Social Media

Before I get started, I want to introduce you to a man named Herman Edwards.  He played and coached in the NFL for many years.  He's now a sports analyst and motivational speaker.  He was once speaking to a group of NFL rookies about social media and he said a button should be added to phones that says "don't press send".  It was his advice to those rookies before they posted something on social media.  I'd like to add one more thing to his advice and that's this, "THINK" before you post.  My daughter Alyssa brought this up one week in our Sunday morning Cornerstone group when we were discussing what comes out of our mouths and how hurtful words can be.  And not just our mouths, but what we put out there on social media.  There are many pieces of scripture about the tongue, which can also be related to social media posts.  Look them up, you'll be amazed and boy will they make you "THINK".  This is probably my favorite.  I suggest you stop reading now or after finishing this, go read James 3:5-12.  That will make you "THINK" before speaking.  Any way, before you post just "THINK".
T-is it True.
H-is it Helpful.
I-is it Inspiring
N-is it Necessary
K-is it Kind.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with John 3:16.  You sometimes see it on a big poster behind field goal posts at NFL or college games, or some guy with a multi-colored curly wig is holding up a sign with it on TV.  It's possibly the most quoted piece of scripture.  However, how many are familiar with John 3:17?  "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."  Here's one more to look at, the first half of Matthew 20:28, "just as the son of man came not be to served, but to serve."  Now what if we handled our social media life and postings like we are supposed to handle our life of faith and in Christ, putting others first, thinking about others first?  It's definitely something, I believe, worth looking into.    

So is our time spent with social media really social "ME"dia?  Is it all about ourselves?  How many likes or hits we can get.  How many comments we'll get, how many retweets and better yet, maybe it will go "viral".  So here's my suggestion, let's start making social MEdia less about ourselves and more about others.  Let's call it social WEdia and implement THINK before we post or hit send.  And let's not care about the self gratification we'll get, but be more concerned about our life on social media helping others, benefiting others and building others up!  Let's make our social media world a beacon of light for others to see.  A light so bright  that it can't be ignored.  I'm not saying we still can't have fun on social media and post goofy stuff, etc., but don't forget to also post the stuff that is helpful to others.  The stuff that's not beneficial by worldly standards or by instant gratification, but instead, the stuff that's eternally beneficial, both for others and for ourselves.  

So the next time you're ready to post, or hit send, or put something out there for all to see in a fit of anger or to be hurtful or judgmental, first THINK.  Then next, remember Jesus' life on this earth and why he came.  Is what your about to post serving others, helping others, or is it self serving?  I believe if we can be more focused on the needs of others and concern for everyone, as we post on our various social media outlets, we can not only change our own little corner of the world, but maybe, just maybe, do even more than that.  
​~Dave DiBernardi

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