We all have our reasons for being or not being on social media.
Should a Christ follower be on social media?
The answer is not the same for us all! This is disputable. God’s Word tells us we should be missionaries wherever we are, but where each of us is to go is not necessarily the same!
I am a firm believer that we are all called to the Great Commission.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28: 18-20, NKJV
I don’t believe this message was for some Christ followers, but all of us. But I also would argue that while some are called to the wilderness, and far remote areas of the world, some are called to be were God planted them, and to be purposeful right there working in the trenches and making discples for His glory.
I want to challenge you to view social media as a world of it’s own for a moment.
One that some are called to and others might not be. There is freedom in understanding and receiving the grace that God doesn’t have the same call on all our lives!
For some it may be a way to connect with family and friends that are long distance, for others, it might be the social networking for business, or maybe your kids are on social media, so you feel the need to be. Regardless of your reason for being on social media, if you are on, you are called to be an ambassador for Christ while you are there!
I share in our personal testimony below why we are on social media, but from the beginning Isaac and I set out on a mission to be intentional about our posts, to be a light that shines for the Lord.
One thing that has helped me to be missional in my time online is to have a mission statement.
In this article, I intend to share with you three things: my personal story and mission statement for social media, and a FREE Social Media Missions Statement Questionnaire to help you create your own.
Whether you are a writer or not, if you are on social media, you have an opportunity to speak life into others lives.
May I exhort you as a sister for a moment? When you take offense to something someone posts, take a moment and see if your response would be edifying or if you are selfishly wanting to push your opinion or conviction?
I have a few very dear friends who also blog, and one of the most concerning things to me is when I see them discouraged and wanting to give up because someone takes what they say wrong and blows it into something else entirely. This has happened to me as well and I know first hand how it feels. We are human too and need encouragement.
The enemy is at odds with those who are seeking to be intentional about their witness for Christ. As sisters in Christ, we should edify one another or at least have the respect for one another to pray before we write, to ask questions, and be open to the possibility that we could be making an incorrect judgment.
So as a social media user, can you commit to this challenge: I challenge myself and you, to stop, be slow to speak, slow to become angry, slow to push publish, and also show the other person enough respect to go to them privately. In Matthew 18, the first approach we are taught to take in conflict is to go directly to our brother/sister… and I don’t believe that it is usually meant to be in public. Amen?
On another note, if you are a blogger, writer, speaker, or teacher of any kind I feel compelled to warn you that God will hold us to a higher standard.
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” James 3:1
I want to leave you with a brief quote to reflect on from a very well written article I found when I was in the midst of writing this letter to you. It is written by Set Apart Girl, in her article entitled “How Often Do We Miss His Heavenly Agenda For Our Day Because of Wasting Countless Hours on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.”
She writes, “Facebook walls and comments, twitter, and even personal blogs are often breeding grounds for idle chatter, fruitless words, frivolous notes, showing off of wit and personality, and exalting our own thoughts and opinions instead of God’s thoughts and opinions.”
My heart has never been to create idle chatter, if anything at all, my mission is the opposite. My heart’s desire is to edify, but also to keep my first jurisdictions in check. So if you don’t see me on social media for a few days, no explanation necessary. I’m a wife, a mom of seven, and a woman just like you who needs to rest in her Father’s arms.
Our Personal Story:
There was a time about 5 years ago when Isaac and I had a deep conviction about not participating on social media. We were concerned about the potential addiction that seemed to tempt other people. From the outside looking in, it seemed to be a fake world that was a waste of time.
I began blogging back in 2006, but had absolutely no acquaintance or awareness of the blogging world or social media. Then in the fall of 2011 my husband and I had a branding expert look over our businesses and he advised us to join the movement. He urged us that we were, in his opinion, committing business suicide by not being on social media. It became very apparent that Facebook was not going to be just a fad, and that Twitter was not a trend, but that this social networking was, in fact, becoming a part of the world in a very real way. We had a choice to make. We could either stand firm in our first conviction to not engage, or we could embrace the reality of the coming generations, be intentional, and set boundaries.
