I am so over the “social media influencers” era. I remember a time when we did not have Facebook, Tik Tok, Twitter (X), or Instagram. Who else remembers when that was the case? It is often about how many likes I get on a post, or how many followers I have. I need to be cool and accepted.

I want my influence to come from the Bible, and I want any influence I give to be done in such away that it will honor the Name of Jesus. Often, I cringe at posts from Christians. In social media, there is the good, the bad, the ugly.

The Good

• I can keep up with friends around the globe. I now regularly stay in touch with some friends that were in the churches where Gaylon was their pastor. It is amazing to see their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I stay in touch with both high school and college friends.
• I can keep up with family members that I rarely see. I have nieces and nephews living all over this country. Social media has helped me “see” them and what is happening in their lives. I can offer humor, advice when asked, prayer, and long-distance hugs.
• I can post a lot of thoughts from a Christian perspective, including the posting of this blog. It is another way to get the Gospel out.

The Bad

• Social media has amped up the political division in the nation and has caused great division among family and friends. Some will not even speak to each other because of political differences.
• The hateful discourse that can come from people’s mouth is on full display through their fingers as they type with what or with whom they disagree.
• Without checking for accuracy, people post things others have written. False stories are posted over and over. This has ruined reputations and caused division – division that could have been avoided if the lies were not perpetuated.

The Ugly

• Social media can be as ugly as me trying on a bikini in a dressing room with a three-sided mirror! The language that is now acceptable by both mouth and posts still shocks me. F bombs explode like it is no big deal, like it is normal. No, it is not!
• Many people are toxic on social media. I recently saw a person call out their pastor because he made them angry about something. They proceeded to talk about his family and the church in a way to invite other attackers to join this. I have seen the same with political posts.
• Other people are deeply hurt and wounded over posts that should not even be on social media. For several years, I followed the story of a little boy in Alabama who was born with a severe deformity. He was missing a third of his skull and had severe deformities in his face and spine. Doctors said he would not live more than a few days. Grayson lived to be eight years old. The mother’s heart was so wounded because people saw his picture and used it to make comic remarks on posts they made. (At least they thought it was funny.)  Things were said like this is how it looks when you inbreed; this is a picture of the governor as a baby. It was horrible to see the pain this mother went through. It was so cruel.

While the Bible never explicitly mentions the internet or social media accounts. The Bible does speak to the issue of what we say. This Biblical wisdom can be applied to the words of our mouth and the words from our keyboard. Scripture has much to say about our words, our neighbors, coarse talk, kindness, and many other issues.

James 1:19 gives us wisdom that is good for in-person conversations and posting or commenting on social media. “Understand this, my beloved brothers, and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].” AMP

I make an appeal to all of us who bear the Name of Christ. Think before speaking and think before posting. The Savior of the world can use all things, including the words of His people on the worldwide web. Let us endeavor to use the gifts of technology for building others up and for pointing them to Christ. That is a wise use of words.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14