Pleasing God Podcast
Pleasing God Podcast
Navigating the Digital World: Aligning Social Media with Spiritual Values
What if your social media habits could align more closely with your spiritual journey? Discover how to navigate the digital world through a biblical lens in our latest Pleasing God podcast episode. I'm your host, Jonathan Sole, and today, we explore the profound impact of words and the importance of guarding our hearts as we engage online. This episode delves into practical resolutions for avoiding late-night emotional posts and using platforms to spread positivity and godliness. Drawing inspiration from Ephesians 4:29 and Proverbs 4:23, we reflect on how thoughtful engagement can promote spiritual well-being and resonate with Christian values.
We also tackle the precarious balance between nurturing real-world relationships and maintaining an online presence. From avoiding pride and self-promotion to overcoming the pitfalls of comparison and envy, I offer insights on ensuring your digital interactions reflect maturity and kindness. Emphasizing the wisdom of practicing a digital Sabbath and being cautious of harmful content, we encourage you to let biblical principles guide your online activities. Join this enriching conversation and reflect on how modern technology can harmonize with timeless spiritual truths.
Stock Music provided by wolfgangwoehrle, from Pond5
Hi and welcome back to the Pleasing God podcast, a show focused on helping Christians to think biblically, engage practically and live faithfully for the glory of God. I'm your host, jonathan Soule, and on this episode I want to talk about the Christian and social media. Really, what's a biblical approach to how we engage on the various platforms that we use, whether it be X or Facebook, instagram and so forth? And I want us to think through biblical principles for using social media and then address some common pitfalls that Christians can face on social media and then just look at practical ways that we can honor Christ through our online presence. I know that some years ago I kind of set up my own resolutions for the use of social media, and I was just looking around and it started to seem like it was getting rather nasty, even among professed believers, and arguments online that no one wins but everyone reads and just some nasty rhetoric. And so I kind of created my own set of resolutions for how I would engage with social media and online presence, and one of them was that I resolved never to post anything overly emotional. If I had, my emotions were going for some reason whether I was sad, maybe even overly elated, upset. But at that point, when my feelings are really kind of seem to be in control, that's not a good time to post anything on any platform, and so I resolve never to post emotionally or if I was just unsettled. I also resolved never to post later on into the evening. And this is just again a matter of wisdom and prudence for my own life. But my sharpest and most focused times it begins in the morning and throughout the day as output and just using my mind whether writing, reading, engaging with people I tend to just start to feel more tired, naturally, as the day goes on on, and I just realized that later on in the evening it's not a time to really start posting or engaging with comments or content on social media. So I just tend to principally refuse. I don't always hold by that, but as a rule for my life, that's something that I like to do of my life. That's something that I like to do.
Speaker 1:And then the third thing is just being winsome about what I say and what my, what online presence is about, because we all have, we all will develop, an online reputation of you know the kind of stuff we post, the kind of stuff we retweet or share or like, and that begins to kind of create our own online profile. And so one of my resolves was that I would use the platform and I'm going to talk about this in a little bit but use the platform or the handle to promote goodness and not to have my whether it be Facebook or Instagram X be a lightning rod for always going after the next culturally relevant issue that's going on in Christianity or overly getting overly political on, as everyone does around election times or whatever it might be. I wanted to use my presence to promote goodness and godliness. So those are just kind of my three resolutions not to be emotional, not to post late at night and to use my platform to use that position to promote godliness, goodness, maybe thought-provoking posts and things of that nature. And so, even before we talk about some of the biblical principles, I would just encourage you if you have an online presence or you use that, how are you using that, and do you have your own rules or resolutions? If you don't, I would encourage you to sit down and just think carefully about what you do and don't do online and how that can be a reflection of what you value. I think it'd be a good thing and it's just again worth thinking carefully about.
Speaker 1:But let's talk about biblical principles for the use of social media and I want to first state the obvious. Words matter, whether they're spoken or whether they're typed or posted or reposted. Our words matter and we should not take that for granted, because once we post, I mean it goes out. We can maybe delete it, but we're putting ourselves out there and we're putting ourselves behind the thing that we say or the person that we follow and so forth. So be mindful that words matter and Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter 4, verse 29, let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as it fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. It's a wonderful verse and a reflection on how we should think about our use of social media the power of our words to build up or to tear down. And when we apply this, how do we engage with disagreements online? Are we responding with wisdom and kindness? Are we in violation of Ephesians 4.29?
