Using Social Media

I’m going to be talking about four different blogs about Christians in social media. Just talking about them and how I find them important and relevant to Christians who use social media.

So the first blog

Many things stood out to me in this blog so I’m just going to point out important things said. So the blog poses the question of why we join social media and the “guidelines” we should take into consideration when using it. Do we use social media as a reassurance of popularity, or to raise our status? Or was it to form friendships with others and Christians, and to praise God in his everyday works. Although many of you probably use your social media accounts as a way to keep up with the lives of others and to “keep social”. Just keep in mind that we are on this earth to praise god, to make disciples. Made in a mirror image of Jesus.

Some other points pointed out in the blog, is to not reveal everything to your followers. Jesus revealed personal information to his disciples but didn’t go around telling everyone.

And also just remember to be yourself, rather than fall into what the crowd does, like in the story we heard last week about king Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

So maybe next time you think “oh darn it, I haven’t hit over 80 likes, better delete that photo, or go ask for spam for spam,” recall why you joined social media and ask yourself whether you’re on social media for the right reasons . We are made to bring glory to God as emphasised in 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 verse 31. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”

Now the next blog, talks about why and how we can use social media positively. Social media is a great way to help churches communicate with the public or Christians. With the way the world keeps advancing the blog talks about how it would be good for churches to get a form of social media to actually help spread the gospel online. In Mark chapter 16 verse 15, it reads

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'”

 So if that means using social media then so be it! Social media can also allow small groups to communicate with each other and spread awareness about different things. Like the 40 hour famine is happening this weekend and heaps of people are posting about donations and I’m sure it’s making a big difference. In the end there is a lot of controversy about whether social media is good or bad for Christians, but I feel like it’s who’s behind the account rather than the media itself. So we have a choice to use social media in a way that will spread Jesus to people and I hope we all use it in that way.

The third blog post is about the dangers of social media. Some dangers the blog talks about include:

The danger of using social media as a validation of your social status, or a thing to turn to when you want to know your worth. Don’t let your amount followers become your foundation on how you view yourself or how others view you.  

Another danger is the jealously aspect of social media. I mean you’d be lying if you haven’t envied something on Instagram, Facebook or twitter before. Maybe it was someone’s looks, their talents, the fun day that they had and posted about that you wanted a #invite to. Whatever it’s been, we’ve all been jealous before. In proverbs chapter 14 line 30 it reads,

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

Now this is pretty confronting but it just shows how jealousy as a sin can take over. Social media makes it so easy for us to fall into envy that we shouldn’t be feeling in the first place.

And my final danger from this blog post is the threat of soon becoming worried about things on social media that you should be worried about, like likes or how you look in a photo. These things shouldn’t matter, and I guess the only way to help steer away from these dangers is to think about why you care what other people think of your photos in the first place, and you’ll realise that all this fuss over silly little things is not worth your time.

And Last but not least is the blogpost about more guidelines to follow when using social media. Some important ones to take into consideration is to think before you post and think before you like and follow. Is what you’re about to do loving and a depiction of god’s gospel?

And so as I was writing this little talk I looked at my history on social media and was just so “embarrassed”. Cause basically, I had a fan account for a band. It makes me feel so weird now looking back. I posted pictures and videos about the band saying how awesome they were and although I may not realise it at the time, but I was worshipping them like they were a God. I worked so hard on getting followers but in the big picture what’s the point, what’s pushing me to get followers and likes. And the truth is, I just wanted to get noticed by the band. And it’s just so ridiculous how much I wanted to get noticed. And once, I did, I felt like I had no other things to do anymore. Like, what’s is getting noticed going to do for you, what’s that going to do for God?  And I know most of you won’t relate to this (as in having a fan account), at least I hope not…But I guess what I’m saying is, Just look at your social media accounts tonight and see the reasoning behind why you post pictures and like and comment on other photos. What you can do better and focus on things more important than popularity, like God, and getting God’s word out to people.

Written by Michelle Wang. Michelle is in yr 9 at North Sydney Girls High.