Biblical Social Media Behaviour

Today in church I was teaching the youth in youth class how to use social media properly in a Biblical way:

John's 3rd epistle was a physical letter sent to the church of Gaius. In it we see behaviours from Christians in the church. Some were godly behaviours (receiving the Christian workers, preaching the Gospel, and loving the church) and some were ungodly behaviours (denying/not receiving/blocking the Christian workers).
Let us translate those behaviours into the modern world where we meet in person in church AND we also interact online through social media on the internet using devices such as phones, tablets, and computers. Social media is a TOOL in our tool kit. It does not replace physical attendance in the local churches, but can be a great AID to helping Christians stay connected in between services. It also is a great tool for reaching non Christians with the Gospel in fun and creative ways. I personally use social media to share my original Christian songs with the world.

The Apostle John writes in one verse:
3rd John v8
"We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth."

 

I taught my youth class a number of things using 3rd John as my starting point:

 

1) Be kind to all on social media platforms, especially your fellow Christians in your own local church and community. But also be kind to strangers. Jesus taught that we can befriend even those who were socially unacceptable to the Jews.... like the Samaritans. 

2) Don't pick fights with people online, seek peace

3) being kind to strangers does NOT mean you have to trust them. Be wise and cautious.

4) don't share your personal info, address, phone number, bank info etc etc.in a public profile where the world can read it.

5) speak truth (not lies) online, and do it in polite ways that encourage others. Only speak truth in small doses... so people have time to absorb and reflect on it.

6) you don't have to accept every friend request from every Christian necessarily in order to be kind and accepting of them and to pray for them. But you should not block them either.

7) blocking should only be done when you are being harassed/threatened by someone online and/or they are sending inappropriate messages to you. In those cases, by all means, use the block feature, and gain your peace back.

8) In social media, It's better to be friends predominantly with people who you know in person. And it is best not to block harmless people. Contrary to what you may think, those personal local Christian connections will feel left out or hurt once they discover you have blocked them for no good reason. And trust me, if they care about you, they will find out.
If you do NOT want to accept the friend request, just leave it, or delete it. No need to block unless you are being endangered or harassed by someone.

I have been on both ends... both the blocker and the blockee. And trust me, if you are harmless, and you don't know why you are being blocked by a fellow Christian worker (or more than one) in the faith, it hurts. I only block when I have been threatened or repeatedly harassed online. No explanation needed there.
 
Receiving is better than blocking. Blocking the fellow workers is similar to the negative thing that Diotrephes did.

3rd John v9-10

"9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church."

Now, if someone is a weird stalker or abuser, then by all means, block them and deny access.

But it is my humble and experienced opinion that it simply is not necessary to block those fellow workers, those fellow local Christians. You don't have to be "friends" with them on social media either. But you also should not slam the door by blocking. What you are saying by blocking is "I am ok with the weird strangers of the world seeing my public social media profile but not with my brother or sister in Christ seeing it".

Let us find ways to make peace and promote the LOVE OF CHRIST.
These are just my opinions and some food for thought.

Blessings

PC

Happy New Year!
Sun Dec 31 2017 4:01pm