Not that any of us remember this – as it did not happen in our lifetime; however, it is worth thinking back to the story that is told by Moses. Adam and Eve were living together in a perfect marriage, perfect environment, and in a perfect relationship with God. But then, the craziest thing happened. A serpent showed up with an opportunity. The serpent suggested to Eve that it would be a good idea to eat of the forbidden fruit. You know how the story ends, Adam and Eve did take a bite. They sinned.

It is important to notice that the fruit was not the problem. The fruit simply existed on one particular tree. It could have existed on that tree for the ages and not have caused anyone harm. In fact, the fruit did not cause the harm the day Adam and Eve ate it. In one sense, the fruit was neutral in the whole circumstance. The fruit with its prohibition simply provided the opportunity.

Now let’s zoom way out to include ourselves in this picture. Today, we also face opportunities every day as well. For those of us on X or other social media platforms, the platform access is neutral; however, the platform does provide an opportunity for each one of us. In fact, many opportunities.

Back to the Garden. The sin of taking the fruit and eating of it was the behavioral response to a heart that desired to be like God. Lust conceived and it brought forth sin (to use James’ words).

Now to us. The sins of anger, rage, malice, slander, unwholesome talk out of your mouth, falsehood, assumption, bitterness, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice and filthy language from your lips. These things would be a lack of kindness, tender compassion, and forgiveness. They would also be the opposite of humility, gentleness and patience. Any of these sins are responses from the heart that desires something – in fact, it could be desirous of something that is positive, helpful, or otherwise godly.

The platform is not the problem. The opportunity to make a public comment or observation is not the problem. When words or attitudes fail to reflect “walking worthy,” “as you received Jesus, so walk in Him,” “put on as the elect of God,” “speak the truth in love,” or any of the other key passages that reflect godliness, then the failure resides in the heart, not the opportunity or platform.

Social Media Platforms as Opportunities for the Flesh

Just as in Genesis 3, the Serpent’s strategy has not changed. If it is possible for any one of us to fail to honor God in our effort to live as Christ in our words, thinking, attitudes, or actions, old Satan himself would be happy – especially if we are deceived.

In many ways, the internet (or smart phones) amplifies these opportunities. When the Bible was written and Paul was exhorting fellow believers on behalf of the Gospel, he was talking to local churches in local situations. Of course someone could talk to sheep all day or scream his or her opinion out the open window; however, the number of people against whom he or she would sin was limited. Severely limited.

However, in today’s world of social platforms where algorithms tend to even increase the reach of a fresh hot take or a powerful rebuttal to another person, the opportunity to hinder the name of Christ by dishonoring the Lord only gets greater.

Social media platforms offer immediate gratification, hidden identity (for some), constant comparison, lack of eye contact or personal presence, and endless access. Once the emotional fire is lit, the creative juices pumping, the logic flowing, and the rush of satisfaction of being right, the boldness of the keyboard tends to make the entrance of this trap slicker. We can fall before we know it.

The Real Battlefield: The Heart

The real battlefield is the heart. Let me explain the context of the heart with a few key passages:

• Galatians 5-6: “You have received liberty, only use not your liberty as an opportunity for your flesh, but by love, serve one another… Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” We have liberty. God gives us energy that we do not have to burn for going to heaven. Instead, we can use our energy to 1) by love serve others and 2) walk in the flesh. The stronger the flesh, the harder it will be to say no to it and use the energy God provides by love to serve others. In fact, the word “opportunity” means a base of operations. The social media platform becomes a launch pad for the flesh.
• James 1: “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” Here, James locates temptation inside the person, not outside on a platform or with another person. The bait to dishonor the Lord in a particular situation works, because the desire is already present.
• Mark 7: Jesus says, “Evil comes from within, out of the heart.” In this sense, the social platform does not create the desire, it only reveals it.
• Colossians 3: Paul contrasts mortifying sins of desire (v. 5) and sins of communication (v. 8). Instead, we are to put on tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. How? As you put on bearing with one another, forgiving one another, and love. The metaphor is a clothing metaphor.

As the heart engages with desire, there are two options on the shelf: pleasing God or pleasing self. Whenever we choose to please self, the social media platform becomes a megaphone for anger, a marketplace for lust, a laboratory for comparison, a runway for “gotcha,” and a breeding ground for sarcasm. Motives are guessed and assumed. Mistakes amplified. And brotherhood in Christ is stifled.

Live a Life Worthy of the Lord and Pleasing Him in Every Way

Yet, the same tool with the same opportunities can be used to encourage, to teach, to pray, to ask good questions, to build up, to assume what’s best, and to help grow the body into Christ. It can be a platform for love of Christ and love of brother.

The apostle Paul emphasized these with his various “Put On” lists.

The challenge is to consider whichever wardrobe you are wearing – the wardrobe of those who backbite and devour each other or the wardrobe of those who help their neighbors grow into Christ. Social media does not choose your wardrobe. It reveals it.

Back to Genesis

The social media platform or the internet is not the serpent. But similar to the serpent’s voice, it offers opportunity to believe and pursue something other than God’s Word and building up others in Christ. The serpent did not create desire in Eden; he exposed it. Likewise, social media platforms do not create sin in us; they reveal what we already love.

Possibly, this is reason why the Bible is full of passages that help warn us and instruct us. Proverbs 4:3 – Guard your heart. Ephesians 4:27 – Give no opportunity to the devil. 1 Corinthians 10:13 – Temptation is common but God provides a way of escape that we can bear it. Romans 13:14 – Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. Here is the sobering reality: social media platforms can become “provision” for the flesh.

A Personal Testimony

What a blessing to use social media to honor the Lord! I rejoice in over twelve years of regular ministry online. I joined the blogging world, started creating podcasts, and joined some social media platforms. I realized quickly, that when I see something online, it is easy to be provoked. My heart can take the bait. I will want to “correct,” “set the record straight,” “educate this person,” “defend my friend,” or whatever else my heart calls it per tweet or post. I can easily be drawn toward debate. Often, even, I can justify my response when someone may possibly call me on it.

Yet, Christ’s calling is none of those things. Sadly, in fact, in an effort to do right, I can be wrong and do wrong. I can and do miss the appropriate response at times. There is so much potential of sin in my own heart, it is even possible to say the right things and still have a sinful attitude or motivation. Many days, because of seeking to manage the log in my own eye, I have to skip on making any comment at all. But there is more!

When we walk in the Spirit together, recognizing all of us are at different points along the journey of becoming complete in Christ (Col 1:27), social media has the power to bless the body of Christ. In fact, as I walk in the Spirit and read what other brothers and sisters in Christ have shared, I can grow, learn, be encouraged, weep with those who weep, pray for those who need it, and receive the hope of Christ. The goal is that my social media would truly represent wisdom for life in Christ together. My prayer for others who have the capacity at their fingertips to also help me grow into Christ, is that they would do the same.

Friends, do not just manage devices – shepherd your heart.

Friends, do not just reply because “somebody just needs to say it” – cultivate love for Christ.

Friends, do not just settle that social media is messy – walk in the Spirit and do not fulfill the desires of the flesh, and by love serve.

Friends, let us seek to do this together for the glory of God and the good of His children.

Three Questions

What does your social media presence reveal about what you love most?

If someone only knew Christ through your posts and replies , what would they learn about Him?

If someone were to eat what you write and put on social media, would they grow into Christ and be built up by grace or starve?