Speaker 1:Another, when you think of biblical principles, remember we are to guard our hearts and our minds. There are many things on social media that a Christian should not view, that should not come across their reels, whatever it might be, and there are dangers and there are pitfalls throughout. And so when we think about how, in the biblical principles, we need to be careful about what our eyes see and what we engage with through Facebook, instagram, x and so forth. Proverbs, chapter 4, verse 23,. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. This means avoid content that might lead you into temptation. Avoid situations that might fuel comparing yourself, looking at the lives of other people that might foster envy. No, guard your heart and your mind. If you know you're weak in a certain area, you don't want to fuel that through your social media. Set boundaries in your own life that will help protect and guard your spiritual health and don't let social media become a point of stumbling and sin. And don't let social media become a point of stumbling and sin.
Speaker 1:Third biblical principle is stewardship of time, and I will say I have been convicted by this and I am often convicted by this how much time is wasted scrolling or looking through social media or just kind of having your face in your phone at times when you should be doing other things? Again, to the Ephesians, paul says look carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise. And what does that look like? A careful walk as a wise person? He says in chapter 5, verse 16, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. I think we have a setting on our phones that can show us the amount of screen time that we use on a weekly basis, and then it'll break it down even to what the apps that were open are. You ought to look that up on your phone and see what your screen time's looking like. And where are you spending your time when you are on the screen, what are you looking for? And so, again, how are we using our time? How much time are we spending in social media relationships versus real world relationships? That's a big deal to be thinking about. And, again, make the best use of your time.
Speaker 1:If we're not investing in the people that are closest to us our families, our church community, fellow brothers and sisters that we are actually seeing in the flesh but we're spending more time engaging others online that we don't see, we've got something out of balance and we need to think about how we can steward our time better. So, again, these are just some practical tips that we should think about in using social media without it becoming a distraction in our life and from our faith. And so, as we think through these biblical principles, remember words matter, guard your heart and mind, steward your time the Bible speaks to this. And then how we are to do these things. Well then, what are some common pitfalls that we see? What are some things that maybe, as you're listening to this, you can say, hey, I can relate to some of these that Christians face on social media.
Speaker 1:Well, I think the first one that we can certainly all somewhere agree with is pride and even self-promotion. There's a temptation, if we're active on social media, to seek validation through the amount of likes, shares and followers that we have. It's this idea that the bigger the platform, the more value and validated that I am, and I just want to caution against that. It can become a dangerous pitfall and it also can become addicting. You get a post that might go semi-viral for whatever you're following or who watches and is a part of your social media platform, and that ranges again depending on the size, but you want to kind of like, keep up the momentum. So now it's like well, I promoted myself on this one. I had a really good tweet here, or I you know this. This post got shared so many times on Facebook. Lots of people liked my Instagram picture about this. You want to kind of keep that up and you think that as you keep that up, there's validation here. That's a temptation to guard against, because it can become a distraction and then it also can become an obsession. Same with, again, self-promotion.
Speaker 1:It's a challenging thing to do and to understand how we are not to show conceit but to demonstrate humility, even in our social media. Philippians, chapter two, verse three, we read do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. And so here's a pitfall that pride and self-promotion can tend to overtake a Christian in the use of social media. Be careful, be mindful of this pitfall, because it can become a danger zone. Here's a second pitfall engaging in online arguments.
Speaker 1:Engaging in online arguments I can admit that I've done it and it is foolish. It does no good. There's not many people that want to reason through their computer screen, but there are many people that want to convince you that their position is correct or their views are right on their computer screen, and I've not seen many arguments won, but I've seen two sides lose in online arguments because what they reveal is ignorance and immaturity. And this goes in direct contrast to how the apostle Paul instructs Timothy to behave as a man of God. To a young pastor, he says to him have nothing to do. This is in 2 Timothy 2,. Have nothing to do with foolishness, ignorant controversies. You know that they breed quarrel and the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently, enduring evil, and so this takes discernment.
Speaker 1:You don't have to engage in every online argument. You don't necessarily have to engage in any real online arguments, but if you do and you feel like you need to, because it's actually personal and it involves something in your community and not, you know, engaging with an argument from some guy overseas or across the country, that again does no good. Know when to engage there's a time to speak and there's a time to stay silent and know when it's time to pray, and that's oftentimes a challenge that we can have. We want to respond to this post or this person. It seems to be speaking about a theological position that's different than mine, or whatever it might be, and I just want to correct that person. Listen, you don't have to be that person, and let me also give you a word of encouragement, or maybe exhortation. There are many other people that read your online arguments never give an impression on that, but they're reading it and it's causing them to form opinions and conclusions about you and your maturity. So, again, when it comes to online arguments and division, you're not accomplishing anything of significance for the kingdom when Christians are just fighting with each other online or when you try to engage the atheist to convert him to Christianity through the Facebook comments.
