GOD, THE CHRISTIAN, AND SOCIAL MEDIA!

Is online social media good or evil? Is it a sin to use social media? How should a Christian approach social media???

There is indeed no doubt that the internet and especially social media have become such a powerful tool in our days, not only for the enormous advantages of mass communication and fast information dissemination that it offers while enabling us to stay connected to our friends, families, society, and our world at large, but also for the means of livelihood it provides for countless people who literally make their living out of the internet and social media...

Christians and the Church as a whole are equally not left behind, as the internet media has gained much acceptance in Christendom for the value it offers in aiding the spreading of the Gospel by a faster and even cheaper means to people and places that hitherto had been beyond reach due to the physical or financial constraints... The Covid-19 pandemic which broke out all over the world in the year 2020 further enforced the need for the Church to adopt and strengthen its internet and social media presence as this became the next best option to ensure that Church meetings continued in spite of the pandemic which restricted physical gatherings...

However, as we do know, anything God is interested in, the Devil is also interested in; and anything God desires to use for His glory, the Devil also desires to use for his own agenda; So as much as the online social media came with phenomenal advantages, we have also seen a proportional increase in all kinds of vices and propaganda stemming from the social media space... From the crimes, scams, and frauds associated with it; to the incessant displays of the lives and lifestyles of both the rich and the poor; to the promotion of self, greed, indiscipline, covetousness, nudity, drunkenness, promiscuity, pretense, falsity, and unhealthy competitions, comparisons, and arguments; with many today deriving their self-esteem, self-worth, and sense of fulfillment from their social media followership or audience; and while some extreme cases end in fatalities, others end up polluting the minds of the followers and viewers with misinformation and ideas that go against true Christian virtues...

So while playing a very vital and valuable role in our world today, social media has also become one of the Enemy's most potent weapons of mass distraction and confusion... While many today have been carried away by the frenzy of the social media world, many others have lost focus on their primary assignment on Earth while following, seeking followership, and trading words and opinions with people who themselves do not even know they are being subtly used by the Enemy to propagate both an Anti-God and Anti-Christ agenda. Every new day awakens with new news on the trend; and while the dead are being forgotten, the living are forgetting that they do not have forever to live on Earth...

Yes, social media usage may not be a sin but it surely has the power to cause one to sin, because even a good thing has the potential to produce a bad consequence if used without boundaries or moderation; but beyond the sin factor it is also about the lasting negative ripple effect produced by any misleading content that goes viral on social media...

It has become very needful today to always keep ourselves reminded that we are Christians, we do not live for social media, we live for Christ; and we do not interpret the matters of life by the experiences or views of any social media influencer or celebrity, or by the opinions of the masses, but rather through the lens of the Word of God (the Bible), especially the words of Jesus Himself Who is the Christ in Christianity...

Now more than ever, the  Believer must hold dear and hold tight his God-ward values and convictions, lest the wind blowing over the masses blow him away also, as indeed we are living in such a time when the strength of everyone's convictions about their spiritual beliefs will be greatly tested, as all kinds of knowledge and wisdom are now available and easily accessible on everyone's finger-tips literally; And any Believer who does not have a strong foundation for their convictions are bound to stumble and be misled, falling prey to the crafty schemes of the Enemy in this End-Time...

Child of God! Please guard your heart! Guard your mind! And guard your mouth! There will always be something new to talk about, but not every news deserves your attention, not every trend demands your contribution, and not every discussion requires your participation... Avoid unnecessary time-wasting energy-draining arguments (especially with unbelievers on social media), it holds no real value and produces no real convictions without the Holy Spirit... Also, resist the temptation to always have a say or air your view on every matter trending on social media; it is a cycle that really has no end...

Do not be enslaved by social media, and do not model your life after any social media influencer whose words, views, and lifestyle does not portray that of the Christian's ultimate model: Jesus Christ! regardless of who they are or how many followers they have amassed... Do not build your identity around or evaluate your life by social media; your true identity is in who you are in Christ and your primary purpose on Earth is to bring glory to God...

Therefore, do not let the world pull you into their storm, rather pull them into your peace; the God-kind of peace!... Regardless of the chaos, come rain, come shine, do not take your eyes off of Him Who is the Prince of Peace; because if the Enemy does not succeed in tempting you to do the evil, he will attempt to distract you from doing the needful by keeping you busy fighting a battle that is not even yours; and he will use anything and anyone available (sometimes even someone who claims to be a Christian), with the ultimate aim of taking your eyes off from your priorities as a true Christian...

And as I end this piece, the below verses from the Holy Scriptures are further instructive:

"You may say, “I am allowed to do anything.“ But I reply, “Not everything is good for you.“ And even though “I am allowed to do anything,“ I must not become a slave to anything." 1Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)

"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons." 1Timothy 4:1 (NLT)

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." 2Timothy 2:15-16 (NIV)

"Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God. Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God." 1Corinthians 10:31-32 (NLT)

"And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts...Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use His words to teach and counsel each other...And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus..." Colossians 3:15-17 (NLT)

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to share! God bless you!

#JesusChristIsLORD #GODisStillinCharge