Facebook en die bediening van die kerkjeug in die Apostoliese Geloof Sending van Suid-Afrika: ʼn Pastorale studie

Abstract

The internet and social media have in all likelihood changed the way people communicate around the world. One of the many social media platforms that has appeared on the social media landscape is Facebook. Facebook is currently the social media platform with the most subscribers in the world. It is particularly popular with secondary school learners and is used by users for a variety of purposes. Facebook, like all other social media platforms, has certain advantages and disadvantages for users. Because adolescence is characterized as a time of uncertainty, the possibility exists that secondary school learners can make the wrong decisions about using Facebook. During adolescence, secondary learners children must be assured that they can boldly turn to their parents and church leaders in order to receive guidance and be equipped to identify and proactively deal with the negativity found on Facebook. This study was undertaken from the pentecostal tradition and specifically the AFM Church, with the aim of discussing the church’s possible role in equipping secondary school learners to use Facebook in a responsible way. In this research, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used that showed that secondary school learners are exposed to various dangers on Facebook. Exposure to pornography, sexting, cyber bullying, and community engagement has been found to be part of some secondary school learners’ Facebook use. High school kids need help using Facebook responsibly and according to the Bible and parents and church leaders have the responsibility to teach adolescents to live in a dignified way as Christians. In the study, the grammatical-historical method of exegesis harnessed from the letter to the Ephesians provides possible guidelines for AFM church leadership in equipping secondary school learners to use Facebook responsibly.