Are You A Social Media Bragger?

By Fin Sheridan

It’s hard to remember a world without social media although for many of us, we’ve had far more years without it than with it. It’s testament to the dominance and significance of the internet in general, and social media specifically, that for many of us, so much of our lives are played out online.

Social media is a powerful tool and one that so many churches, individuals and organisations are using for spreading the gospel in innovative ways. It does, however, present significant questions for Christians to answer. How do we use it well? What does our social media say about our hearts and our priorities? What things should we be aware of, as we live our online lives?

I have a confession: I spend far too much time on social media and it matters to me far more than it should. I’m trying to work this through in my own life because I’m not totally convinced that ‘deleting the apps for a bit’ will actually help solve the issues that social media exposes. That’s what social media does, for better or worse. It pulls the curtain back and shows who we really are, what we really believe, how we really think.

“Shared celebration is one of the most enjoyable aspects of social media.

‘Let another praise you, and not your own mouth’

 Proverbs 27:2

This verse challenges me, particularly with social media. You see, so much of what we post is our own mouth praising us. Or our own thumbs, praising us. It’s putting up a picture, subtly showing off a moment of success. It’s a #humblebrag. It’s retweeting people who praise you so that others can see how knowledgeable/spiritual you are. It’s documenting your successes; your own personal Silicon Valley hosted highlight reel.

Obviously, there’s value in posting memorable moments; shared celebration is one of the most enjoyable aspects of social media. It’s okay to update us about your life and that includes (hopefully) some good bits, some successes, some wins.

It’s worth asking, every now and then, however, am I always the hero? Does this really need to be shared? Is this a private triumph that I can enjoy without needed to broadcast it publicly? Remember, your social media will always say more about you than you realise.

Prince of Peace

Everlasting Father

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