The world of social media can be an amazing tool for the Gospel, fellowship, and staying connected with long-distance relationships. However, social media, just like every other worldly creation, also comes with worldly baggage. For many of us, we did not have time for much thought when we created a Facebook or Instagram account. It was just the next step to becoming an adult, or it was our way of keeping up with the times in an ever-changing age. So, to our detriment, social media has simply become the norm. However, the danger of this approach is that it robs us of the crucial time needed to evaluate some of the pitfalls social media brings to a believer. Around this time two years ago, I found myself reaping the bitter fruit of social media’s negative side effects in my life. It was during this time that I made the decision to shut down my primary social media accounts indefinitely. After over a year and a half of “social distancing,” life’s demands called me back to reactivate these accounts. While my profiles may seem to have picked up where they left off, my perspective could not be more different. In that time, I found sin and temptation abounding openly through what we would often call “normal practices.” So, it is my intention that this post offer a starting point for thinking Biblically about how we approach the platforms of social media. Here, I have offered three pitfalls I found to be the most plain since my return. Again, this list is not exhaustive. It is meant to cause us to pause before posting, so that we may not defame the name of Christ in our culture’s attempt to glorify self. #1. Narcissism may be a characteristic of social media, but it should not characterize a Christian. Narcissism, rightly, is never socially acceptable. In a public setting, if someone were to spend hours talking about and showing other people pictures of themselves, the public would cringe. However, social media has created an environment where talking about yourself, posting pictures of yourself, showing people your outfits, and taking pictures of all of the trendy things you do, is normal. For years, I spent the majority of my time consumed with trying to take attractive “selfies.” The time and embarrassing amount of angles and poses I went through is never something I wanted anyone to see.When I returned to social media a few months ago, the idea of taking a “selfie” to me seemed grossly selfish. So, what changed? For the first time in my life, as I had spent time away from the realm of social media and tried to see what Scripture had to say about it all, I could not help but take these words to heart: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Prov. 27:2) “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Cor. 11:30) “So that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Cor. 1:31) “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jer. 9:23-24) There clearly is no compatibility between the life a Christian ought to live, and the life of a narcissist. And yet narcissism seems to fly under the radar of our discernment. Why is this? I think the answer is obvious. It is hard to find issue with what we are comfortable with. It is about time that we examine this idea that Christians should treat social media the same way everyone else does. Is it necessary that people know that I think I look good? Should I openly seek the affections of my followers? Why is it important to me that I show everyone how proud I am of the things I do? These are some of the questions Christians should be asking, instead of how good our lighting is. #2. Social media is not an excuse to be unloving. Not only is it easy to grow prideful in our boasting, but also it can blind us to the damage we are doing to our brothers and sisters. While it may be culturally acceptable to boast of our successes and love of material things, a Christian is to follow in the footsteps of Christ--a humble servant. We are to love our brothers and sisters in the way that Christ teaches us to love. Scripture defines love in this way: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant...” (1 Cor. 13:4). The problem I found in myself was often a lack of discretion or consideration of others. In posting about my life, I neglected to think about how I may be more of a stumbling block than a helper. One may argue that he has a right to use social media in any way he likes, however, Scripture is clear about how we are to use our freedom in Christ. “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak,” (1 Cor. 8:9). We often fail to realize that many of our believing followers may be struggling with temptations to idolize materialism or other fleshly desires. Our posting could be a source of agonizing struggle for a brother or sister who struggles in this way. We could easily be sending the wrong message through our frivolous posting. #3. Virtue signaling is not a virtue. This one was an unexpected problem. Again, in a normal social setting, talking about the good deeds one does may be seen as tacky. However, social media approaches this topic without any caution. Upon scrolling, it is easy to see profile picture banners, posts, and birthday fundraisers full of public virtue. While not all of these posts look for the accolades of the masses, they call for caution. I try to be careful not to assume false motives with posts, however, I would like to remind us to examine our hearts behind our posts. It can be far too easy to fall into the trap of trying to show others just how “good-natured” or virtuous we are. Scripture gives us this warning: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 'Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.'" (Matt. 6:1-5) Concluding thoughts Although I have been reluctantly pulled back into the realm of Facebook and Instagram, I am grateful for my insightful respite. Taking the time to weigh my daily practices to Scripture’s truths has helped me to realign my values and come into social media once again with a more firm foundation.
I am now much more equipped to resist the pitfalls of narcissism, apathy toward my brothers and sisters, virtue signaling, and many other patterns I found myself steeped in. My prayer is that everyone would take the time to reevaluate what our culture finds normative. What you may find is that some of those cultural norms are not so normal--or godly--after all.
1 Comment
christi rose
4/23/2020 10:06:35 pm
This was so helpful, and thoughtful! I experienced the same abruptness when I took a break from Facebook. I was amazed to start really noticing how much time people spent on that platform once I wasn't doing it anymore (mainly people I lived with).
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