Social Media Christians

December 6, 2015 at 11:24 am | Posted in Christianity | Leave a comment

These days, finding someone who isn’t on social media of some sort is difficult. You have kids posting stuff about school and pop culture. You have adults posting stuff about politics and family events to keep others informed. You have businesses posting their next great breakthrough or the one sale that you just can’t miss. You have sports personalities, movie stars, and musicians all posting things to get more attention and expand their following while keeping their existing base. All of these people spending inordinate amounts of time posting about their lives or businesses for the world to see.

This can ultimately be good or bad. You can find just about anything on social media these days and often faster than you can hear it on the news or read it in the paper (do people even read the paper anymore?). You can find recipes, new music, movie reviews, the latest dirt on which celebrity cheated on their spouse/fiancé/girlfriend or boyfriend, political commentary, religious debate, and cute cat videos. The problem is, the info on social media is not always accurate. Sometimes it’s just an old story that someone reposted without checking the date. Other times, it’s a flat out fake with false information and false accusations meant to steer the conversation in a specific direction (like calling a terrorist attack “workplace violence”).

The problem with social media is that there is no rules. Anyone can get a social media account and post most anything they want (or can get away with) without fear of repercussions. Many times, people create false accounts to either mock a real account or to do shady things without their identities being known (like stalking or harassing people). Even with people who use social media within the accepted norms there are problems. People on social media often only post the positive things or things that will get them the most “likes”. They can paint a picture of themselves for the whole world to see that is nothing like the reality they’re living. It’s kinda like an El Greco painting. The people have all the right parts, they’re just distorted. They can proclaim anything they want from their Facebook page or Twitter account and they can keep things they don’t want known out of the light of their page. So, the people seeing their page get a distorted view of the people their “friends” with. They view them as being a certain way, when the reality could be completely different. This could even extend to their actual lives. People could keep up the charade of their “social media life” in various public places like work or church in order to keep up appearances while the truth could be vastly different.

And, if you couldn’t tell already, this is where I want to focus my blog post. There are numerous people in America today who profess to be Christians on social media accounts and other public places when their lives and actions are anything but Christian. They lie, cheat, commit adultery, steal, build idols, and numerous other things in the shadows of their lives, but they continue to put forth a public image that would lead people to believe that they’re devoted Christians. They’ll post Christian memes, quote popular Christian authors and teachers, and make very loud, very clear statements about their faith. Unfortunately, this is just self-delusion. And, before we go on, let me share some scriptures that show why I’m writing what I’m writing:

Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

(1Jo 3:7-10 NASB)

This passage talks about the difference between those who practice sin and those who practice righteousness. The key word is “practice”. The word means “to make, do” but it is the tense and mood of the Greek that makes the word special. It is saying that someone who constantly practices the same sin over and over, day by day, is of the devil. There is no middle ground. You are either of God or of the devil. If you practice sin, you are of the devil.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (Mat 6:1 NASB)

Here, we’re told that practicing our righteousness before men to be noticed is wrong. When we give, fast, or pray, we are to do so quietly without great fanfare. This is in contrast to what many do on social media. Many want people to see how spiritual and religious they are in order to keep up the appearances while not really being worried about whether or not they’re actually saved or their lives are an accurate reflection of what a life saved by Christ actually looks like. They want the “best seats” and to be “honored by men” instead of being worried about what they’re actions actually say.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Mat 7:21-23 NASB)

 

Here, Jesus warns those listening that there are many who will profess Jesus as Lord and still will not enter the kingdom of heaven. They will talk about how they prophesied, cast out demons, and performed many miracles in the name of Jesus. They will expect these things to wow the Lord and Savior of men. Sadly, Jesus will tell them to depart from Him because He never knew them. They are men/women who practice lawlessness.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

(Eph 5:1-13 NASB)

Here, Paul tells believers that they are to imitate God and walk in love. Immorality, impurity, and greed aren’t even supposed to be named among Christians. Christians aren’t to act with filthiness, silly talk, or coarse jesting. Instead, they’re to give thanks. Paul then reminds them that no immoral, impure, or covetous person (who is an idolater) will have an inheritance in the kingdom of God. These things bring God’s wrath on the sons of disobedience (the unsaved). We are not to partake in sinful acts. Why? Because we were formerly darkness but now we are Light in the Lord. We are told to walk as children of the Light. Paul says not to even participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness but to expose them instead. I think that it’s important to point out that Paul tells believers to walk in love and to expose sin for what it is in the same breath/passage.

There are other passages that can be added to this, but I hope I’ve made my point. It is not enough to just say you’re a Christian. It’s not enough to go to a church. It’s not enough to listen to Christian music or to have a “Christian” profile on social media complete with Christian memes and quotes. For someone to be a Christian, they must repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone (not their own works) to save them from God’s wrath and judgment. This doesn’t mean that Christians don’t struggle with sin. They do. Daily. Anyone who says otherwise is either naïve, uneducated about Christian doctrine, foolish, or purposely trying to deceive you. However, while Christians struggle with sin, they don’t practice it. Not only that, they hate it. Their attitude toward their sin is not one of apathy or defense of their actions. Instead, when their sin is pointed out, they are heartbroken and repentant. They recognize their sin for what it is (an attack on God’s character and nature) and quickly repent. They ask for forgiveness from God as well as those they’ve sinned against. And they strive to never do it again.

Sadly, this isn’t the response of all who profess to be Christians. Some profess Christ and live in sin. They rebel against the truth they claim to know and rail against anyone that tries to point out their sin for their own well-being, in the hopes that there will be quick repentance and restoration.

If you’re a professing Christian, let me ask you to prayerfully consider your walk with Christ. Are you living in sin? Practicing the same sin over and over again? Are you offended when others try to point out your sins? Why? Even if they aren’t the best at articulating things, could it be that they care more about your eternal situation than you do? Could it be that they’re right and your pride won’t let you admit that so that you can truly repent and find peace in Christ? Look at your life in the light of scripture and if scripture shows you that you’re living in sin, stop and repent. Social media is great, but it doesn’t make someone a Christian…