Christians Using Social Media

Introduction

Good morning. If you will please open your Bibles with me to Proverbs chapter 18. Proverbs chapter 18. If you were to imagine a place of name calling, gossip, slander, and all the while showing various states of immodesty, distaste, and profanity, what type of area are you thinking of? I’m asking even further, what if this place was a place where Christians were in large number? Or what about what Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 2 has to say? When it says a fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. So of course the problem with Proverbs chapter 18 is that the fool wants to talk but not listen. That’s a lack of learning, a lack of focus that can undergo. You can’t have a conversation with someone who seeks only to be heard but not to listen.

But I think there is such a place that exists, and unfortunately I do believe that Christians are all around it, and perhaps even sometimes frighteningly enough, involved in it. And that’s a wide world place called social media. Christians on social media, particularly this year, I find interesting, because it’s an election year. And there’s a lot of different things, and we’re going to get into this as we move forward with the lesson this morning, that sometimes we don’t truly think through, right? As we’re living our Christian life, we don’t actually discover what God wants from me in all areas because we kind of allow ourselves to go with the flow. The problem with that, of course, is what are we called to be? To go with the flow?

Well, of course not. We’re called to crucify ourselves, pick up our cross daily, and follow after Christ, our Lord and Savior. So if I had said that this place of name-calling, gossip and slander, and all the while showing various states of immodesty was social media, we’d say, of course that’s wrong. And if I can summarize my entire lesson in about a five-second sentence, it would be sin is sin, behind and in front of a computer screen. However, if it was that easy, there would be no need to have sermons on it. There would be no need to have endless types of blog posts and internet sites dedicated to the idea of how should a Christian use social media, or perhaps in a different line of thought, how should a Christian not use social media.

Statistics say that there are over one billion users in the world of Facebook. And I will add a caveat to this morning’s lesson. That is my primary focus on social media. It’s what I’m used to, that’s what I’m accustomed to. However, there are 974 million Twitter accounts that are open, albeit some of those are inactive. There are about 300 million accounts on Instagram. And here’s the fun one. About 65% of American adults are using social media. So I’m curious to see if this will actually hold up here. Raise your hand if you have a social media account. I didn’t say that you use it a lot. I didn’t say that you enjoy it, but if you have it, raise your hand proudly. There’s other people, right?

In fact, this looks a little bit more than 65%. I’m curious, raise your hand if you do not. Oh, we have some normal people left. Congratulations. But for all those who do not have social media, know that it is a powerful force, not only because people are using it, but because that is quickly becoming a way in which news is spread. Conversations are started, and perhaps even advertising is done. Social media is a large presence in our world, particularly in this country, and Christians need to be aware of how to use it. Unfortunately, it can be shocking and embarrassing how people behave online. If you look in Jeremiah chapter 6, note there, and tell me if this isn’t a portrait of what you see in chat forums and perhaps even in long discussion threads on Facebook.

In Jeremiah chapter 6, beginning in verse 10, Jeremiah speaking to his audience, and he’s quite appalled. He says, To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised. They cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn. They take no pleasure in it. Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord. I am weary of holding it in. Pour it out upon the children in the street and upon the gatherings of young men also. Both husband and wife shall be taken, the elderly and the very aged. Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together, for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land, declares the Lord.

For from the least of the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain. And from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No. They were not at all ashamed. They did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall. At the time that I punishment punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord. What was the problem with these people? They would not hear the word of the Lord. They would not heed the word of the Lord. And in so doing, in verse 15, what is the punctuating point of Jeremiah the prophet? They were too far gone. Because they were unashamed of what they were doing.

They would not even blush.

And as we’ve already seen, a complete rejection of the word of God, and replaced it with what? False prophets. What were they saying? Peace, peace when there is what? When there was no peace. What God was saying was falling upon deaf ears, or as the prophet says, uncircumcised ears. They were unwilling to listen, which is a characteristic that Proverbs warns us of in chapter 18. I think it’s interesting though, when we think about how Christians act on social media, we need to see how does everyone else act? And if you’ve ever spent any time looking at comment threads on anything like a YouTube video to even an article post, what do you see lots and lots of? Expletives? Name calling? Rudeness. I don’t know what the phenomena is, but something about being behind a computer screen allows people to think that they can say whatever they want, or act however they want, or treat others any way that they desire.

