Is Christ the Center of Your Social Media Message?
Social media can be one of the darkest places in the world. People comment with cruel disregard for people on the other side of the screen.
Yet, Christians have a responsibility to be the light of Christ in everything, including our social media message.
Twenty years ago, many of us couldn’t imagine social media existing much less consuming large portions of our lives. But, it has become how most people get news and interact with the global community on a daily basis. I don’t know the exact statistics, but most people check social media first thing each morning.
June 30, 2010 people celebrated the first World Social Media Day, which is around the time I joined the ranks of smart phone users and began to dip my toe into this new Facebook thing that was replacing MySpace.
And I’ve come to embrace it in many forms. I’m on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and StumbleUpon, and a few more, but haven’t bitten the SnapChat or WhatsApp bullet yet.
But one thing I try to do no matter which site I’m on is portray a consistent Christ-centered message.
Whether on my personal page or Heaven not Harvard accounts, nothing matters more to me than being as genuine a witness for my faith as I can be in every aspect of my social media use.
But social media is hard!
People are emboldened behind their keyboards to share every thought and emotion, often without much thought to how their words reflect on them as people or affect others.
Our social media message should be centered on a Kingdom-mindset and Christ focus. Click To TweetHonestly, I could write a book about Christian social media usage, but today, I want to focus on how we interact with our friends primarily.
Because it’s easy to see that social media is destructive and divisive within marriages and friendships. So we need to make sure we don’t miss the opportunity to be a light for Christ on social media among our friends.
So Why use social media at all?
As a veteran wife, I live in a transient community. Social media allows us to stay in touch with people who have moved away and stay close through interacting with each other online.
Also, we live far from all our family. Social media allows us to feel more connected to family: cousins, aunts and grandparents, even those on the other side of the country or even world.
Even in the civilian sector, social media allows us to befriend and communicate with people around the globe. I’ve made real friendships with people in other states and walks of life and even on other continents.
BUT . . .
We need to be careful to keep Christ the center of all areas of our lives.
Our words have more weight than ever, and words without the benefit of tone of voice or facial expressions. Only our words must stand and reflect the heart we had when we posted an article or comment.
I write this not as one who has mastered my online words or social media message, but as one contending for righteousness in this arena.
Matthew 12:36 ESV / I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
It is not a stretch to assume that God will also hold us accountable for the words we type, as well.
Recently, I shared a favorite post about service and the importance of focusing less on what I’m getting, more on how I’m loving others.
Focusing on how I love has also changed how I interact online.
Recently, a socially liberal, atheist friend and I were on opposite sides of an emotional issue in a Facebook thread. No matter how I explained my thoughts, he didn’t see it my way.
While tempted to use snarky wit to drive home my point, my goal in the conversation surpassed this one issue. Ultimately, my Kingdom-minded goal was to love my friend by demonstrating the love of Christ who lives in me.
At the end of the day, even this delicate and difficult topic was not as important as reaching my friend for Christ.
At the end of the day, being right isn't as important as reaching people with the Gospel and loving them like Christ. #ChristianWoman #Christian #Gospel #SocialMedia Click To TweetI prayed before reading each of his replies. Again, I prayed before replying. I typed replies and then prayed and revised.
In the end, I was able to address HIM not his position or his ideas, but reach out as a friend. “Hey, our friendship is more important than our agreement here.”
Doing so reflected Christ more than convincing him of my Christian position on this issue ever would have.
I struggle with this issue everyday since I’m fairly political. And I do believe part of God’s calling in my life has been to righteously contend for His truths.
However, I feel very strongly that I should err on the side of invitation and grace in how I interact on social media.
When I account for my words, I want to be able to say that everything I said was done in my very human attempt to be a light for Christ in one of the darkest places in the world – the internet.
So, what about you? Is Christ the focus in your social media message?
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18 Comments
Erin @ Momma's Living Room
What an important conversation to have! Does ALL parts of my life (even social media) point to God? I think we, as a culture, think that social media isn’t part of our “real life” but it is. It’s another extension of our influence on the world around us. Are we using all avenues of influence to point to Him or to point to us?
Great post!
Jennifer
It is a hard line to walk between grace and truth but if we’re not pointing to Christ, who will?
Kristi
Such s good message! People are more important than our agreement and putting others first does reveal our love to them.
Jennifer
Sometimes hard to remember but such a blessing when we put relationships over being right.
Lo @ Mrs. Lo Tanner
I read a similar post to this about a year and a half ago when I decided to start incorporating my faith into my blogging. I am very careful about what I post on social media but also what I allow to come through my newsfeed, what I like, what I share, what I respond to. Social media is our life under a magnifying glass. I want to make sure whatever I post or interact with is God-honoring. My posts should align with my faith and my faith directs how I live my life. Love the message of this post!
Jennifer
I wholeheartedly agree! Thank you!
Tara
When God really lives in your heart, I think it is easier for you to be yourself consistently and lovingly–even on social media. We all have our moments though. I am thankful for the way social media helps us keep in touch. It can be a huge blessing when used properly.
Jennifer
Absolutely, I’ve noticed that there is definitely a difference when the Lord reigns in my heart than when I go my own way.
Andrea
a lot to think about – and to pray about – making sure “if Jesus wouldn’t post it…”
Jennifer
Yes- WWJD!!
Erin
I couldn’t agree with you more. I try to do both self inventories and an inventory of my profile itself. I ask myself if I would say what I’m about to say to someone’s face, or in a crowded room. Further, I take a look at my profile – the things I’m sharing – and I try to look at it as if I’m just meeting myself. Does my profile portray me in a way that realistically telegraphs who and what I am? By that same token, though, just as I would speak out against certain things in “real life,” I make sure that I don’t simply stay quiet on the Internet just because it’s the Internet.
Jennifer
That is a great perspective to consider on what we share as well as how we comment!
Alice Mills
Social media is a great tool for the Gospel and for relationships. It is also a great tool for all kinds of wickedness. Tools like these have a way of showing what is in a person’s heart. May we use this tool to be a blessing!
Jennifer
Amen!
Heather Hart
I have a sticky note taped to the front of my computer that says, “Does this point to Jesus?” Too often I find myself writing a response on social media just to delete it and scroll on by. I think it’s important to remember that just because we have an opinion, doesn’t mean that we should share it. Thanks for this.
Jennifer
I love the sticky note idea! Knowing when we can and should answers someone on social media is really hard. But it has to have a purpose beyond just being right. Kingdom focus!
Katherine
I love this. I was just praying over my blog today to include all of my social media accounts and interactions. That it would be something that was used for the Lord and honored him.
So often we react quickly to negativity on social media and in an instant we have hurt those closest to us.
Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer
Praying over it all is a great way to start any of my blogging work. I like that! Thanks for stopping by!