I’ve never used Facebook. I’ve never sent a Tweet. I tried Snapchat briefly before deleting the app. I setup my first Instagram account this year.
I know that sounds ridiculous for an “iGen” girl. I’m part of the generation that owns a phone before we turn 12. That spends all day on the internet. That only knows how to interact through a screen and gifs.
Recently there has been a lot of research on the effect social media has had on our generation. And an overwhelming amount of it is negative.
Anxiety and depression among teens are skyrocketing. Suicide rates are at an all time high. We feel lonelier than ever, despite having hundreds of friends online.
But the stats and research are not the reason I avoided Facebook, left Snapchat, and only recently ventured onto Instagram.
It’s also not because my parents wouldn’t allow me to use social media.
I made this decision because I knew social media would hinder my relationship with Jesus.
My short experience with social media
When Snapchat became popular, I downloaded it along with everyone else. At first, it wasn’t a problem. I had fun chatting with friends and seeing their pictures. But as I became familiar with the app I started looking at other accounts and stumbling across provocative images and worldly information.
God began convicting me – if I wanted to love Him with my whole entire heart and mind, if I wanted an intimate relationship with Him, I couldn’t allow the sexual images and filthy language into my mind and eyes.
For awhile I ignored God and justified using the app. After all, I could just stop looking at the feeds with those images. I could still follow my friends and ignore the bad stuff.
But for me, this was impossible. Every time I opened the app to see what my friends were up to, I was tempted to look at other feeds. And most times, I couldn’t resist.
God’s word tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14) For me, that meant I needed to delete Snapchat.
Wrestling
After deleting Snapchat, I still wrestled over the idea of using other social media.
When my best friend went to Bible school and posted pictures on Facebook, when my girlfriends talked about people on Instagram, when I started this blog and learned how social media can help you connect with your readers, I doubted my decision and wrestled with God about starting an account.
But it always came back to this: I know I only want social media so I can fit in and have people notice me. I know it will be a distraction. I know I can’t use it wisely.
I came to this conclusion by prayerfully asking myself three simple questions.
If social media is a struggle for you, I hope these questions will bring you clarity – guiding you to wisely handle your account, or confirming that it’s time to hit delete.
1. Why do I want it?
Most times my answer to this question was incredibly selfish. I wanted social media to fit in with my friends. I wanted people to follow me and like what I posted.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to fit in with your peer group. Choosing to buy trendy shoes over ugly ones is not sinful. But the risks that come with using social media are far greater than the risks that come with buying a pair of Nikes.
The common “side effects” of social media use – depression, anxiety, exposure to porn, etc. – not only destroy our spiritual life but also our physical life. And the benefits – encouraging people and keeping up with family – often don’t outweigh the risks.
If our only reason for using social media is to “fit in,” we are not being wise.
We don’t need social media to fit in. I had an amazing group of friends – who all used social media – through my teen years. And I hardly ever felt left out because I didn’t have an account. God can give you real life friends.
But even if you do lose friends because you aren’t on social media, God has said “do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
Friendship with God is worth it.
2. Will it hinder my relationship with Jesus?
Snapchat led me into sin and compromise. I knew Instagram or Facebook would be no different.
I also knew I couldn’t have a vibrant relationship with Jesus while I was living in sin.
Allow God to search your heart and be honest with yourself and the Lord as you answer these questions:
- Does social media cause you to covet or lust?
- Does it distract you from your time in prayer or the word of God?
- Does it lead you into compromise?
Answering yes to these questions doesn’t necessarily mean we should abandon social media. It does mean we need to prayerfully evaluate. Can we can put boundaries on our social media use, or is it too great a distraction that needs to be ruthlessly removed from our lives?
Only when we are willing to give Him the best hours of our day – rather than whatever is left after we have wasted most of our time on selfish pleasures – will we truly experience vibrant intimacy with our Heavenly King.
… If you hunger for true intimacy with Jesus Christ; if you desire to live truly for His glory, then you must surrender your time to Him. Not just in theory, but every moment of every day, no longer living for your own pursuits and whims, but for His glory alone.
Leslie Ludy
If it hinders our fellowship with Jesus it is not worth it – even if it increases our fellowship with friends and family, and even if it encourages others.
3. Can I use it wisely?
Everyone knows that social media is a distraction. Are you prepared to handle it wisely and fight to keep your focus on eternal things?
Are you prepared to place healthy boundaries on your time?
Will you use this as a tool to bless others? Or will you use it as a toy to distract your heart and mind?
Social Media isn’t evil
I want to be very clear – I don’t believe social media is evil or that using it is sinful.
I do believe we need to handle it with wisdom, like fire.
Fire is good if you place it within boundaries and use it to warm your house or cook your food. But without those boundaries and cautions it is a very destructive tool.
I said no to all social media until I was 21 because I knew I primarily wanted it for selfish reasons. I knew it would hinder to my relationship with Jesus Christ, and I wasn’t able to discipline myself to say no to sin and put healthy boundaries in place.
Why I eventually said “Yes”
Early last spring, I began to look into using Instagram to connect with girls for this ministry. But despite everything I read, I knew I wasn’t prepared to handle it well. I knew it would be too much of a distraction at that point in my life. God gave me no peace about the idea.
Until a few months ago, when I stumbled onto another resource about using Instagram for ministry. This time rather than feeling hesitant, I got excited. I began praying and asking the Lord if He would really give me freedom to use Instagram after all these years.
I asked myself those three questions and found that my answers were so different than before. I felt complete peace about setting up an account.
Why did I want Instagram? Because I want to connect with friends and girls who won’t read my blog but who will follow me on social media. Because I want to reach girls with the gospel and Instagram is where they are.
Will it hinder my relationship with Jesus? I know this is always a risk, so I’m making sure I’m on guard against it. But I’ve grown so much in my relationship with Jesus and learned how to guard my time with Him. I’m actively seeking God’s grace to keep my relationship with Christ my greatest joy and highest priority.
Can I use it wisely? I’m definitely not going to do this perfectly. I’m going to make mistakes. But God has brought me to a place in my life where I recognize the dangers and the benefits, and I’m actively seeking God’s wisdom in my social media use. I’m prepared to use boundaries, and seek accountability.
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I pray my story is helpful as you seek to follow Jesus Christ and grow in your relationship with Him. I’d love to continue the conversation below! (feel free to ask me any follow up questions you might have)
- Do you use social media?
- What are some of the benefits of being on social media?
- What are some of the risks?
- Has social media negatively affected your relationship with God?
This is really good, Katie! Thanks so much for posting! ❤
🙂 Thanks so much Ani!