1. We Need to Guard Our Hearts

Perhaps it’s not unlike the magic of water, and of course, that’s my phrase for how water seems to allow people to think they can dress immodestly in bathing suits. There’s really no difference, but now that instead of land being hard, it’s liquid and people change the way they dress and consider modesty. The same standard seems to apply to behind the computer screen. And so a couple of questions come up. First of all, what are some universal standards for using it? Well, I think the most important one is we need to guard our hearts, first of all, and to do that, we have to go into this idea with certain precautions. In Matthew chapter 6, you have this clear idea that was read at the beginning of Scripture that the eye is the lamp of the body.

In verse 22, so if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, what happens? Your body will be full of darkness. If then the light is in you, if then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. We are going to be a product of what we put into ourselves. If we are gross, gossiping, slanders on the inside, what is going to come out? Of course, gossip and slander, and perhaps the computer screen, rather than being acting as some form of magic, is simply something that allows us to act the way we always want to. Because our last strains of social constraint have been removed because we’re not facing someone directly. We need to be careful what we put before our eyes, though, because if we’re filling ourselves with junk and filth, that surely we’ll be quick to follow.

But also we need to be careful what we hear. I love this passage. Please look at this one. In Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8. If you take away anything from the lesson this morning, think about this verse. In Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8. Consider in your posting and in your reading if these posts, if what you’re putting into your mind from social media fits the qualifications of this verse. In Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. I wonder how many times that I’ve clicked sin on a message or a post online that is qualified as even one of these.

True, that should be a minimum standard. Honorable. Just.

Focus on the good things, focus on the true things, the noble things. Be pure of heart and mind. Certainly, if we can train our mind, if we can build a light within ourselves, that light will shine, and that’s certainly going to be a key point. But you see, also that certainly applies to what we say. I wonder if we could just put a sticket note on our computers that says, is this just? Before you hit sin, is this pure? Before I send this message off that I cannot take back. Is this commendable? Is this praiseworthy? And of course, when you see what we see, what we hear and what we say, those are universal basic Christian truths. Do we not see that we need to guide our lights to shine?

2. Danger Area: Time Wasting

If we’re going to shine our lights, we have to have protected them. We have to have built them up. So when you see some danger areas, I think the first one is time wasting. If you look at Ephesians chapter 5, of course, you know the passage in verse 16. But note just with me in verse 15 through 17. In this passage about the daily walk of a Christian, consider, look how carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. I think it’s interesting. How many of us have ever said, I do want to show hands on this, I wish there was just more time in the day?

Or that I had more time. Has anyone wished for that? You know, that time would be there if we wouldn’t give it away to unnecessary things. Again, social media can be a good thing. I want to make that clear. We’re going to come to some positive uses of this great tool that we have access to in the 21st century of this world that God created. But I also want to note that if we’re spending all of our time on here or even at the ball field or behind a television screen, and we complain about not having enough time, what does that say about us? We’re wasting what God has given us. Chris Emerson says ours are in low supply and high demand. And yet we seem to give them away because someone has some sort of farm they’re running online, or because we have to see the newest picture that someone posted.

3. Danger Area: A Lack of Christian Behavior

I think it’s an interesting area we need to consider. Is this consuming my time to an excessive degree that pulls away from my devotion to the Lord? But I want to spend a little bit of time on this next one. And a danger area is this allows for such a lack of Christian behavior that it really can be appalling. If you look in Titus chapter 3, Titus is very clear about some expectations of how we should be and why. If you note this in Titus chapter 3, this is a great passage to consider, beginning in verse 1. Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle and to show ourselves perfect courtesy toward all people.

