Can Social Media and the Truth Coexist?

I sat next to a guy last night at a game who most definitely was the reason the officials kept flashing the “no harassment” rule on the Jumbotron over and over throughout the game. That kind of behavior sucks the life right out of everything. I often feel like social media is the place that obnoxious person sitting next to you at a sporting event feels like it’s game on all of the time. It’s something that may start out a little funny or innocent the first time, but by the fifth, eighth, or tenth time…it about makes your head bust or make you want to remove yourself all together.

Social media, like the guy yelling at a player on the court from 100 feet away, is the place where people feel free to say whatever they want. They think it’s a safe space (although we’ve seen some pro athletes go after hecklers in the crowd lately). But as we are learning more and more, there is no safe space on social media either. What is said in that forum can last forever. It is something that can be tracked, viewed, recorded, even seen after it’s been deleted…unlike the guy sitting next to me last night (unless someone was recording the guy…which can also happen).

I’ll never understand the human mind so I don’t know why people do or say some of the things they do. I try and rationalize some comments as moments of insecurity and attention seeking while other comments may even reveal some sort of undercurrent of jealousy, anger, hate, etc. Most people, if we are being honest, seek the approval of man (some more than others). People want to be seen, noticed, heard, and valued. It’s why the loud guy keeps going as people laugh, cheer, press “like” or respond with positive comments.

However, Galatians 1:10 says to seek the approval of God not man. I’m pretty sure the guy last night was not getting a fist bump from God for the things he was saying. And, social media magnifies “the man’s approval” complex times a million.

So, as Christians seek to speak Truth into this world, we have to be careful. Big tech can limit access and delete accounts because well, they can. It’s up to them. However, if we honor God by and through what we say, He navigates it for us. The world may think they can silence Truth, but that’s because the world doesn’t truly know the Creator of Truth. They don’t know His power.

This is a season where Christians need to ask the Holy Spirit for fresh wisdom and discernment with how to deliver Truth to those who need to hear it. He is moving people into new assignments with new ways of ministering to people through conversations about Him and His Word. When the world is filled with confusion and chaos, it is only through His Spirit will people find Truth intersect with Peace.

I challenge you to post Galatians 1:10 on a post-it note on your computer screen, or as your home screen on your other devices. Reminding ourselves to process our words and actions through His approval may just help us all better navigate this life and positively impact the culture and people around us more than we can imagine.