Should Christians Use Social Media?

Social media is useful to connect with others and keep updated on recent events, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Unregulated use of social media can lead you down a rabbit hole of arguments, unrealistic expectations, and wasted time.

What are the benefits and dangers of social media for Christians? Keep reading to learn more. We also share tips on social media conduct and how to promote your church through social media platforms.

5 Benefits of Social Media for Christians

You can find inspiring and edifying content on social media if you know where to look. Here are several examples of the benefits of using social media:

1. Connecting With Others

One of the best things about social media is seeing what your friends and family are up to from their posts. If you see a photo from a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, you can reply to that image and strike up a conversation. It’s a great way to reconnect with people you may have drifted apart from.

2. Keeping In Contact With the Church

Sometimes, you can’t go to church for one reason or another. Social media might help you make up for missing church through live-streamed services. Even if your church doesn’t offer live streaming, you can likely catch up on what you missed through posts on the church's social media page.

3. Learning the Bible

Your pastor at church is likely your primary source of Bible knowledge. But your Bible study time may be limited due to scheduling and time constraints. To get around this, you can ask the pastor to set up a private social media group to discuss the Bible outside of study hours.

4. Outsourcing Bible Knowledge

One benefit of social media is that you’re not restricted to learning exclusively from your own community. Access to social media pages means you can “outsource” Bible knowledge from pastors and teachers everywhere. There are so many  great Christian sermon podcasts and videos on social media; just make sure to filter them through a Biblical lens.

5. Sharing the Gospel

Social media’s wide reach means you have a great platform for evangelism. 

There are many ways to share the Gospel on social media. You can create your own evangelistic posts, share encouraging Bible verses, or repost content from other creators.

4 Potential Dangers of Social Media

Social media may have lots of benefits, but there are some potential dangers to watch out for. Here are four examples of how social media can be dangerous for Christians:

1. Unrealistic Expectations

Most people only post the best part of their lives on social media. That means you might see a lot of people posting their new cars, job achievements, travel photos, and other things that show they’re having a good life. 

Even if you know that people only post the best bits of their lives, it’s hard not to have unrealistic expectations of yourself. When this happens, remember what’s written in Galatians 6:4: “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

2. Mental Health Issues

Social media use increases your likelihood of developing depression and anxiety. This is especially pronounced in teenagers who often seek validation through social media likes and engagement. If their posts aren’t well-liked, they can often be at larger risk for mental health issues.

3. Wasted Time

The average person browses social media for 2.5 hours each day. Even if you read the Bible and pray for an hour daily, you spend twice as long on social media.

Social media can be a time sink if not used wisely. This doesn’t mean you should stop using social media altogether. Instead, consider using it for good causes instead of frivolous things.

4. Bullying & Conflict

We don’t engage in face-to-face contact with others on social media. Unfortunately, this may lead to increased aggression because we don’t consider the feelings of the person behind the screen. 

This is made even worse by the nature of social media, which seems to spark arguments about the smallest things. Whenever you feel the urge to jump into a frivolous argument, remember 2 Timothy 2:23-24: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

Even if the argument is important, keep a level head and be polite. Engage in civil discourse as written in 2 Timothy 2:25-26: “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Dos and Don'ts for Christians on Social Media

A good principle for social media conduct is written in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Social media should be used to glorify God and spread messages of hope to others, not for picking arguments and spreading negativity.

Here are the dos of posting on social media as a Christian:

• Be kind.
• Encourage people to do good.
• Congratulate people when they share good news.
• Double-check your sources on every post.

On the flip side, here are the don’ts of posting on social media as a Christian:

• Be negative.
• Get caught in outrage.
• Encourage bad behavior.
• Show off your worldly possessions.

How to Promote Your Church Through Social Media

Social media is a great place to promote products and services – you can also use it to promote your church. Naturally, you need to make interesting social media posts to pique your audience’s interest and encourage them to visit.

Here are top tips for effective church promotion through social media:

Make Regular Posts

Social media algorithms boost accounts that post consistently. When your account gets boosted, you’re more likely to gain more followers, allowing you to reach more people.

Plan and create your church social media posts ahead of time. Planning ahead means you won’t rush to write and design posts every day, which may result in subpar content and missed posting schedules. Use resources like Tithe.ly Media to create well-designed social media posts.

Give Value to Your Audience

People follow social media accounts that provide value. Promoting church events is fine, but balancing it with insightful content about the Bible or sermon clips may encourage people to engage more with your content.

Engage With Followers

Engagement isn’t a one-way street. Your social media page should be proactive, meaning your team responds to follower messages and comments.

It’s not just about answering questions, either. Aim to have a conversation and build connections to ensure your followers feel valued and welcomed at your church.

Build a Dedicated Social Media Team

If you plan to make social media one of the pillars of your church promotion, consider creating a social media team. Working in a team helps you develop ideas and make posts more efficiently.

A social media team generally needs graphic designers, copywriters, and project managers. You don’t have to get one person for every role – some people can take on multiple responsibilities if needed.

You can build your social media team from existing church staff or volunteers. Hiring people of different backgrounds and viewpoints for your social media team is a good idea. Having more perspectives means you’re more likely to attract a diverse audience.

Create a Consistent Brand Image

A unified brand image makes your social media page look more trustworthy. Create a guideline regarding your page’s color scheme, logo placement, and other branding elements to ensure a consistent brand image in every post.

Promote Your Website

A social media page only gives bits of information in every post. If you have a website, put its link on your social media page so followers can visit if they want to know more about your church and its activities.

If you don’t have a website, consider making one with Tithe.ly Sites. The tool helps you make beautiful church websites in minutes, regardless of web design experience.

Closing Thoughts

Christians can certainly use social media, but they should do so wisely. In summary, use social media in ways that glorify God and avoid unnecessary arguments!