And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.  Do not fear what they fear or be disturbed, but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.  Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.  However, do this with respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.  1 Peter 3:13-16  HCSB

In commercials, you often hear the phrase, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  We have become friend and follower collectors, but is this a good thing?   We seem to love having an audience of hundreds of people seeing what we post and reading what we have to say.  The funny thing about social media is that people are so into social media they have become unsociable.  They are happier to type and hide behind the keyboard than they are to pick up the phone or have face to face conversations.  People would rather send their thoughts out to hundreds of people than text it to a few close friends.  I am also amused by the term “friends”.  I hear of and see so much drama and people using social media to fight back and forth.   There is even a new disorder being recognized as Social Media Anxiety Disorder.  This is defined as a syndrome that relates to generalized Social Anxiety, and is acquired when the participation of social media effects the mental and physical well-being of an individual.

So, if you use social media, are you using it to further God’s kingdom?  God’s word tells us that we are to let no unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only that what is uplifting to others, that it may benefit others ( Ephesians 4:29).  Is that how you would describe your social  media accounts? Like anything, social media can be used for good or evil.

I only use social media for posting my blog and bible verses.  It’s just way TMI for me.  I really don’t care to know what everyone is doing or thinking at any given moment.  And, while I am pretty much an open book to close friends, I don’t really care for a large number of people knowing what I am doing or thinking at any given moment.  I also have been sucked into the drama.  I let a moment of anger cause me to post something that I should not have said.  I deeply regret that.  It was followed by a firestorm of hatred. So now I try to post only things that are positive or uplifting or I keep my mouth shut. God promises His protection as long as we choose to live in his shelter (Psalm 91:1), but I stepped out there on my own and it was not good.

I strongly encourage you to look at several things today.  First of all, are you spending way too much time on social media?  Secondly, if you are on social media, are you exemplifying Christ in all that you do?  Third, are you able to overlook or delete the friends that  post negative or immoral posts, or do they draw you in deeper?  We are told in Matthew 12:36-37 that we will give an account for every work spoken.  I think that goes for words typed as well.

Remember, God loves you and follows you.

Have a great day!