Can I stop you there? For any of you, for all of you who put your hand up that says you have some social media account, and if you check it, how do you think it would go when it comes to being submissive to rulers and authorities? Do you think that’s high on the list of what most of the posts are about? What about being obedient, being ready for every good work? How about verse 2? How about speaking evil of who? No one. What are we to do with quarreling? Avoid it. Is this a Christian truth? Of course it is. Is this what God expects of his people? Of course it is. And yet, here we find ourselves in an election year. And we as people, including Christians, have for some reason found it not just capable, but permissive to post things that are evil because simply there are those that we dislike running for a public office.

Brothers and sisters, is it not the ultimate form of hypocrisy to call out the sin of others, in so doing, sinning yourself by slandering them or gossiping about them? Is that not the pinnacle of hypocrisy, calling out sin and sinning ourselves? We must not participate in this. That is not to say we cannot make our opinions known. That is not to say that we do not have a responsibility or at least the opportunity to vote for a candidate, to consider a candidate. But brothers and sisters, sin is wrong. Slander is a sin on Facebook, on Twitter, and to someone’s face and behind their back. It is all the same. It is all a transgression of God’s law. We have to see that. We have to think that.

We have to know it, or we will too easily type out our frustrations and hit sin and impact millions of people that we might not even think will see what we have sent. If you think about Philippians chapter 2 and verse 14, though, you see another example. Philippians chapter 2 and verse 14, Paul simply says to them, Do all things without what? Grumbling or disputing. But I want to back up to verse 12 first. What is his admonition for them in verse 12? Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

As you skip down to verse 15, why do all these things without grumbling or disputing? That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. Holding fast to the word of life. So in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. It’s easy to complain. And it’s even easier to complain when no one sees it. Can we briefly have a discussion about what the laws of God are when it comes to having a problem with your brother or sister? What are those laws? In Matthew chapter 18 and verse 15, what are you to do? When someone has sinned against you, what do you do?

You sit and pout, right? What about posting Facebook posts anonymously? You don’t tag them in it. You just say, I wish people would understand this. Is that what God says? Let’s look at Matthew 18 and verse 15. What are we supposed to do? Paul says, do all things without grumbling or disputing, but what about when I have a problem with my brother? Matthew chapter 18, what is verse 15 say? If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. Facebook has about one billion users. Posting something in a public way online is the furthest thing from going to your brother and talking to him alone that there can possibly be in this world. TV cameras don’t get to as many people as one Facebook post might if it was shared enough times.

If we have a problem with someone close to us or far from us, the Bible is clear. Jesus’ message is for us to go to them alone. Why? The end of verse 15. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. Complaining and slander and gossip are all these ways that we can get involved in this type of cesspool that the world has pulled down with social media. Are we to be like the world? Are we to be different? What was Paul’s message in Philippians chapter 2 from verse 14 through 17? Be lights in the world. Why? The world is full of darkness. We’re to do all things without grumbling or complaining. If we’re complaining about the candidate, if we’re complaining about a brother and sister in Christ and everyone sees that, what does that say about me as a Christian?

4. Bought With a Price: Modesty and Focus

And how does that reflect on the glory of God? Is it positive? It’s shameful. It’s wrong. And considering modesty, of course, 1 Timothy chapter 2 has a warning against that. But we need to consider the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 19 and 20. When we’re sharing pictures of ourselves, and certainly it’s a great way to do that. It’s a great way to see people’s lives. My wife has a ton of family in Oregon. It’s a great tool for her to see what’s going on in their lives and for them to see what’s going on in hers. But if the pictures have crossed the line of what is right and decent, we need to remember what Paul said, which is that what?

