Social media is not a sin; it is a communication tool. However, as he has with many other things, the devil has vigilantly used this tool for his purpose. He seeks to destroy reputations of God’s people, cause strife in churches, spread worry and doubt, and just simply distract Christians from God’s work with time-wasting activities online. We are not obligated to use social media but, if we do participate in it, it is our responsibility as Christians to be vigilant in using it to honor Christ and not to further the devil’s agenda.
God has always given us a pattern for living in this world through His Word. We can look to the virtuous woman in the Bible for an example of living a life of Christian womanhood. We can also apply her traits to our online activity.
She keeps her family safe on social media. Proverbs 31:11 says, The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,… Hands down, this point is top priority! Without this point as a priority, it would be better for us to never use social media at all. We should pray for the Lord to give us wisdom, then make a plan for how, when, where, and what we post. I have included some standards to set. Some may find these rules excessive and not adopt each one exactly, but it is extremely important to take posting seriously when it comes to family and/or personal information.
- Never post personal financial information, even if your settings are private. Beware of internet scams online that seem harmless by asking simple questions such as, “What’s your favorite food?” or “What was your childhood best friend’s name?” Many times, there are common bank security questions mixed in with these harmless questions. Scammers use these answers to hack bank accounts.
- Avoid posting when on vacation. Nefarious people use social media to discover when people are not home so they may commit crimes.
- Be careful of posting family and children’s pictures on a public feed. There are features and security settings that will help us to control what others see on our accounts. There are several ways to post pictures for only a select group of people to see on each platform, and we should utilize these setting to control who we are allowing to see our content. Protecting our families cannot be stressed enough!
- Unsupervised internet access should never be given to children and teenagers. Protecting the minds and hearts of our youth is our responsibility until they have the common sense and spiritual maturity to protect themselves. The internet is filled with wickedness that is a mere click away and can be viewed innocently and unsuspectingly. The devastating effects of early exposure to pornography have been well documented. When we consider how easily we can be exposed to this while online, it solidifies the fact that it is important that we protect our children from free internet access.
She takes special care to do her husband and children good on social media. Proverbs 31:12 says, She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. We must take special care to protect our reputations! We should look carefully before sharing each post to make sure it is appropriate and does not contain profanity or innuendoes. We should not assume that people will know if we shared a post by accident. No virtuous woman would want her name associated with a post containing sin.
She does not let social media consume her time. Proverbs 31:13 says, She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Verse 27 says, She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. A virtuous woman is a hard worker. She spends her time wisely and avoids “time wasters.” Social media can be a pit of time wasters! How many times have we fallen into the bottomless Pinterest pit? Maybe we started off with good intentions, searching for recipes for our families, then three hours later we find that we have gone on a road trip from recipes to low carb recipes, to weight loss tips, to beauty tips, to fashion tips, to making our own clothes at home! By two o’ clock in the morning, we may have decided to take up crochet! These platforms were designed to keep people on them and never to click out of them. People get paid when someone views the content on social media platforms, therefore content that is purposely entertaining is constantly posted. As long as the content is appropriate, there is nothing wrong with consuming it; however, management of our time is paramount to making sure that other responsibilities are not being ignored. We must remember to control our time instead of letting it control us.
She puts her family first! Proverbs 31:27 says, She looketh well to the ways of her household,… I HIGHLY recommend shutting off all electronics for family meal time and family devotions. Having a purposeful time that is “unplugged” is necessary in this day and age!
She helps those in need. Proverbs 31:20 says, She stretcheth out her hands to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. The virtuous woman not only gives to the poor but also helps the needy. Our world is full of needy people: emotionally needy, spiritually needy, physically needy, etc. Since social media is a communication tool, it can be used as an opportunity to encourage. We have the opportunity to be a help and an encouragement through social media. Here are a few simple suggestions:
– People often post prayer requests, and we can reach out to let them know we are praying for them and their requests.
– We can post verses and sermon notes that have been helpful to us personally.
– We can post dates and details for church events and invite others.
– We should comment positively and genuinely on friends’ posts. When others share little pieces of their lives on social media, it is a great opportunity for us to offer uplifting words to our fellow Christians.
– We must avoid sharing “doom and gloom” posts all of the time. Sharing current events is okay on occasion, but avoid sharing everything negative that is going on in the world. Let us be a light for Christ and let Him shine through us!
She keeps her conversation and comments filled with kindness. Proverbs 31:26 says, She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. This verse is not only important to apply to our day-to-day conversations but also to social media. Words posted in jest can be much more hurtful when posted in a public setting for others to read. Every negative thing we say is SO much more damaging on social media with the potential to embarrass others. This can be a catalyst for contention, and if we make this mistake, it is better for us to delete the post and make it right before it can continue. I believe many churches have been hindered by petty arguments growing out of control on social media. It is just as important, if not more so, for us to keep kindness in our “typing” as it is to keep kindness in our speaking.
She does not use her social media to make her feel better about herself. Proverbs 31:30 says, Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. We must use social media to uplift Christ and let Him shine through us. Seeking approval and adoration from others through social media is an empty road; it provides no satisfaction. If our purpose for using social media is to project a perfect image of ourselves and our families, we will only be disappointed when someone else’s fake life seems better than ours. I am not saying that we are to put all of our faults on display for everyone to see, but if our goal and intention for using social media is to make everyone jealous of our perfect lives, we will be left exhausted and empty.
I Corinthians 10:31 says, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. We do not have a free pass to sin just because we are behind a screen. If we enjoy social media and choose to use it, it must be used to the glory of God!
by Elizabeth Myers