Speaker 1:Another one is comparison and envy, and this is just again. I had alluded to it earlier, but this can be a pitfall when we look at what other people have online. We look at their Instagram lives and we think everything's perfect. Pictures don't tell stories. They just portray what we want them to portray. And just remember that nobody's life is better or more perfect than what you see online, and so it just. There can be a false sense of where somebody is at, and then you want to compare yourself to that person. It's challenging, and if you're somebody who's got a platform, be mindful that you're not trying to portray something that you're not Portraying this kind of perfect life and a life without struggle and a life without challenges. And you don't have your bad days too. We all do. So we need to be mindful about what we project of ourselves and how we compare ourselves with others. Online, the internet, social media, can be a source of discontentment, but we need to learn that our contentment is in Christ rather than our social status or what we see in others, and that will help guard us.
Speaker 1:And a fourth pitfall that I think is common to all of us is consuming harmful or even misleading content. We need to be mindful of what we put in. There was an old oh man. When I was growing up, my parents introduced me to these old VHS movies McGee and Me, me and I remember in one of those videos um, I don't remember the character's names, but the statement was I think the son wanted to go to see a scary movie, a bad movie, and the father was telling him now you can't go, you don't want to go to that, it's not good for you. And he sneaks out and he goes and sees the movie and he comes home and there's like confession about it. It's a little blurry for me to remember, but again the dad says garbage in, garbage out, and the principle that he's saying there is what you put in to you, what you deposit in you, is what will come out of you.
Speaker 1:And so what kind of content are we consuming through social media? What is our level of discernment? Paul says in Colossians 2, see that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty to see according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ. What is guiding us? What are we reading, watching and sharing? And also, but what's harmful, is our social media used for good or for gossip, for strengthening or for slander? Let's not consume, be mindful of not consuming harmful content or misleading content. And so much gets posted that's unverified information. Before you share that picture or that scale or that chart, maybe do a little bit of homework. There's a lot of misinformation that gets shared through Facebook, instagram and so forth, and it's foolishness. And so don't believe everything that's on the internet because it's on the internet, and verify information before you share it. These are common pitfalls that Christians face on social media. So then, what are some practical ways that we can use our social media to honor Christ? And let me just give you a couple in addition to my own resolutions.
Speaker 1:First, use your platform for good. This is similar to what I was saying. Do you share scripture on your platform? Is it a place of encouragement? Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 5, verse 14, you are the light of the world. His city, set on a hill, cannot be hidden Again. In verse 16, he says let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. We can, as faithful followers of Jesus, be the light of the world through social media. We can let our light shine before others that they might see the goodness of our platform, the goodness of our Twitter handle or X handle, the goodness of what we post, and it points to the glory of God. So use your platform for good.
Speaker 1:Let me give you another one that we can honor Christ with social media. Practice a digital Sabbath and self-control. This means, instead of the pitfall of mismanaging our time, we could manage our time well. So set limits on screen time Maybe. Design certain times in your day that you know are what we would call tech-free times times for prayer, reading, relationships and away from social media. Here's another practical way we can honor Christ on social media is follow accounts that encourage spiritual growth, that encourage spiritual growth. What's your newsfeed look like? Is it a place where you can go to and you receive encouragement? You're seeing biblically sound content, so be intentional about who and what influences you. You can choose to follow and you can choose to unfollow, and maybe there are times that we need to do a little bit of both. And here's a final practical way that we can honor Christ on social media Engage with wisdom and kindness.
Speaker 1:Before any post, ask the ultimate question does this glorify God? Does this glorify God? And if the answer is I don't know or no, let that be the guide for how you post and how you engage on social media. Jesus says to his disciples in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 35,. He says by this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. I would love to see more and more Christians live this out on social media, being known for love rather than for controversy.
Speaker 1:Again, the controversies that go on. They're always stalemates and everyone loses. There's never a winner, because what it took to maybe win the argument, you lost the person and you gave opportunity to opposition outside of Christianity to look and say look how they treat one another. They're not going to say those are disciples of Jesus. Or if they say that's the disciples of Jesus, I don't want anything to do with that. What's compelling about that community of people?
Speaker 1:So, again, use your platform for good. Practice digital Sabbath self-control. Follow accounts that encourage spiritual growth. Engage with wisdom and kindness so, as we reflect, to live faithfully. How is your social media use shaping your walk with Christ? Is it drawing you closer to him? Is it a distraction? Think about intentional steps that you can do to align your use of social media with biblical values. Let me remind you of Paul's words to the Philippians. He says let's use that as we engage with fellow brothers and sisters and others on our social media. I want to thank you for listening to the Pleasing God podcast. If you have any questions, I would love to hear from you. You can reach out at questions at pleasinggodpodcastorg, and remember 1 Thessalonians 4.3,. This is the will of God, your sanctification.
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