IS SOCIAL MEDIA HARMING YOUR TESTIMONY?

        Double minded Christianity is destroying the testimony of the church.  Failing, as all humans do is one thing, a lifestyle of sin or continuing in a defining sin is quite a different matter.  Many believers struggle in matters of faith as each is at varying stages of growth and maturity.  The bottom line factor is: are you more submitted to God or the pleasures of the world?

Colossians 3:8-10  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 

     Social media is the great bearer of souls.  For some reason, many people feel perfectly comfortable posting a spiritually sound and uplifting meme one moment and a foul language ridden, sexually crude comment the next.  We live in a world where we can learn everything we need to know about someone by spending five minutes looking through a Facebook page or perusing a Twitter account.  

    There was an age when people built relationships by spending time together, conversing, sharing a meal.  In twenty first century America, I can find out what movies you like, what music you listen to, what you believe, (or claim to believe) and what type of causes you are interested in.  I can find out who you love and you hate, who you admire and who you despise.  I can know, not only your political affiliations, but how you stand on almost any political or social issue. All his can be accomplished with out ever speaking or meeting in person.  Every post, every like, every share, every retweet, every follow reveals who you are, how you think and whether or not we would get along, if we ever actually interacted face to face.  

    Social media also reveals your heart... Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms will reveal more of your inner being than you can imagine.  Twitter and Instagram are especially telling as much of what is posted on these is quick and impulsive.  A hundred harmless posts and tweets, every few days, adds up to a great deal of personal information, inadvertently shared.  People are looking and paying attention.  Ministry opportunities will be gained and lost based on social media posts.  Future employers are looking as well.  Before I conduct an interview, I look.  

    The point to all this is, do not be double minded.  Social media will expose you!  If you are committed to the cause of Christ, then be committed all the way.  1 Corinthians 10:31  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 
This includes sharing your thoughts on social media.  Think about what is posted and ask, "will this honor or dishonor God?" God makes it clear in scripture, He does not tolerate double mindedness - Revelation 3:15-16  "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." Part of being real with God is being honest about who we are.  Pretending to be holier than we actually are will almost always end in embarrassment.  Trying to seem cool and trendy is just as lame on social media as it is in person, few people are fooled.  

     If you are a church going, Bible reading, Jesus spouting Christian, be ever so careful what you like, share and post.  Be a consistent witness for the cause of Christ.  Do not flaunt your liberty at the expense of someone else's stumbling.  If you think it might be wrong, it probably is.  Honor God and do not give anyone a cause to accuse you of sin.