Social media tempts us to believe that we can be like God in His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence (sort of). Social media—and the cultural pressures that often come with the way we use it—tell us we should know everything that is happening at all times, in all places. But knowledge is not enough. With the knowledge of what is happening comes the pressure that we should do something about everything that is taking place all around the world.

Don’t worry—this blog is not going to tell you that social media is evil or that you should get off social media entirely. I will caution you, however, not to fall victim to a significant lie social media can tempt you to believe. What is the lie? That you can be like God.

Our desire to be like God has plagued humanity since the beginning. The very first temptation offered to our original mother was laced with the lie “you will be like God” (Gen. 3:5). Fast forward to an era following worldwide destruction for our sin, and we find ourselves again tempted by the allure to reach into the heavens and make a name for ourselves (Gen. 11:1-9), things that are reserved for God Himself. On and on through human history, we find evidence of this desire lurking in the heart of every man and woman. We desire to take on that which only the Divine can. Often advancements in technology come with poisoned promises that we can be like God. Social media is one of the latest culprits to come on the scene that tries to convince us we can take on godhood.

Social media tempts us to believe that we can be like God in His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence (sort of). Social media—and the cultural pressures that often come with the way we use it—tell us we should know everything that is happening at all times, in all places. But knowledge is not enough. With the knowledge of what is happening comes the pressure that we should do something about everything that is taking place all around the world.

Allow me to illustrate with a personal example. One day, when I was trying to wrap up my dissertation, I blocked out a day for writing. I went into my office, locked the door, and turned off all access to the outside world. LAN line–off, cellphone–off, internet on my computer–off. It was a very productive day. That evening, when I turned my phone back on, I had a text from a friend which read, “Can you believe what is happening at the Capitol?” My curiosity was piqued, so I asked, “What is happening at the Capitol?” I was afraid to ask which Capitol because that would betray an even deeper level of ignorance. He sent back a Twitter feed related to riots that were taking place in Washington, D.C. The date was January 6, 2021.

At once, I began to feel guilt over my ignorance. I began to think, “I should have known!” “I should have done something!” “Should I go there?!?!”

Those questions point directly to the temptation. When our engagement with social media begins to cause us to think, “I should have/need to/ought to…know/have known, do something, or be someplace,” it is tempting us to believe we can be like God. Only God can be all places and know all things, and only God has the power to do something about everything. Any hint in our thoughts, feelings, or desires that we could take on those capacities is an acknowledgment of our desire to be Godlike.

Psalm 131:1 declares, “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” King David—giant slayer, Philistine conqueror, nation of Israel ruler and expander, psalmist, and man after God’s own heart—wrote these words. David is certainly not saying that we should never try to accomplish great things or do mighty deeds.

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