Social Media is changing our world and our culture. As Christians, we need to think carefully both about how we use social media and how social media affects the culture around us — even if we don't use it ourselves. In this talk I examine 5 way that Social Media is changing our world. For each of these 5 ways, we look at how the culture is shifting, what kind of challenge this is to our Christian worldview and what changes we can make in our Social Media habits.

3. Christian Worldview

4. Tim Barnett
What you believe about the
world [your worldview]
determines how you live in the
world —

5. Internet based services that allow people to
share or consume media socially.
Social Media

7. Technology

11. 12 Ways Your Phone
is Changing You
Tony Reinke —
ISBN: 1433552434

13.  Culture shift
 Challenges to our worldview
 Changes we can make

14. Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the
will of God, what is good and acceptable and
perfect.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)

15. WE ARE BECOMING
ADDICTED TO DISTRACTION

16.  We use digital distractions to keep work away
 We use digital distractions to keep people away
 We use digital distractions to keep thoughts of
eternity away

17. …more likely to check email and
social media before or after spiritual
disciplines on a typical morning
73%
(Survey of 8000 Christians)
…before spiritual disciplines

19. Now as they went on their way, Jesus
entered a village. And a woman named
Martha welcomed him into her house. And
she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the
Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But
Martha was distracted with much serving…
Luke 10:38-42
(ESV)

20. … And she went up to him and said, “Lord,
do you not care that my sister has left me to
serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But
the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you
are anxious and troubled about many things,
but one thing is necessary…
Luke 10:38-42
(ESV)

21. … Mary has chosen the good portion, which
will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
(ESV)

22. We need to minimize
unnecessary distractions in our
lives so that we can take the
time to connect with God.

23.  Limit your time on Social Media — discipline
 Limit the number of Social Media accounts you use
 Turn off notifications — especially on your phone
 Consider having regular times where you are not
engaged in Social Media
 Fill the extra time with spiritually beneficial things

24. WE CRAVE
IMMEDIATE APPROVAL

25. WE CRAVE
IMMEDIATE APPROVAL

30.  Aim for God's ultimate approval, not approval from
other people.
 Turn off notifications — don't condition yourself to
react
 Parents — monitor your child's posts and coach them
in what is appropriate
 Stories about being Instagram famous…

31. WE GET LONELY

32. Technology
can lead to isolation
TOGETHER ALONE

35. Jesus answered, “The most important is,
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord
is one. And you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your
strength’…
Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)

36. …The second is this: ‘You shall love your
neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.
Mark 12:29-31 (ESV)

37.  Don't neglect meeting with people in real life (IRL)
 When you are with people, put your phone away
 Be careful about what you share on Social Media — what
are you projecting about yourself — is it real?
 Ask yourself — is my use of Social Media, disengaging me
from the needs of the people around me?
 Learn to cherish the times of aloneness and solitude —
learn to disconnect from Social Media and connect with
God.

38. WE GET COMFORTABLE
WITH SECRET VICES

40. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever
is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if
there is anything worthy of praise, think
about these things.
Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

41.  Do not love the world

42. Do not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world—the desires of the flesh and the
desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not
from the Father but is from the world.
1 John 2:15-16
(ESV)

43.  Do not love the world
 Set your accounts to private
 Only connect with the opposite gender in public forum or
in groups for accountability
 Stop following accounts that may provide temptation to
sin
 Parents — follow your child's accounts and force them to
be private accounts

44. WE BECOME
HARSH TO ONE AONTHER

45. Lies Slander Gosip

47.  We are called to Love one another (our neighbours) and
should refrain from causing harm to others through harsh
talk
 Emotion can be a big driver in writing harsh posts — don’t
post while emotional (angry, hurt, upset etc.)
 Keep your accounts private and only follow accounts that
are positive
 Respond to people in person where possible
 Monitor your child’s accounts to see if they are either
being bullied or speaking harshly to others

49. 1. Do my Social Media habits expose an
underlying addiction to untimely amusements?
2. Do my Social Media habits reveal a compulsive
desire to be seen and affirmed?
3. Do my Social Media habits distract me from
genuine communion with God?
4. Do my Social Media habits mute the sporadic
leading of God’s Spirit in my life?
5. Do my Social Media habits preoccupy me with
the pursuit of worldly success?

50. 6. Do my Social Media habits disengage me from
the needs of the people around me?
7. Do my Social Media habits provide fuel for secret
sins or make me more comfortable accepting
behaviours or content that does not please God?
8. Does my language on Social Media build up
others I connect with?
9. Would it be beneficial to take an occasional
break from using Social Media?

52. THANKS

53. 12 Ways Your Phone
is Changing You
Tony Reinke —
ISBN: 1433552434