The Christian and social media

 The Christian and social media 

We live in an generation in which social media is a big reality and it does not seem like it will disappear quickly, but will rather increase. It requires believers to reflect on it and see if it is a good thing or a bad thing. There are certainly advantages to social media, but there are also many disadvantages and then there is also the issue of how we should conduct ourselves on there. These   are, in brief, the issues we are going to look at.

 

1. Benefits of social media 

a.Proclamation

Shortly before the Covid pandemic we started recording sermons and posting them on YouTube and we were very grateful for this platform when we could not meet together during the pandemic. From that time on, all our sermons are posted on our YouTube page and it even reaches people who are not in our congregation. I know of at least one person for whom there is no good church in their area, who listens to our sermons weekly. Many of those in our congregation who are sick can also listen to our sermons online (1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 1 Peter 3:15). While it can never become a substitute for the fellowship of believers, it is helpful to persons who cannot get to church. 

It is also a blessing to people who go to other churches but seek additional Christian teaching. For example, I often listen to sermons from other preachers during the week and find them spiritually uplifting. 

b.Encouragement 

While it can never replace direct contact or even a phone call, it is a good way for believers to encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11). When someone is sick, or when someone is going through a trial, believers can encourage each other by using social media (Galatians 6:2). WhatsApp is exceptionally helpful for this because it offers a private platform to chat with someone. 

Many have been encouraged by a message or 'chat' on WhatsApp on an occasion where persons cannot reach each other at that particular moment 

c. Contact

It is easier to keep in touch with family or friends who live far away and whom you cannot see often (Proverbs 27:10). Photos can be shared and information can be shared through the comfort of a mobile phone. Not only WhatsApp is helpful for this, but also FaceBook and some other platforms. 

d.Information

You can create groups and pages to quickly pass on information about meetings, arrangements and plans to all the people involved. 

Information about our church can be made widely known by using public platforms such as FaceBook, YouTube, Instagram etc. You can create a group for family or friends or any group of people and keep them informed about important matters. One area where it is often helpful is when a family member or friend is ill. 

e. Christian material

Individual Christians may not have the ability to type a Christian message themselves every day, but they can send a message, a sermon or a picture of someone else that can be an encouragement to others. I know of many people who do this and of many who are also regularly encouraged by it, myself included. 

f.  Relaxation

There are many good social media groups and pages that offer good healthy relaxation. To name just a few: 

-    Sermons

-    Theological question and answer sessions

-    Nature programs

-    Films (Christian and family focused)

-    Practical tips

-    Clean comedy

 

2. The dangers of social media 

a.Moral authority 

Children are not only taught by their parents and teachers, but now they are also taught by anyone on social media. Believers no longer receive teaching only from their ministers, but from people on social media as well. Doctors have to compete with advice and tips from people on social platforms. Social media tries to compete with persons in formal authority and the result is that people become followers of influential people on social media who often have no expertise in the particular field, but a lot of influence. It leads to misunderstandings, it leads to falsehoods, and it leads to foolishness and the promotion of lies and sin. 

Sin is also encouraged and considered as normal and natural on these platforms and if you oppose it, even on biblical grounds, you are dismissed as a hater of God and an evil person. 

b.Sinful influences

While blatant evil such as pornography is not allowed on most social platforms, there are certainly countless things that are unhealthy for the soul to see and hear that we are exposed to through these platforms. Advertisements posted on these platforms are sometimes not only disturbing, but even inappropriate or sinful. Many people posts are not edifying for the soul and can sometimes contain harsh, dirty language and contain suggestive comments that do not honour God. Sometimes there are photos that are posted that are not for the edification of your faith. 

Social media platforms are not Christian platforms, and while they currently still accept Christian posts, they also accept religious posts from other faiths. They also post posts from so-called 'churches' which we would not classify as churches and who preach a false gospel. It is sometimes hard work to sift through this stuff and for the untrained ear it can often lead to deception and misconceptions of the true gospel.  

c. Bad attitudes 

There are people on many social media platforms who become very vocal about certain issues. Personally, I see many comments on, for example, public groups as very negative and harsh. Rather than having and cultivating a positive attitude, these platforms then also make you negative and promote an attitude of complaining about everything. 

Persons are attacked, humiliated, 'cancelled' because others are angry with them or misunderstood something they said. Especially the attack on council members in your area can often be very unchristian, unnecessary and inhumane. The atmosphere is created that everyone should join and attack together and many times this is exactly what happens and as a result something small and innocent ends up being taken completely out of context. 

d.Wasted time 

Many hours can be wasted spending time on social platforms. The way these platforms are designed, in which you 'slide up' or 'slide down' information, promotes the idea that you are not spend as much time on it as you are. A quick peek to see what's going on often leads to spending a very long time there. Video after video, picture after picture, comment after comment and before you know it you spend hours on such a platform without ever realizing it. 

If you spend too much time on social platforms there are 3 areas that suffer: Your relationship with God, your relationship with your family, your performance at work. 

e. Encouragement of sin

Besides all the above issues, there are other ways in which social media encourages sin. I just want to mention a few here: 

-    It drives self-satisfaction (you look for 'likes' 'thumbs up' 'comments' to feel good)

-    It becomes a type of addictive drug (you can't stay away for too long)

-    It deprives you of reflection time (time alone is time to reflect on God and life)

-    It prevents addressing problems (It offers escape from emotional problems)

 

3. Your behaviour on social media 

The dangers of social media can drive you to become guilty of the same behaviour of other people there. Here are some practical suggestions of how you should conduct yourself on these platforms as a believer 

a. Do not forget that you are a believer - Romans 6:13

b.Do not argue - 2 Timothy 2:23-26

c. Do not be impulsive - Ecclesiastes 5:2

d.Do not be disrespectful - 1 Corinthians 10:24

e.Do not gossip - Ephesians 4:29

f.  Do not seek attention - Matthew 6:1 & Romans 2:8

 

Summary:

Examine your social presence, consider the dangers mentioned above and others you can think of. Be careful! The believer has the Holy Spirit, but that does not mean we are immune to the attacks of Satan on these platforms. 

There is much benefit in Social Media and I see it for myself and for the extension of the gospel. Limit the amount of time you spend on it and the amount of platforms you are on. And limit the influence of wickedness. 

The danger is throwing the baby out with the bathwater! See the danger, but also see the benefit, and weigh it up for yourself. Seek the glory of God in everything. Let the words of Romans 12:2 guide you: “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.”

 

ds. Leon Harmse

The pastor of Sunward Park Baptist Church