“The Light Of The [Social Media] World”

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Like everything he or she does, a Christian’s use of social media must be governed by the wisdom of God. Jesus’ instruction to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16) applies as much in what you share as in how you speak. So here are a few considerations for those of us who use them to do that in a way that fits with a living faith:

• Above all, be clearly Christian in your social media presence. Comment with language that is appropriate for Christians. Refuse to post, like, and share pictures that are inappropriate. Speak out about cultural matters with a Christ-like humility & conviction. Show gratitude (cf. Rom. 1:21) for God’s blessings. Care about the lost, the isolated, and the downtrodden. If the real you is Christian, let the digital you be equally Christian.
• Share truth. If you are going to share your beliefs about current events, public figures, or cultural matters; do so with thoughtfulness, prayer, and a humble desire to spread truth. Don’t find yourself regretting the speed with which you jumped on a trending bandwagon that turned out to be utterly vain or false.
• Share truth (it’s in here twice for a reason). Any tool for communication can be a tool for evangelism in the hands of a Christian. That is often awkward, but it is a great way to be the light of the virtual world.
• Encourage others. For all the complaints many people make about digital interactions being less personal than face-to-face, your digital voice can still be and encouragement to others. (It can be particularly helpful in the cases of Christians who have left the faith and rebelled against God.)

Plenty more guidelines could be given, but even these simple ideas will help us if we are serious about being people of faith in all areas of life.

- Dan Lankford, minister

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