When we are ready to post on social media, He sees our motives, He sees our content, and He sees the way we communicate this content. If we are true believers, this awesome awareness will make it our chief concern to please Him in all that we do (2 Cor. 5:9), knowing that we will give an account at the judgment (2 Cor. 5:10). This includes giving an account for our words (Matt. 12:34–37). When we genuinely believe this, we are as conscientious about what we type as we are about what we speak. 

The internet, and especially social media, has changed the world. It has also changed us. Do not think that this is a blanket condemnation of social media. I am on social media, so to call judgment on its use would be condemning myself. Social media has become such a normal part of everyday life; it is simply the air we breathe. Not only is it normal, but it can be used for good purposes. It can be a valuable tool for communication, it allows us to keep up with our friends and loved ones, and some Christians use it to winsomely communicate God’s truth.

Regardless of how individuals choose to use social media, the non-negotiable for Christians is that we always use it righteously. I suggest that it is not easy. I am convinced that electronic communication, especially social media, makes it even harder to communicate righteously. It is hard enough to keep our communication righteous when we are communicating verbally (Proverbs 10:19; James 3:2). There are several reasons this is true.

Reason 1

We are prone to make a mental distinction between what we say and what we type. Scripture, however, directly connects what one says and what one writes. God holds Himself to this very standard. For example, in Galatians 3:8, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes that “…the Scripture…preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand.” He makes no distinction between Scripture (the written Word) and God’s audible speech. When we make a thoughtless, unwarranted, and perhaps unarticulated distinction between what we write and what we say, we are not careful to apply Scriptural principles to our use of social media.

Reason 2

Social media communication is not checked or directed by nonverbal cues present in other forms of communication. As someone has quipped, “Technology giveth and technology taketh away.” For example, when speaking in person with someone, you can pick up body language that indicates that this conversation is not being well received. Perhaps the look on their face makes you realize that they are losing their temper. Even if you are speaking with someone over the phone, you may hear sighs, a change in tone of voice, or the person may get very quiet.

Read More