What Would Jesus Post?

“All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, 
except on our prayer lists.”  D.A. Carson
 

  Though his worldview leaves much to be desired, Comedian Louis CK, tells fans he meets in public that he won’t take a picture with them, but he will talk to them. Some people are satisfied, but many walk away angry and frustrated. For many it’s because they weren’t after the opportunity to meet Louis—they wanted to be able to show people they met Louis. 

  The phrase “What would Jesus do”?, often abbreviated to WWJD, became popular particularly in the United States in the late 1800s in response to the widely read book by Pastor Charles Sheldon, In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? The phrase had a resurgence in the 1990s as a personal motto for many Christians who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in biblical values and the moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through actions of the adherents. In popular consciousness, the acronym signifying that question—WWJD—is associated with a type of bracelet or wristband which became a popular accessory for many believers, particularly young people.

  Maybe it’s time to blow the dust off of WWJD yet make it WWJP? – What Would Jesus Post? Matthew 12:36 reminds us that God is listening and someday we will give account for every word, which would include even words posted on social media. As Christians, we represent Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 reminds us, “we are ambassadors for Christ.” As believers, what we say and do on social media matters.

  While many Christians carry themselves with kindness and grace at church, once they tap that social media app they transform from kind Dr. Jekyll to evil Mr. Hyde. In the cyber world of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tik-Tok, Jesus Christ can disappear from our lives. Yet, for believers, all of life should be centered around Christ, making His name great and honoring Him. Here are some things to consider:

  Be cautious about self-elevation. Pride is an evil, yet subtle sin. Glorifying and drawing attention to self is one of humanity’s oldest sins. Adam and Eve fell prey to the serpent’s lies, desiring to elevate themselves and to be “like God.” The same serpent is quietly hissing in our ears today. Avoid the temptation to use social media as an avenue to make yourself look great because only God is truly great (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Be cautious even about “spiritual bragging.” Things like how much you’re reading your Bible, praying or serving the Lord. The sin of pride is very subtle.

  Continually celebrate God’s goodness! Rejoice and celebrate a friend’s birthday. That friend is a gift from God to you. If you could jump up and down on social media, jump up and down over the birth of a baby or grandchild. And please go crazy over wedding anniversaries. In a day of rampant divorce where the typical U.S. marriage lasts only eight years and where cohabitation is accepted as “normal,” wedding anniversaries should be celebrated. It encourages others that God’s blueprint really is best!

  A healthy dose of real is a good thing. While no one wants to see a sink filled with dirty dishes, be cautious about acting like you have it all together. None of us do. We tend to only share the photo of our family smiling perfectly, but wouldn’t want the world to know that in order to get the picture we screamed at our kids or bribed them with ice cream. We share pictures of perfect families, perfect homes, and perfect lives and feel the need to continually share little snapshots of “perfect,” yet we know it’s all a sham.

  Christ didn’t die on the cross for us because we’re perfect. He died for us because we’re one big mess. So have the courage to share some reality. It’s okay to share photos of crying kids. Laugh at your own cooking failure or home maintenance fiasco that now needs to be repaired and countless other big “F’s” from your life. As ambassadors for truth, being trustworthy is more valuable than being attractive.

  Speak out for biblical truth, yet avoid being partisan. Both parties are made up of sinners and have their foibles. Wise were the words of President Abraham Lincoln: “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” Politics are a serious distraction from the gospel and the Great Commission. For example, it appears to me that neither side truly cares for the poor, the immigrant, or the disenfranchised – the very ones God’s Word continually commands us to care for. So please stay with clear biblical values and avoid blind partisan loyalty. We are to be Kingdom people, not political animals.

  Be positive and encouraging. Sadly, there’s far more bad news than good on social media and Christians can easily tap into that. To chronically be negative fails to share words that build up (Ephesians 4:29). There is a lot of good and beauty in this world and we’re to focus on it (Philippians 4:8). Too many Christians are known for what they’re against rather than what they’re for. Too many seem consumed with outrage. While some battles are worth fighting, in reality, most won’t care about these controversies after a few weeks have passed. As Christians, we’d be better off representing our Savior with dignity and charity than having a meltdown over the headline of the day. With our social media accounts, we need to share truth, beauty, and goodness, after all, this is our Father’s world!

  Commit to being Christlike. Jesus said that a lost world will know we’re His disciples by our love for one another. Being kind and gracious honors our Lord. He didn’t call us to “win” because He’s already won. He does call us to live in a way so no one questions whether we truly know Him and are Christ-followers.

  Most Christians are more concerned about social media censorship than they are about how social media is shaping our hearts and what we’re communicating about our faith. Too few Christians are concerned about social media discipleship. We’re more interested in the ways we can form the world than we are in the ways the world is forming us. That’s not to say social media/internet censorship isn’t a problem. It is. Yet, as Christians, we are too often more interested in protecting our expression than we are the condition of our own hearts. The bottom line is: Would someone want to be a Christian if they saw your social media posts? 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.