Social Media and the Christian
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” —Proverbs 4:23
According to recent studies, the average person has seven to 10 social media accounts. You may be asking yourself, “What is social media?” Social media is a website or app that connects people who share personal or professional interests, education, place of origin, etc. Examples are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Pinterest. It’s the way the world communicates in the 21st century. Because it’s the world we live in today, it’s important to be aware of it and talk about it.
Don’t Bring Dishonor: Our name is special (Prov. 22:1). Our last name connects us to a family. The name “Christian” connects us to an even larger family. What we do online affects more than just ourselves (Prov. 10:1). These areas can reveal who we are: language we use; photos we post; topics we discuss; our attitudes; links we share; and what we “like.”
Think Before You Post, Comment, Like and Share: Would it glorify God (I Cor. 10:31)? Is it true, right and pure (Phil. 4:8)? Am I applying the golden rule (Matt. 7:12)? What would Jesus post?
Keep Private Issues Private: Social media accounts want to know what’s going on in your life, right now (Facebook: “What’s on your mind?”). The temptation is there to type something up quickly, then hit POST. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life (I Thess. 4:11).
Connect With One Another: Social media allows you to get a peek into other people’s lives. But we can use it to encourage a struggling brother or sister in Christ (Heb. 3:13). We can use it to ask for prayers. We can share rejoicing news so that others can rejoice with you.
Don’t Let It Be Addicting: When was the last time your phone was not within earshot? We all get 24 hours in a day. Make the most of your time (Eph. 5:16). Have you ever thought, “How did we survive before smartphones came into existence?” Well, we survived. Don’t let our lives pass us by.
Use It To Share The Gospel: Jesus says in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Where is the world spending its time? They’re spending it on social media. The opportunities are there to share the gospel of Jesus Christ online, just from the click of a button from your home or smartphone.
My challenge to you this week is, if you are on social media, share a Biblical post, an encouraging verse, a Godly article, etc. And let us always watch our hearts while we’re online (Prov. 4:23).
