Each year in January I like to take a few moments to consider the role of my engagement in social media. No doubt social media provides both opportunities for incredible blessings for each of us or deep harm. We engage social media from two perspectives: as a producer and a consumer. As a producer, you post from your perspective on the many various platforms. Your contributions, likewise, produce an effect on those who read and engage them. You can either bless, encourage, and help those who read your posts or you can hurt, discourage, and hinder those who read your posts. As a consumer, you read and interact with others’ posts. In doing so, there are two ultimate ends as well. You are either blessed, encouraged, and helped by others or you are hurt, discouraged, and hindered by others. With the incredible opportunity for benefiting others and honoring Christ also comes with it the incredible opportunity to produce harm, dishonor Christ, and hurt your testimony for the Lord. Therefore, I like to produce an annual guide to social media in the new year in order to serve as a reminder to me and everyone else.

Paul’s Rules for Social Media

A friend recently shared what she called Paul’s rules for social media. She did not share the source of the material. I think it was helpful.

In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul challenges us in regard to our daily living with others around us. From this challenge, we can determine 11 different guidelines for our use of social media.

• Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:1-2).
• Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should (Rom 12:3-8).
• Be devoted to one another in love (Rom 12:9-13).
• Honor one another above yourselves (Rom 12:10).
• Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Rom 12:14).
• Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (Rom 12:15).
• Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16).
• Do not be conceited (Rom 12:16).
• Do not repay anyone evil for evil (Rom 12:17).
• If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Rom 12:18).
• Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good (Rom 12:19-21).

:

The Benefits for Social Media Use

If we apply Romans 12 to your use of social media then your social media will bless others. As you carefully apply Romans 12 to your writing, responding, and sharing, you will find that others will receive encouragement. In addition, your own post will help you in the sanctification process as well. You’ll be less involved potentially in anything non-praiseworthy. Plus, people will be less intrusive toward you as well.

In this new year, let’s do our best to serve Christ, honor God, and love others even in our social media use.