We were bought with a price. Is this what Jesus bought me for? Is this what he wants me to be doing? Is this how he wants me to dress? Just because it’s behind a computer screen or on a digital world, does not make it any less something that we need to submit to the will of God for. And this is truly a danger area because everyone else is doing it. People say that all the time, but in this case, most everyone is, because most people aren’t children of God. That’s why it’s all the more important that we protect our lives and that we shine our lights in this world, particularly in this place of darkness. And frankly, we see a lack of focus. If you look at Luke chapter 9 and verse 23, you see not only the admonition to pick up our cross daily and follow after Jesus, but in verse 24, notice his next step.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? I think Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, especially those sites that are generated around pictures and people’s life story, which is really what social media is, you’re putting a representation of yourself in a digital package. A lot of times, what is our fear? What is a risk associated with it? That I start focusing on how I look and especially how others look, and of course you know what happens if you care about how you look, you care about how others look, you’re going to start looking over there and saying, I don’t have that.

I’m not like that. Why is my life not good enough? Why is my life not like that? We need to see that when people post things, brother, sisters, can we be plain about something? No one posts online. I’m having a terrible day. I hate my kids, I hate my wife. This life stinks. Do you see that a lot? No, you see a lot of date-night pictures. You see a lot of family portrait sessions. You see the best of a family to offer, and that’s great. That’s good. Let’s share the best. Let’s be the best, since we were bought with a price. But let’s remember that our focus is not a number of likes or retweets or comments. Our worth is in Christ. In Christ alone. Amen.

5. Our Mission as Christians: Spread Our Light

We need to see that. Because it can be easy to try to keep up with the Joneses in a technological way. Rather than be a Christian who’s using a tool that this world allows for. It can be great, but it can also pull apart Christians from one another. And it certainly can dampen our lights that are to shine if God is to be glorified and seen in this life. So how are we going to do this? How are we going to use it for good? Well, we’ve got to think about our mission as Christians, and that’s to spread our light. If you look at Matthew chapter 5, I just love this passage because not only is it basic and simple to understand, but the idea of shining your light has a specific purpose attached to it.

In verse 14, though, you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and see what in verse 15? Put it under a basket, but on a stand that will shine and give light to the whole house. In the same way, let your light shine before others lie, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. If social media is nothing, it is an opportunity for our light to shine on a stand and shine brightly. We’ve talked about a lot of the negatives, and the truth is there are a lot of ways we can tarnish our reputation. We can tarnish the name of God, but there’s certainly a lot of positive things we can be doing for the Lord.

And I wonder, and this is interesting. How often we think about what do people think of me? How do people consider me in the workplace? Do people consider me a Christian? You know, there’s an interesting thing about having a profile is that you independently can go in and look and say, if I’m just taking the name off of this profile, and I look at the pictures, the experiences, the information, and the discussions that this person is involved in, is this a Christian? Well, if we go back to my earlier discussion and we see how there’s a lot of slander on this page and gossip and complaining against rulers and authorities and those running to be in a position of power or authority, would we say that that is a Christian’s profile?

No. Well, what about if there’s someone who’s sharing the good news of the gospel? What about someone who’s sharing how life is good and giving thanks to God? What about someone who shares a Bible passage? What about someone who shares family values? Who makes a point of emphasizing how they’re going to be with their family, with their spouse, with their kids, or be with the brothers and sisters in Christ and show what a great thing God has created in his church and in the family, in the home. Our God has done great things, amen. Maybe that’s why we don’t have so many shares on them. Do we truly reflect on the glory of God? We need to see that God does great things for us. Amen.

We need to know that. And if we know it, it will come out of us. What did Matthew chapter 6 say? If the light is good, we’re going to shine. If the eye is good, the light will shine if we give thanks to God. If we recognize God as the creator and giver of all good things, we’re going to have constantly outpouring from our mouth good things, not slander, not gossip, not divisiveness, but good things. And there is nothing greater than the good news of salvation, which is available only through the name of Jesus the Christ. When we consider another possibility, though, and I think this is an interesting one because having a Christian social media account is not about posting Bible verses every day. It’s not about posting that you prayed or that you went to church.

