Blog
“The Use of Social Media”
As we end the month of January and head into February we are reminded that we are almost through the difficult time of winter and headed toward the renewal that spring will give us in March if the Lord wills. As we live today, though, we must be ever vigiilant against the temptations that Satan puts before us. One of those temptations can be social media and the internet. We need to be careful with these tools and make sure we are sharp and aware in our use of them. As with any tool one uses there needs to be a fundamental understanding of how it works so one uses it properly. We would not attempt to use a screwdriver to hammer nails so it is equally important to understnad how social media works before we get into using it. There is much good that can be accomplished through the use of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. We can make people aware of religious activities that are going on such as Bible studies or regularly scheduled worship activities. We can also use these to let others know the need for prayer for a specific member as they go through a difficult illness or something else in that realm. However, there are bad things out there in those networks and we need to be careful not to expose ourselves or our children to those things even accidentally. Those of us who are now raising children need to be aware also of how others use their socail media accounts. Some use them to put provocative pictures out there to be seen by EVERYONE. Others use them to bait people into bad decisions. It is important that we keep a close eye on the content that our children look at and probably would be better served keeping them clear of it until they are of a more responsible age. While the first century Christians did not have these technological advances that we have today they still had their own type of networking going on and we see Paul teaching agaisnt the idea of gossip in 2 Corinthians 12:20 "For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;" They had their struggles with that and today another challenge with social media is the idea of backbiting or gossip. We must be careful with what we put out on these sites becasue it can be read and seen by anyone at any time. I am not saying social media is evil and we must run away from it. I am merely suggesting that we exercise caution and wisdom in getting involved with it and let us make sure that we keep the thoughts of Col. 3:17 in mind when we post. Paul writes there: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." God bless us as we strive to serve Him daily and let us use these tools that are available as He would have us use them.
