Everyday Discernment: The Importance of Spirit-led Decision MakingSample

Discernment in Social Media

 Christians are in a new age where utilizing discernment in their social media usage is an important skill to refine in their journey of growing and walking with the Lord. It is important to be aware of the dangers and guard against them.  

If you compare yourself to anyone else, you will always find things that he or she has that you do not. Social media statuses and posts are simply smoke and mirrors. You see the best of people every day; you don’t see the husband and wife arguing, the kids screaming, and the pets destroying the furniture. You see people with make-up on, in fancy clothes, in exotic places, living their “best lives” now. Rarely do you see the hurt, the fears, the depression, the anger, and the sadness that the same people hide behind their pictures. You may know nothing of the pain and struggle someone went through to get to where she is today, what she had to do in business to afford what she has, how she damaged her body to look like she does. Everything has a cost associated with it. Everyone is on a journey; his or her starting and finishing points are usually not obvious to others. 

One of the Ten Commandments is to not covet (Ex. 20:17). The Hebrew word for covet is hamad, meaning “strongly desiring another’s possessions.” Desiring anything that you do not have, especially to the point of obsession, creates discontentment, anger, jealousy, and rage, which are usually taken out on those around you. Coveting is frequently the starting point that leads to other sins. 

Jesus changed the standard for murder and adultery with His sermon on the mount when he instructed that even thinking these thoughts is identical to acting them out (Matt. 5:21-30). Our mind is a battleground; we need to have discernment on how to keep our minds in check with the Holy Spirit. 

Paul encouraged the Corinthian Church to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5b). If social media causes you to sin by negatively influencing your thought life, practice allowing the Holy Spirit to help control your thoughts and speak Scripture in that moment to remind you of God’s faithfulness and goodness in your life. We are called to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18).

We do have a guideline in the Bible as Christians with our actions. “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). We should not seek glory for ourselves. We do not need to be “right” simply for the sake of being right and winning an argument. People are not saved through a social media argument; you cannot win someone over with facts but with love. 

 What are some positive ways that social media can be used? How should Christians act on social media?  

For more information on Discerning Dad including how to order my book, Everyday Discernment: The Importance of Spirit-led Decision Making, please visit my website at https://discerning-dad.com/