Advice for posting on social media

Phillip Foster Oct. 8, 2020

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Recently, a younger man whom I had previously mentored sought my counsel as he felt called to do something about this "divided country of ours," and to do so through social media.

I happened to be studying the Beatitudes at the time, and realized they were very apropos for someone who wants to post on social media. Unfortunately, my friend didn't heed my advice. Maybe others will!

We need to start with humility (becoming poor in spirit). Some individuals post as if they are experts and if you don't like their posts, you're an idiot, you're wrong, you're not an American, not a Christian, etc. My friend insisted, without citing any source that over 50% of the people would agree with him.

If you're going to express an opinion, state it as such, otherwise offer to share your sources. Avoid coming across as arrogant or rude (I Cor. 13:4). Don't speak in a condescending manner and lose your audience or, worse yet, cause a fight (especially if you are interacting with other Christians).

Blessed are those who mourn. Write as though you actually care about the people you're posting about. This is not a time for blaming, name-calling, or mud-slinging. I suggested to my friend, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." He didn't agree with me although I pointed out Jesus had called us to be light.

You may feel strongly, but restrain yourself to the extent that the Lord is able to accomplish His will through you. The word meek in the Greek referred to the wild horse that had been trained to submit to its rider in order to be useful in battle. Be assertive, but not aggressive.

This is not to discourage you. Francis Schaeffer wrote, "Truth carries with it confrontation. Truth demands confrontation, loving confrontation (merciful), but confrontation nevertheless."

In posting, remember your objective. We should hunger and thirst after righteousness. Someone has said, "Argue to find truth, not to win." We want to be a part of the good God is trying to accomplish and not an impediment to it.

Let your motives be pure. As this is nearly impossible for the majority of us, ask yourself if you ought to be posting in the first place. What is your motivation? My friend felt his was a calling. When he asked for suggestions, I recommended he read Os Guiness' The Call or Henri Nouwen's In the Name of Jesus. Nouwen makes the point that we need to be led and I believe this is especially true in this arena.

Many who post seem to want to pick a fight. They make controversial statements, inviting others to share their opinions, then pounce on them with criticism of their positions, their person, and even their relationship with Christ, as though He had made them both judge and juror. Paul wrote, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (Rom. 12:18, NASB)."

While these rules may be restrictive, I agree with Francis Schaeffer, who wrote, "One of the greatest injustices we do to our young people is to ask them to be conservative. Christianity is not conservative, but revolutionary." I don't believe he was taking a political position, but suggesting that we do need to take positions, that we do attempt to speak truth, that we do be confrontational, in order to bring about godly change.

If you do so, expect that in taking a stand for what is right, you will be persecuted. The word here literally means there will be those who want to suppress what you have to say, your convictions, in a hostile way, so as to put an end to you and your message. When that happens, rejoice, for that is the way it has always been for those who have prophetically shared the Good News.

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Phillip A. Foster, Ph.D., as a psychologist and Director of AuthenticQuest.org, provides spiritual direction, counseling, training and consulting, to those in ministry or other roles of leadership in the church. He is the author of Here's My Heart, Lord; Parent With an Attitude, and Not Good Enough. Learn More »

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