6. Encouraging Others and a Platform for Teaching

That’s not all there is to it. I don’t think that’s necessarily the only design. But I do think there’s an interesting, often overlooked aspect that we can use this for, and that’s encouraging others. In Romans chapter 12, it’s an interesting discussion when Paul is talking to the Romans and he’s speaking to them about some of their various roles and positions. And beginning in verse 7, note how he says if service in our serving, the one who teaches and is teaching, the one who exhorts and his exhortation, the one who contributes in generosity, the one who leads with zeal, the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness. And then verse 10. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, but fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Do you know that Facebook and Twitter has made it so easy to communicate with people across the country that you can do it in seconds, and they don’t even have to be available to answer the call. It’s amazing that we can call people. It’s amazing that we can skype people and literally see them and talk to them. But do you know we can leave them a message instantaneously? You can do that with a text message, but you can also do that with social media. You can maybe see if someone’s struggling. Maybe you can tell that someone’s a little bit down. Or maybe you’re just going to proactively encourage a brother or sister in Christ, because that’s what we do as a family.

We may have issues as a family, and Jesus outlines ways to deal with that. But there’s also an expectation of God’s people that we will do what? Verse 7. Serve. Teach, exhort, contribute in generosity, lead with zeal, do acts of mercy with what? At the end of verse 8? With cheerfulness. And this is a splendid platform for us to do that. This is an amazing innovation that God has allowed man to come up with. And in so doing, we should harness it for good, not ride it down the same train the rest of the world does. We are different than that. Look at verse 1 and 2 of chapter 12. Why are we different? Why is it better? Because Paul appeals to us, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice.

Why? Holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. We’re not to be conformed to this world. We’re to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. We are a new creature that, as we talked about 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 19 and 20 states, bought with a price, the blood of Christ. We’re not to be like everyone else, we’re to be different. We’re to be better than the world as it pertains to holiness and purity and serving our God. That doesn’t just apply to showing up to church at the appointed times. And that’s not even helping others out. It’s taking opportunities to say, I hope you’re having a good day. I appreciate how you served. I appreciate how you led a prayer. I appreciate how you provided a meal for this family.

Maybe it even wasn’t yours. But think and encourage God’s people because that’s how we’re going to make it. We’re going to make it through this life as a team. And social media is certainly a good way that we can do that. One final point, and of course we know this in Matthew chapter 28 and verse 18 through 20, Jesus gave the great commission. And what was his message to the apostles? Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. What were they to do? Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. This is a platform for teaching. Now I do want to add a caveat to that. I don’t know how many of you have seen long comment threads with a lot of discussion and debate.

And I have to be honest, I don’t really participate in those because I don’t think that I personally have ever seen someone as a part of one of these 50 comment types of discussions say, you know what? I never thought about that. I’m going to change my position. And maybe that’s something we should consider when we wonder about the danger of lost time. As Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 16 warns us when we should be redeeming it, not wasting it. But there is a time and place, and there will always be a need to spread the gospel message to everyone. Yes, that we need to be baptized, but also to observe all that Christ has commanded us. We have a great God and we can serve Him in all our life behind and beside a computer screen.

Conclusion

Will you go to God in prayer with me? Our dear God and most gracious Heavenly Father, we praise you for your greatness and thank you for your great love. We pray that you will forgive us of our sin and our selfishness and when we transgress your will. Help us to be focused on heaven and not this life. Help us to recognize that your will should come first and our desires last. Thank you for sending Jesus the Christ to die on the cross for our sins so that we could be forgiven. We pray that we’ll be merciful to others and kind to others as you have been kind and merciful to us, dear Father. Thank you for this opportunity to be with the church, to be with like-minded Christians who want to serve you, who wish to put you first.

Help us to encourage one another, help us to lift up one another, and help us to be there as the family that you have designed that we be. As we go into this Bible class period, we ask that we will all, as teachers, share your word in a faithful and true way to the intent, and that we will all listen and apply it faithfully, recognizing you are our God. Help us to worship you at the eleven o’clock hour in spirit and truth and properly remember the death and burial of Jesus the Christ and partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Thank you so much for your goodness and kindness, O Lord. And it’s in your Son’s name we pray. Amen. We’re now dismissed to our Bible classes.