Starting out with baby steps, we joined the dominating Facebook together, with the heart to exercise Social Media Accountability within our Marriage. The first few weeks on Facebook, were interesting, to say the least.
I found myself struggling with judgementalism and feeling a sense of betrayal from those who acted differently with me than what was portrayed on Facebook.
My heart often ached as I scrolled through my newsfeed, witnessing people arguing or even attacking one another for their beliefs. The people pleaser in me wanted to delete my account in fear of stirring controversy just by living my life. Let’s face it everyone has an opinion about everything these days. Just posting a picture with my brood could create controversy in a world that preaches that children are a burden, rather than a blessing.
Then my husband once again led me with vision. Let’s be a light.
I have been wanting to share my mission on social media. I want to share with you what to expect from me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Click on the Image to Journey with me on Instagram!
My Personal Mission Statement for Social Media:
Commitment to the Lord: I am aware, that as a proclaimed Christ-follower, I am an ambassador of Christ. {Eph. 6:20; 2 Cor. 5:20-21; 1 Cor. 11:1} My actions, which are reflected in images, and the tone, as well as the content of written words I share all reflect upon how others view my Lord. I am a confessed sinner, born again and made a new creation in Christ Jesus my Savior; therefore, I live free from the burden of perfection-seeking. I commit to representing Jesus as best as I can and take responsibility for exercising my influence for His glory and not my own.
My Mission in all Social Media is to point others towards Christ, to bring His name glory, to use the gifts and talents the Lord has given me to edify, exhort, and encourage the Body of Christ, and to actively participate in the Great Commission through proclaiming His word.
How Should Christians Act on Social Media?
Six Objectives I Am Focusing On:
- To clearly indicate what is my opinion and what is the truth in God’s word. I recognize that in all that we write there is an element of opinion, inspiration, or perspective as molded by our worldview. While I will strive to share the truth, I fully recognize that God with regard to certain topics, God offers us all freedom and grace regarding disputable issues. I desire to show respect to each person’s journey with the Lord, while also speaking the truth regarding what He has called me to write about.
- Commit to surrendering my agendas and opinions before God’s throne. I commit to my readers, to do my diligence in separating what is my opinion from what is His truth in a clear manner. When I am prompted to share a personal testimony of what God has been teaching me, I will indicate that. When I see clear instruction in the Word of God, I will proclaim it with the authority given to me.
- Not to add to the noise, which already exists. We live in the Age of Information and my deepest struggle and concern is adding to all the noise that is already in existence.Noise distracts us from God, from our relationship with Him, and my heart is, in some way, to encourage you and lead you to Jesus. I pray that after reading a post from me, you would be prompted to close down the computer and open your Bible and pray. I pray that you would be led into prayer with the Father as we redeem social media together, joining together in spontaneous prayer. I do not want to distract you from God, but rather live out what my name means, which is Messenger of God, Bringer of Light and Truth.
- To fear God, not man. What is posted is an overflow of what the Lord teaches me through living life in reflection of God’s sufficient Word.By inviting you to join me on social media, I am in a small way inviting you to see into part of my soul. After all, that is what community prayer is: a glimpse into the soul of the believer. One goal I have for social media is to redeem it for His glory by using it to pray for you all, my sisters in Christ!
