). The world, and specifically social media will encourage the adolescent to “branch out” or “find themselves,” and when these difficult law bound rules of the world begin to weigh on them the church should be there for the young Christian. Therefore, encouraging the adolescent and helping to nourish and maintain their faith and identity in Christ through Word and Sacrament. The world and the identities it renders are temporary, but the Word of God and the identity which it establishes through the means of grace is eternal even after