9 Guiding Questions for Social Media Use

9 Guiding Questions for Social Media Use – the Explanation

1. Does my post love my neighbor with the love of Jesus Christ? (Matt 22; Eph 5)

What about love of my neighbor? Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The Apostle Paul describes imitating God as dear children with the sacrificial and selfless love of Jesus. Love. Not simply love, but the love of Jesus directed toward others through you.

How does your post reflect the love of Jesus Christ?

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

 

2. What is my motive for writing this post? (2 Cor 5; 1 Cor 10; Ps 19)

What is your goal for writing this post? Your goal or motive in this sense would be the same. What is your goal or what motivates you writing this? What is your desire? Do you want to encourage someone? Tell them what for? Give them a piece of your mind? To build them up? To help them in a Christlike way?

What is the motive for your post?

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

 

3. Does my post represent Jesus Christ well? (2 Cor 5; 1 Tim 4)

As you write the post, does it represent the same thing that Jesus would write. The term in this text is ‘ambassador’? Are you representing Jesus Christ well? Could Jesus read your post and accept it as reflective of him?

Is your post Christlike in its words, attitudes, and motive?

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

 

4. Does my post emanate from my flesh or the Spirit? (Gal 5-6)

Does your post reflect words, actions, or an attitude that comes from your flesh or as fruit of the Spirit? Would you read your post as a work of the flesh? Or, does your post reflect fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Words that reflect the fruit of the Spirit also reflect the goal to lovingly serve the ones to whom they are given, which are words that help restore others and bear burdens.

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. (Galatians 5:13-6:5)

 

5. Does my post represent my new man in Christ? (2 Cor 5; Eph 4; Col 3)

When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, the old man which is a slave to the flesh gets replaced with the new man, an internal disposition in your soul that desires to honor God. This new man both desires to honor God and can honor God. Yet, it takes a decision of the will to decide whether or not you will respond in the way of the old man where the flesh reigns or respond according to the new man.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:20-32)

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

 

6. Am I guessing someone’s motive or thinking? (James 2; 1 Cor 13)

As you write your post, are you guessing another person’s motive or thinking? Is it possible you do not know everything you need to know? Are you guessing the thoughts of another person? Do you believe that you “know” the motive of the other person? Do you believe that you discern what another person believes, thinks, or desires, yet different than what is said?

[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

 

7. Does my post represent humble and thoughtful self-counsel? (1 Tim 4; James 3)

Have you humbly considered your heart, your motive, your desires, and your actions? Do these things resemble Jesus Christ?

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18)

 

8. Does my post most likely help or hurt drawing others to Jesus Christ? (Matt 5; 1 Cor 9; 1 Pet 2)

When another person who does not follow Jesus reads what you post or say, will that person be drawn to the grace, love, mercy, and kindness of Jesus Christ? Or, is it possible, that your post would discourage a non-follower of Jesus Christ? Will your words, attitude, and actions help someone know and love Jesus better?

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)

 

9. Does my post reflect the contentment of Jesus Christ or discontentment? (Phil 4; James 3)

Am I satisfied in Jesus Christ? Related to contentment, is the Bible accurate when it teaches, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?” Does my post reflect the power of Christ or a heart of discontentment? Am I practicing wisdom from below that is full of selfish ambition and self-seeking? Is this post representative of someone satisfied in Christ or discontent, possibly bitter, at the core?

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:10-13)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:13-16)