I have joined Twitter for a while now but somehow I didn’t become as active till this year.
Okay, let me confess to you. I didn’t know how to use it. Like, the whole interface and seeing everything/everyone at the same time was confusing. Plus I didn’t have plenty followers so my timeline was always the same. I got tired and just uninstalled it.
Well, I became more active this year and I noticed a few things. Social media – technology as a whole is an incredibly amazing tool that can be used for the propagation of the gospel.
However, this same social media can be a trap! Sometimes with a very spiritual entry point. A few things to note:
1. Your work for God is different from your walk with God.
God considers your walk with Him of more priority than your work for Him.
So while you may actually be tweeting about bible study and you get 1.1M RTs and likes and people actually get stirred up to study their bibles, the question then becomes: are you studying yours?
Yes, you tweet about prayer and people are edified, but how is your prayer altar in real life? And because man naturally seeks validation, there’d be the urge to do even more and get even more endorsements in form of RTs and likes. That leads me to my next point,
God considers your walk with Him of more priority than your work for Him. Click To Tweet2. RTs & Likes aren’t endorsements.
The fact that one million people agree with your tweet or whatever social media post you upload doesn’t mean it is right. Do not fall into the trap of tweeting or uploading a post just because it’s a popular opinion. Popular opinions are not necessarily same with kingdom opinions
The fact that one million people agree with your tweet or whatever social media post you upload doesn't mean it is right. Click To Tweet Popular opinions are not necessarily same with kingdom opinions. Click To Tweet3. Guard your heart.
Choose purity over number of followers. Don’t trivialize what you see. Pay attention to it.
That lady is always posting unclad pictures? Kindly, unfollow or block. That brother is always liking and RT vulgar things, please unfollow or block. Do not be sentimental about the state of your heart. The bible says to guard your heart with all diligence! Even if the person in question is a celebrity, the state of your heart is more important!
Don't trivialize what you see. Pay attention to it. Do not be sentimental about the state of your heart. The bible says to guard your heart with all diligence! Click To TweetUnderstand your identity is in Christ and Christ alone and not in RTS, likes or number of followers.
4. Quit bashing your brethren!
A good number of folks are really just interested in arguing and bashing. If your brother posts something you do not agree with, there are polite ways of handling the matter or better still see in the DM (private chat)
(PS: Irrespective of doctrinal differences, your brother is one who believes in Jesus Christ just as you do) It is unlike-Jesus for you to start bashing or subbing.
Funny enough, sometimes, the problem is context. Like in the case of musical lyrics. Someone may post, “I wanna be where you are…” You may be quick to and say something like, “The songs people sing though. We are already seated with Christ in heavenly places, we are where He is!” or something funny when the person may have meant, “Dear God, I want my heart and acts to align with Yours”
So we need not be too quick to judge and bash. A lot of people even dishonor men of God. Sometimes, context and other times, time is all that is needed for you to see what the other person is saying
Understand your identity is in Christ and Christ alone and not in RTS, likes or number of followers. Click To Tweet5. Understand that the end goal is to know Christ and to make Him known.
If God has blessed you with huge follower base and even if He hasn’t, do not take for granted the influence you have over people. Don’t use your platform for ill purposes. Do all to the glory of God! Instead, be instant in and out of season.
Study to show yourself approved – that you may have the perfect answer to answer each man when they come at you with different questions and opinions of the scripture.
6. Beware of pride
Do not esteem yourself more than others because you have a larger follower base.
7. It is not compulsory that you have something to say on every subject, be discerning.
People look up to you, do not take that for granted.
8. Take social media breaks often.
They are of incredible help as they help break social media addictions and help you plan better
9. Finally, be sensitive.
I can not count how many times I wanted to post something and the Holy Spirit restrained me. Also, I have reached out to people on social media as led of God and it happened to be incredibly timely. So partner with the Holy Spirit on matters like this and even more granular.
This isn’t just about Twitter. Every Christian on social media also needs to understand these things.
Conclusively, whatever you do (tweet), do to the glory of God!
Read Next: What Your Social Media Sharing Culture Says About You
Dear Believer, What is Social Media Doing to You?
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