Heart of the Matter {Using Social Media to Glorify God)

Hi! I am glad you are here and hope this site will be a helpful resource for you. This week I am writing a mini series on how to Use Social Media to Glorify God. 
Part One-Why Social Media 
Part Two- The Potential
Part Three- Heart of the Matter  
Part Four- 10 Practical Tips on How to Blog for the Glory of God

Heart of the Matter

Social media has the potential to be the means God uses to bring the greatest revival this world has ever seen. But just as everything in this life (except God and His Word) is not all good. Social media can be a tool used for sin just as much as it can be a tool used to glorify God. The difference is our heart. Social media in and of itself is not bad, but it is a pretty in your face tool that exposes our hearts.

For example, when you see someone post something about how many cupcakes they made what do you think? Are you excited for them as the Lord tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice? Or do you judge their motives assuming they said that to brag about how great they are? Facebook, twitter or pinterest are not the problem, they just exposes our heart condition, our need for Jesus.

Another way social media can be used for evil is by getting to close in relationships that are off limits, say like with a married person. Facebook or other social media sources could be the means for sin to happen but that does not make it the problem. It's like chicken pox. The disease runs in the blood so you can't cut off the pox and hope to kill the disease. Facebook is not the one with a sin problem, we are. We have to take ownership of our hearts, motives and actions.

Once we take responsibility for our own heart issues we can then pursue wisdom. There are things we should guard against. There are boundaries that should be drawn knowing they can only be kept by looking to the Lord for strength and ability to keep them. Just as it's wise and needed to guard against  in real life temptation, we need to use the same wisdom online, knowing the same temptation exists. We need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves knowing death begins with desire (which starts with a thought) When our minds are given freedom to go places they shouldn't, desire grows and gives birth to sin which brings death. (Jam. 1:14 on) So we need to be wise about what triggers our desires that don't line up with the desires God wants for us. We need to not be controlled by our passions but put them in their place, reminding them our will is the boss of our flesh.

So, we do need to set up boundaries on social media but also know boundaries/the law has no power to keep us from crossing the line. It's only by depending on the Holy Spirit. If we have our attention fixed on the line we shouldnt cross, we will cross it. (Rom. 7:20) The point of the law is to show us we can't measure up. But when we have our eyes fixed on Christ, we will walk confidently into victory. (Heb. 12:2)

But just because there is danger in the mission field, it does not mean we should run from it. We need to cling to Jesus and make the most of the opportunity set before us to reach and influence people for Christ.  

Tomorrow and Friday I am going to get practical on how to use facebook, twitter and blogging to glorify God and reach and influence people for Christ. For more, hop on over to Angi's blog to read "It's All About Relationships" as part of this co-series.