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People are constantly communicating. Of course, we don’t just use our mouths to communicate. We post things on Facebook, we tweet, we text, and we share information on the newest social media platforms. This should make us ask the question, “Does it matter what I say online?”
You might be surprised to learn that the Bible actually addresses this issue. Although social media showed up about 2,000 years after the writing of the New Testament (NT), the Bible’s principles of words will help us to think rightly about our online words.
God Cares About All Our Words (Even the Digital Ones)
We may not pay attention to everything we say, but God does. God notices how we use our words, and he wants us to use our words in a way that helps others and honors him. This includes our digital words.
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Digital Words Are Just as Real as the Words You Speak
Our digital words are just as powerful as the words we speak. In reality, they may be more powerful because once you put something on the Internet, you can’t ever really take it back. And as we’ve seen through many news stories, digital words have real-world consequences.
Your Posts, Texts, and Tweets Should Build Up Others
We tend to be negative and cynical online. It’s a lot easier to be negative about someone online than it is to say something mean about them in person. But God wants us to be different with how we use our words online.
He wants us to use our digital words to encourage, help, and comfort people.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you use or enjoy using social media? What apps or platforms do you use?
- If someone only knew you from what you posted on social media, what would they think about you? Explain.
- Why are we willing to post things online that we would never say in person? Give an example if you have one.
- How can you use your social media platform to encourage others?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