What God is whispering to me to share with you, and sometimes what He burdens upon me to pray for {even in the middle of the night}. When I post an image, please know that I am sharing part of our life– hoping that it sets an example of Christ’s work.Anything good I have to share is not because of my works, but the work Christ has done for me {and my family}. When I share the struggles we have walked through as a family or a married couple, or as a mom, know that it is for the purpose of wanting to redeem the ugliness of my life and to allow the Lord to bring beauty from those ashes.My heart is never to boast or impress you. I often worry what others will think. I worry that they judge my heart intentions. And in my sin, I confess, I have allowed this fear to prevent me from sharing things I know God was clearly prompting me to share. I am committed to obeying God alone and posting when the Spirit prompts me. - To model and teach my children responsible online use and intentionality. My husband and I are very verbal about teaching our children the concept of being a light wherever you go, being a missionary wherever you are.Social Media is no exception. I want my kids to know what it is that I am doing when I am online. It is another form of accountability in the sense that if it wouldn’t be ok for them, it shouldn’t be ok for me. The reality is that with the online learning industry currently experiencing unparalleled growth, some of our children might be working from a computer. Because of that reality, I need to model for them being intentional, talking with them about the WHY behind everything, every post, every prayer etc… I love it when my kids join me in praying for families who reach out in need of prayer. That is when the ministry becomes generational.Here is a post you might be interested in: How to Equip Your Children for Social Media
- To virtually mentor sisters, who are looking for encouragement and guidance as to how the gospel is lived out in our everyday lives.
My heart in sharing some of what our life is like through Instagram or Facebook, is again, not to brag, but to mentor you virtually as you watch from afar. My prayer is that you would be inspired to think out of the box of your experience or expectations of yourself.
If you are running yourself ragged trying to keep up with Mrs. Jones, I would ask you to evaluate if you should be on social media at all.
We are NOT to compare, or to put others on pedestals. The only one that deserves a pedestal is Christ.
I am an ordinary wife and mom, just like you. I do dishes, clean up after sick kids, pray over children at night, fall asleep from complete exhaustion when my husband wants my attention… just like you. I don’t have a perfect marriage or family. However, I am very familiar with the Titus 2 call for the older women to teach the younger women, which is why I began the Redeeming Childbirth Facebook page: to disciple women through the childbearing season and offer Biblical encouragement to seek God’s unique path for them and their journey toward motherhood. The Courageous Mom Facebook page encompasses all the seasons of motherhood–pregnancy through legacy.
“They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:3-5
Recognizing I am an older woman has taken some getting use to, but my teenagers keep reminding me that I am more than qualified. lol
Click the image to download your FREE Mission Statement Questionnaire PDF!
Our Call As Ambassadors for Christ:
If there is one thing you take away from this post today, my prayer is that it is the call to be intentional ambassadors for Christ everywhere, including on social media. I don’t want you to feel pressure to be perfect. That is not my intention. I simply want to expose this simple truth and ask you to join me in being more intentional with what we post.
So who is with me and ready for the challenge?
Would you like a free pdf of a Social Media Mission Statement Worksheet? Leave a note and your email in the comments and I will gladly send you one.
What is Your Social Media Mission? Your Purpose?
Can you imagine what a bright light the church would be if we all chose to be more intentional in our status updates? I would love to hear what God is impressing upon your heart with regard to Social Media! Leave me a comment!
Lord, I pray for myself and my brothers and sisters who are on social media. I thank you for the opportunity that we have to partner with you in the mission of the advancement of the Kingdom of God. May we all fully embrace our personal responsibility for branding you well. Lord, impress upon our hearts the desire to be a light for your glory through every image we post and every word we write. Convict our hearts and reveal to us where we have sinned against you and others. Help us to have the courage to repent and confess our sins to one another and seek accountability for the future. I ask you to protect us from the temptations toward sin. We recognize the battle we are in: the battle of opinions, words, images, and more. Help us to stand strong and to not loose hope as we purposefully serve you through our interactions. Keep our hearts pure and help us to model for our children what engaging in the social online world can look like when it is done on purpose. Help us to have self-control over our fingers as they flow from the opinions of the tongue. Impress upon us the desire to live our lives sold out for you in every area, including social media. Encourage my fellow writers and speakers out there that desire to be a light for you, encourage them today and myself as well. Help us all to encourage one another with the vision that we are building up and strengthening the church. Amen
Can I challenge you on TWO things:
1. Choose to encourage someone on social media today. Use your influence for good.
2. Choose to be more intentional about watching what you write, whether it be in your personal status, in a comment thread on someone else’s, or on a ministry page post. Slow down, pray and ask yourself: is this edifying? And if the person who wrote the post is truly in sin, or has offended you go to them privately.
