SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE CHRISTIAN
"... whatsoever ye
do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Social media is a blessing in many
ways. It allows me to stay in contact
with family, old school chums, former co-workers and friends. Social media also keeps me encouraged and
inspired by those in ministry. I find
my soul being enriched with the wisdom that is sometimes shared on social
media.
Despite all the positive potential that
social media offers, it is also a place where people show their evil
nature. Profanity, accusations,
name-calling, bullying and threats are not uncommon on social media. For me, the worst part of social media is
the conduct of professing Christians.
So let me share some common sense tips with my Christian friends.
1.
DON'T USE PROFANITY
First of all, a Christian should not use
profanity. Ever. Posting filthy language on social media is
totally inexcusable. Think before you
post something on social media.
Remember that unbelievers read your words. How can you be an effective witness to the lost when your
language is just as bad as theirs?
Secondly, remember that God sees the words you post on social
media. Don't use profanity. Don't use God's Name in vain.
2.
BE KIND
You will not always agree with the opinions
of others. That's fine. Be courteous. It is true that our nation has become angry, hostile and
downright mean. That is no excuse for a
Christian to act this way. Sometimes
the best thing you can do is to agree to disagree. Jerry Vines once said, "A Christian does not have the luxury
to be unkind."
3.
DON'T AIR YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY
Too many professing Christians use social
media to express their frustrations.
Whether it is work-related problems, family issues, marital disharmony,
or disagreements with the neighbors, some vent their raw emotions on social
media. This only deepens wounds and
makes problems worse. Sure, some may
take "your side" on the issue, but in the end you are part of the
problem and not part of the solution.
The Bible instructs us how to handle disagreements. It is time for Christians to obey the
Bible.
4.
DON'T LIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Also, don't spend all day on social media. You have a life to live, so live it! John Piper said, “One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the
Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.” Don't waste your life consumed by social
media. Let me recommend that you spend more time
every day in God's Book, the Bible, than you do on Facebook.
5.
USE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR GOD'S GLORY
Finally, Christians should use social
media for the glory of God. Do the
things posted on your Facebook wall glorify God? As your "friends" look at your social media accounts,
is it obvious to them that you are a Christian?
There is nothing wrong with sharing
family pictures or clean humor on social media. Ultimately, social media should be used to glorify God. Paul wrote, "... whatsoever ye do, do
all to the glory of God." Notice
that Paul instructs us to do ALL to the glory of God. I believe that in 2018, this includes social media.
No comments:
Post a Comment