I remember the day I purchased my first cell phone. I can recall when my dad bought our first computer. I actually remember the day I broke down and joined Facebook! It instantly brought me into contact with so many of my past acquaintances and opened up a world of interaction with friends and family. Over my lifetime I have seen digital social communication morph from personal pagers (small devices that buzzed when someone wanted you to call them…just ask someone over 40) to the fully connected smartphone with its multiple platforms for social interaction. In fact, it is highly unlikely that you are reading this apart from modern digital technology.
According to a report by www.brandwatch.com, as of July 2015 there were…
*3.17 billion users on the internet
*2.3 billion active users on social media
*internet users have an average of 5.5 social media accounts
*1 million new active mobile social users are added every day
Social Media is here to stay…it has become an integral part of everyday life.
How does a believer navigate this changing landscape of social interaction? Have you given it any serious thought? You need to!! Paul tells us in I Corinthians that whatever we do, whether our verbal conversation or our social media presence, we are to glorify God. Here are 7 thoughts to consider as you strive to make your social media platform a display of Christlikeness.
1. Your online conversation reflects your offline attitudes…guard your thoughts!
-Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
You can’t say and you can’t post what you’re not thinking about!
**The best way to guard your online testimony is to fortify your offline thinking.
2. Just because you think it, doesn’t mean you need to post it!
…but it’s my true inner feelings
…but people need to know what I think
…but it would be wrong of me not to set the record straight
**These are all terrible excuses to express whatever comes to your mind!
Proverbs 17:27-28 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
Simply put, before you write something harsh or reactive on Facebook or Twitter, consider that it might be in your best interest to hold your tongue. We do this everyday in face-to-face interaction. Why do we refuse to apply this same Biblical principle to our social media presence?
3. Avoid online negativity
Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Proverbs 16:24 expresses that “pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul,
We must make the choice to use our online presence to edify and uplift as opposed to tearing down.
That means sometimes you have to walk away from a conversation.
Our flesh’s response…”but I need to set someone straight…to show them the error of their ways.” However, many times the best response is to just show kindness in the face of anger and harsh words. Make the choice to avoid online negativity.
I hope these first three thoughts are a help. Stay tuned for part two which will wrap our discussion on Christ-like behavior in social media. If this has been a blessing please like and share on your social media platform!!! Subscribe to automatically receive part two.
DJHarry Isaiah 64:8 We are the clay!