Each of us could list ten convincing reasons to avoid social media. But social media also provides opportunities to share love, hope, joy, and the light of Christ. Still, even with the best of intentions, how often do we open Facebook or another platform and turn around and discover we just wasted an hour and filled our minds with anxiety, controversy and temptations? We must be VIGILANT.
During these days of never-ending political strife, we must protect our own peace of mind. Consider Paul’s advice from 2,000 years ago:
“Engage in good deeds. These are good and beneficial for people. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the law, for they are useless and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning” Titus 3:8-10.
Do your good deeds. Be an encourager on social media. Make it your goal to share hope, to bless others, to be someone who brings others joy and peace, not bitterness and strife. Look for bits of humor and hope that you can share. Type out the best thing you heard in a sermon or a song lyric. Share a meme or GIF that makes you laugh or lifts someone’s spirit.
And when you see controversy, scroll on past it. You don’t have to comment. You do not have to engage. You can ignore the politics. Of course, you have opinions. But you do not have speak up—and it’s almost entirely worthless on political subjects anyway. As Paul says, “avoid foolish controversies … and disputes… for they are useless.”
There is no value in an online argument. You will convince no one.
Instead: share HOPE.
When we are online, let it be our goal to “ENGAGE IN GOOD DEEDS.” May God use us to bless others, both in-person and online.
ΑΩ
Jesus said the end times would be characterized not only by “wars and rumors of wars,” by earthquakes and famines and the beginning of the birth pangs, but by DECEPTION. “Take heed that no one misleads you” Matthew 24:4. I have never seen such a chorus of misleading voices. Between anti-intellectualism, social media, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Fakes, incompetent Influencers, the predatory wellness movement, biased reporting masquerading as journalism, the ignorance of expertise, plagiarism and other factors decimating scholarship and the peer-review process, the rise of false religions, cults, and new age spirituality, I am more inclined to call ours the end times than ever before.
Household Words: 