Now days social media is how we communicate. Chances are you stumbled on this blog through a social media site such as Facebook. There are many positive things about social media. We are able to interact with multiple people around the world in a few seconds. We can keep in contact with long distance friends. Joining a networking group can allow us to meet with people that we might never have crossed paths with before.
So how does social media shape our lives as Christians? That is a good question. We can increase our spiritual growth through social media or we can sour it. We can be encouraging to others by coming along their struggles and offering Biblically based commentary.
What often clouds our Facebook profile controls our mind as well. We share our feelings, some deep with inside us. Some people use social media as a platform to unleash the demons trapped inside their souls. These feelings will be permanently cemented into cyber space.
Is social media safe for Christians?
Social media is also a tool that the devil can use to help our minds wonder away from God. Who are we following on Twitter? Who are we friending on Facebook? Do we reach out to old flames or crushes just because we feel safe behind our computer? Can we hide while at the same time being completely exposed? When you are sitting behind a computer, you can easily overreach natural boundaries put into place with face to face encounters.
This is a pretty open ended answer but yes and no. If you approach social media with a Biblical mind, then of course it can be safe. When I say Biblical mind I mean how we would act if Jesus was sitting next to us at the computer. Go ahead and share your favorite recipe with your friends. Post that photo of you and your kids fishing. Interact with others through social media. I even challenge you to reach out to people to share the word of God. You may have friends that you do not feel comfortable approaching face to face. Through social media, you can reach out in a non threatening way such as a personal blog.
Now the bad news.
Now I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but social media can be a trap as well. If you find yourself spending more time with your “internet friends” then you wife or husband, you probably have a problem. Online interaction should not take the place of face to face interaction. Just be careful what you are doing with your profile. If you have a tendency of getting into trouble, give your spouse your login information so they can keep you accountable.
With all of the “fake news” that is getting spread around Facebook, it is important to know what you are reading is the truth. Do not always assume that something you read or saw on a social media site is God's truth. God's truths are found in the Bible.
Since I obviously do not have a Bible verse that corresponds to social media, let me leave you with this.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
