always feel like somebody’s watching me. The truth is … well, that’s true. Someone is always watching me. And, whether you want to admit it or not, someone is always watching you, too.

Your mom. Your dog. Your teacher. Your younger sibling. Your daughter. Your dad. Oh, and that person you added as a “friend” on Facebook whom you actually hardly know at all.

If you’ve jumped into the social networking pool (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Tangle) then you are being watched more now than ever. You’ve been scoped out, scrutinized, considered, admired, detested, rejected and reinstated.

You may be a newbie, cautiously navigating the social networking waters with your floaties on. Or you may be a seasoned veteran, casually drifting along in an inflatable chair.

No matter who you are or how long you’ve been in the pool, you’re being observed.

I believe that social networking is a powerful way to testify to the power of Christ in your life. You are an example. It’s up to you whether you’re a bad example or a good one.

Interestingly enough, most Internet social networkers are not aware that others observe what they are doing. Many people don’t even think twice when they post a photo album, illustrating in detail just how drunk they were last night.

A careless post on one of these social networking sites can lead to jobs lost, friendships strained and Christian witnesses ruined.

I’ll give you a few examples. Bobby is a leader in youth group. He’s smart, funny, entertaining and publicly practices the perfect Christian life. If you saw Bobby at church, you’d think he had it all together.

Visit Bobby’s Facebook, MySpace and Twitter and you see a different story. “Hey, check out the pictures I posted from last night’s party,” he posts. So, you do. Scanning through Bobby’s various online photo albums, you see one called “Good Times.” You click on it. To your surprise, the album is filled with pictures of Bobby and his friends holding beer cans and posing, drunk-faced for group pictures. Bobby’s only 17.

Internet integrity. Not many have it. Few social networkers are acutely aware that their Internet lives are also a testimony of their Christian lives. An admirable, well-maintained Christian witness can be ruined in one status update, one photo album or one careless comment.

Here’s another example. Tammy’s on the market for a new job. She’s been unemployed for a few months, but her resume and qualifications are impeccable. Prompt and professional, Tammy would make a great addition to a company.

Trevor, the hiring manager for a potential employer, sees Tammy’s resume. He’s impressed with her work history and references. As a final step before he contacts Tammy for an interview, Trevor searches for Tammy on Facebook.

After finding and reviewing Tammy’s Facebook page, he notices that Tammy constantly criticized her former employer on her status updates. Trevor throws away her resume. Another job lost.

You may think that these examples are extreme. They aren’t. These social networking situations actually happened. Rather than dismissing this, consider yourself. What do you say on Facebook? What kind of stuff do you tweet on Twitter? What do your profiles say about you?

Because of social networking, relationships are changing. Normal relational lines are blurred. When teachers/students and bosses/employees become friends on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, the relationship shifts. In one friend request acceptance, you go from distant acquaintance to close access to intimate life details.

This isn’t a call to cover up your personal life in a shadow of deception. It is, however, an appeal for accountability. Do in the dark what you’d do in the light. Don’t be one person to your church group and another to your Facebook friends. Don’t be your boss’s biggest fan in the office and then angrily tweet about your boss on your way home from work.

Become a person of Internet integrity. Set an example and stick to it. Be a consistent witness for the Lord. If a friend or family member doesn’t have Internet integrity, talk to that person about it. Recognize that what you do online reflects your relationship with God. It’s hard to build credibility with that friend you’ve witnessed to for years if he or she can clearly see that you don’t live what you profess to believe.

Editor's note: This article is an op-ed and, therefore, reflects the opinions of the writer.