Everyone is on social media these days, and if it’s done right, Christians can have a huge, positive impact online. The problem is that sometimes, it doesn’t work that way.
Wrong Messages
Well-meaning Christians can blow it on social media by posting and sharing things that really aren’t telling the whole truth about God, or that even imply things that aren’t true.
A statement like “Put God first, he’ll do the rest” might encourage us to remember that God is in control and we should trust him. But if we take that statement without applying other biblical principles, we might think that as long as our heart is in the right place, we can kick back and wait for God to rain down blessings on our laziness because we’re “putting God first.” That’s not biblical because “putting God first” doesn’t mean we have zero responsibility for our actions!
The other problem is that Christianity for some is big business, and not everyone selling Christian products, running Christian websites, or sharing Christian posts online is necessarily following Jesus Christ. In that case, they have no problem posting things that are just plain wrong as long as they get likes and shares. Clickbait is big money!
Stand on Firm Ground
It comes down to this: we have to have our feet on firm spiritual ground or we’ll fall for anything. That’s why the Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Ephesians 4 to be mature in their faith:
Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
There are people out there who do want to take advantage of us, and even those with good motives can sometimes get it wrong. The solution is to look at what we are allowing to influence us and to cut out the bad stuff. We should make a daily discipline of studying our Bibles, praying, and surrounding ourselves with godly people who will encourage us to pursue God and who will mentor us in our walk with Christ. This will help us to know what God really says and to weed out the lies.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What social media sites or apps do you use? Which are your favorite and why?
- What do you think are some positive ways to use social media and apps?
- Have you ever seen someone share something that is “Christian” online but you didn’t feel that it was biblical or true? Explain.
- Read Ephesians 4:14. What are some steps you can take to be more mature in your relationship with Jesus Christ?
- Why is it important that we are mature in our faith?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
This topic is adapted from the Katie Gregoire YouTube channel. Written content by Daniel Martin.
