Should I have Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter? (For those over 35!)

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We all fall into one of two camps concerning social media: Love or Hate. It seems to reflect our age group. Over 45, we scoff at it. Under 45, we treasure it. I had to face some facts years ago. I checked out as a “loser” when it comes to handwriting letters to friends & mailing physical pictures to family. Now, I’m more connected to family & friends than ever before! 🙂

Is it possible social media can be a gift? Or is this just another distraction in living a life of simplicity?

Um -both are “YES”.

1. Good: Connecting with family/friends from all phases of your life!
Bad : It can turn into a silly & sometimes harmful schoolyard comparison game. For women, this is a consistent challenge to remember our identity and not float along with what the virtual world defines as beauty.

2. Good: The impact of a believer goes everywhere faster than you can say “post”! There are those who are not interested in attending church but will read through your post about your faith.
Bad: Like any ministry, you can’t weigh your worth by your “likes”. The minute this occurs, you battle exalting self and minimizing impact! Ask God to keep your heart focused on being His vessel and not a media pseudo-celebrity .

3. Good: Social media can bring color into lives, open minds to new ideas, & foster the sense of being “with” others.
Bad: Like any gift, we can forget the Giver. Though virtually active “with” people on line , we stay unfulfilled if our relationships with God and people are not cherished.

4. Good: In a world of pain, it can be a welcome balm to our souls. A “pushing pause” on our struggles.
Bad: It can cause us to check out of reality & relationships & move quickly to addiction. Social media (maybe all media?) addiction is real and is for all of us a serious problem. I have to discipline myself and put my phone in another room for a couple hours at a time. Make time with friends a time of putting phones in a central location so you can enjoy your people!

Bottom Line: Many of us “older” believers tend to toss out the baby with the bathwater. We are legalistic in our pride or “not being with the world”. On the other hand, many “younger” friends can become so saturated with the tech world, they truly cannot live without it.

Let’s walk in virtual health-staying in the Word, staying accountable to others, and staying in the game of present physical relationships.

Let’s thank God for this amazing gift of social media & allow it to draw us near to Him.

The Master of Ideas has given all inventions to man to be enjoyed and used for the benefit of others. Go ahead …search, scroll, like, follow, tweet, & post all within the context of leaning into Him.

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