A biblical challenge to social media

1. Social
Media
“BUT AS HE WHICH HATH CALLED YOU IS HOLY, SO
BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION”
- I PETER 1:15

2. SOCIAL MEDIA THAT PLEASES
GOD
Why?
The Work of Christ
Changes Everything
“If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by
Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the
former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according
to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your
mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness.”
- Ephesians 4:21-24

3. GOALS: SOCIAL MEDIA
1. Active protection from threats is
important.
- Proactively understand the threat.
- Carefully evaluate our weakness.
- Thoughtfully implement protections.
2. Active nurturing towards the Gospel is
essential.
- Decisively warn against what is anti-Gospel.
- Enthusiastically communicate the Gospel.

4. ACTIVE PROTECTION FROM THREATS
IS IMPORTANT (MATT. 10:16)
Proactively understand the threat:
Threats can come from others:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of
wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents,” - Matt. 10:16
How do we do our best to avoid external threats?
1. Internet filters:

5. ACTIVE PROTECTION IS
IMPORTANT (MATT. 10:16)
Proactively understand the threat:
Threats can come from others:
How do we do our best to avoid external threats?
2. Parental involvement:
“Have a discussion with them about what's appropriate and what's
not. Look at their images and see if you think there's something that
shouldn't be on the profile and then have them either remove it or let
us know you're concerned and then we'll work with you.“
- Hemanshu Nigam, Chief Security Officer, MySpace
“At least moms and dads should learn about what they are doing.”
– Ernie Allen, CEO, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

6. ACTIVE PROTECTION IS
IMPORTANT (MATT. 10:16)
Proactively understand the threat:
Threats can come from others:
How do we do our best to avoid external threats?
3. Research current trends and apps

7. ACTIVE PROTECTION IS
IMPORTANT (MATT. 10:16)
Proactively understand the threat:
Threats can come from others:
How do we do our best to avoid external threats?
4. Understand bad intentions exist:
“Sexual predators do exist and are a very real threat. They target
both boys and girls of all ages and use the anonymity of the
Internet to their advantage since they can be whomever they want.
Many are master manipulators with skills that can cripple any
child's sense of awareness. This is known as the grooming
process and predators look for children that are more technically
savvy than their parents.”
- Familysafecomputers.org

8. ACTIVE PROTECTION FROM THREATS
IS IMPORTANT (MATT. 10:16)
Proactively understand the threat:
Threats can come from within:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of
wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless
as doves.”
How do we protect against internal threats?
1. Understand our depravity:
“As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one:’”
- Romans 3:10

9. ACTIVE PROTECTION FROM THREATS
IS IMPORTANT (MATT. 10:16)
Proactively understand the threat:
Threats can come from within:
How do we protect against internal threats?
2. Evaluate our personal weaknesses:
“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his
own lust, and enticed.” - James 1:14

10. ACTIVE PROTECTION FROM THREATS
IS IMPORTANT (MATT. 5:29)
Thoughtfully implement protections:
We must take others sin and our own sin seriously:
“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast
into hell.” - Matthew 5:29
1. Are we willing to give up modern conveniences for
spiritual health?
2. Are we taking the threat of our sin and other’s sin
seriously?
3. You cannot start thinking about these threats too
soon.

11. ACTIVE PROTECTION FROM THREATS
IS IMPORTANT (MATT. 5:29)
Thoughtfully implement protections:
We must have concrete protections in place:
1. Communicate regularly about online activity.
2. Enforce social media age restrictions personally.
3. Know which social media sites are used.
4. Educate yourself about those sites.
5. Do not use full names.
6. Never friend someone you have not met in person.
7. Restrict personal information given.
8. Set security restrictions on social media sites.
9. Think about photos you post on sites.
10. Breaking rules leads to removal of account.

12. ACTIVE NURTURING TOWARDS THE
GOSPEL IS ESSENTIAL (TITUS 2:11-12)
Decisively warn against what is anti-Gospel:
The grace of God turns us from sin:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts,” - Titus 2:11-12

13. ACTIVE NURTURING TOWARDS THE
GOSPEL IS ESSENTIAL (TITUS 2:11-12)
Enthusiastically communicate the Gospel:
The grace of God turns us to righteousness:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
- Titus 2:11-12

14. SOCIAL MEDIA THAT PLEASES
GOD
How?
The Work of Christ
Changes Everything