Texting and the Ten Commandments –
A Youth Lenten Challenge

Communications have come a long way since Moses delivered the Ten Commandments written on stone tablets – just imagine the time and trouble he could have saved if he had the tools that we do now; he could have tweeted the highlights, posted the full details on Facebook, and received instant feedback via text.

Last week, the Timberlea Year 8 class looked at the Ten Commandments and Social Media.  We decided that the third commandment – thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain – and the ninth commandment – thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor – would make an excellent Lenten challenge for youth, parents, and religious education coordinators alike.

The Lord’s Name - Every day we either send, receive, type or hear “OMG” used in ordinary speech.  For many of us of a certain age, the taking of the Lord’s name in vain does not come without at least a twinge of guilt.  To many of our youth, this is a foreign concept.

Challenge #1

Eliminate “OMG” and its forms from your speech, both written and spoken.  Think about when you are using the Lord’s name and why.  Put it back where it belongs – in prayer, and the genuine thanking of God.  Take it a step futher – Place an “OMG Jar” in your home.  Every time that you slip, put a loonie in the jar.  At the end of Lent, you have an offering for the church, and a habit broken.

False Witness - Social media forms, particularly Facebook, Twitter, and texting, make the transmission of information instantaneous and final.  No more passing of notes, etching in bathroom stalls, or whispered phone conversations – gossip today travels faster than our conscience can keep up, and remains for all to see.  Today’s youth are growing up in an environment of self-criticism and negativity.

Challenge #2

Don’t pass it on.  Don’t text it, share it on Facebook, or repeat it.  Think about who could be hurt.  Think about the right thing to do.  Take it a step further – Share something positive.  Text an encouraging message.  Post a flattering story about someone you know.  Refuse to participate in the criticism.  Celebrate what we are, rather than what we are not.

Please let us know how you do – email me at cathy.mbourgeoys@gmail.com and share your challenges and successes.  I will be working on a personal challenge, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s shoes…