As I sit to write this article, I am wondering if we have reached the point where social media is hurting the body of Christ more than it is helping it. When I say this, I am not talking about people watching all the channels that have nothing to do with Christ. I am specifically referring to those channels that are owned and run by people who profess to be followers of Christ. These are the channels that might be hurting believers instead of helping them.
As I present my case, I am not questioning the intentions of those who own these channels. However, I am questioning whether the content produced on these channels is actually presenting Christ and the body of Christ in the most positive light. If we don’t do that, then even if the intentions are good, the methods and messaging are causing self-inflicted wounds to the body of Christ.
Here are three ways I believe social media is hurting the body of Christ.
1. We Are Causing Division over Non-Essentials of the Faith
I was scrolling through my YouTube feed recently (maybe that was my first mistake). What I noticed was there were so many channels that were offering debates over non-essential doctrines in the faith. In case you are not aware, non-essential means it has no bearing on your salvation and is not foundational to your faith in Christ. For these issues, you can have a different opinion and still be a Christian.
For example, one area of debate happening on social media right now is the idea of whether the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in operation today. Those who say no are cessationists. Those who say yes are continuationists. This debate has been happening within the walls of the church for many years, but now the fight has spilled out into the social media streets. Listen to some of these titles you find on social media regarding this topic.
- 3 Reasons God is a cessationist
- Cessationism is NOT Biblical
- The Heresy of Cessassionism
- Continuationism can only lead to an inevitable mess
The symptoms you find in this debate are present in just about every debate over non-essentials. For now, let’s stick with this one topic. The problem isn’t that there are two differing opinions. What I find disheartening is the way the owners of these channels attack those who hold the opposing opinion. Words like heresy, heretic, false teacher, and other not-so-kind words get thrown around with no regard for the person they are talking, who belongs to the body of Christ.
Are there people out there who are extreme? Yes. Will you find teachers on both sides who may be teaching something false? Yes, that is true as well. However, how can you brush those who fall into one camp or the other with the same broad stroke? When this happens, we end up building walls instead of building unity. We also show that for people who are saved by grace, we don’t seem to want to extend that same level of grace towards other believers.
With this issue, I know plenty of people who fall on both sides of the debate. These people are sound doctrinally and they love Jesus with all their heart. Not only is that true of this issue, but it is true of other ones as well.
Yet, when we denigrate people because they have an opposing view that we disagree with, what is the agenda, and who are we really helping? If anything, instead of helping, it causes rifts in the body of Christ. Imagine, this is just one of several other topics Christians are debating over.
In Romans 14, Paul deals with the issue of disputable matters in the church, and here is one thing he says: “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat” (Romans 14:10).
The truth is with this and other non-essential issues, we will not all agree. I am okay with that and I hope you are too. You must recognize the cause of Christ, the name of Christ, and the glory of Christ are at stake. This is more important than arguing over non-essentials.
We don’t have to agree on every non-essential, but we must handle all disagreements with love, kindness, and respect for each other. When we do this, then we don’t look like dogmatic people who are simply interested in winning an argument. Winning that argument may serve your individual purpose, but what good is that if you damage other people in the process?
“Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen” (2 Timothy 2:14).
2. We Are Allowing the Rise of Untested and Unqualified Voices
In days past, before people would ever stand in front of other believers and teach or speak, there was some type of testing or some measure of qualification that validated the person speaking. I am not saying they needed to have a theological degree or have attended seminary, but there were people who could vouch for their sound doctrine, their life in Christ, and their calling or gifting to do this.
Today, that no longer exists. If you have a phone or camera and a mic, you can now speak to the world. I know there are always two sides to every story, and some people are not being given the opportunity to use the gifts God has given them, so I get that, too. However, the reality is there are a lot of unqualified voices out there who are speaking without Biblical integrity and with no accountability. In this age of social media consumption, that becomes a hazard to the body of Christ.
Just because someone has a platform and even sounds convincing, that does not mean you just take their words at face value. You must test everything that is said. Now, possibly more than ever before, you must become a student of the word of God. With the plethora of voices out there, many untested and unqualified, and the easy access you have to them because of social media, if you are not grounded in the word, you run the risk of being swayed in the wrong direction.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
3. We Are Causing Some Christians to Believe a Social Media Channel Is a Replacement for the Local Church
My wife and I have a weekly Bible study we run on our YouTube channel. We gather for approximately 45-50 minutes and teach the Bible. There are other people I know who do the same. Yet I always remind people, this Bible study is not a replacement for being involved in a local church. It is a supplement to it.
If a person is physically unable to attend church, that is one thing, but for people who are able-bodied, this should not be the case. While you can get instruction from these channels, that is not the only reason you go to church. You go to church to worship and pray together with other believers. You also go for fellowship and to develop relationships with other believers. This can lead to friendships and certainly help with discipleship.
We were meant to walk this journey together, not alone. If all you do is watch social media content and never engage with other believers, then you are living your Christian life in isolation. That was never Jesus’ design for the body of Christ. We all need each other, which will require us at some point to get off social media and engage with other believers.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Final Thought
I am not against social media because it can be a tremendous vehicle to spread the gospel and help people grow in their faith. All I am asking is let’s make sure we never lose sight of that mission. People’s lives and their growth in Christ is at stake. That should always take precedence over getting more likes and views.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Sara Kurfess
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.