Sorry About the Language, But . . .

I saw social media content that either had an advisory or didn’t. I don’t remember the details (since I didn’t watch these videos). There were advisories about: graphic photos, bad language, crude language, etc. and a few posts showed a photo of an adult in some state of undress. They are my social media friends. As far as I know, they're good people.

I didn’t turn on their videos and look at their graphic displays. I did not listen to offensive language. I’m sorry I had to see some of their photos.

This isn't a rant. I’m not angry. I am, though, a little bit concerned. I’m also questioning.

Social media can be used to inform. It can be used for good. I am fine with you if you differ in your opinions, vote for someone else, or like forms of entertainment that I don’t enjoy. Each person is entitled to what he likes and doesn’t. I don’t mind a protest. In fact, each person may protest all he wants. He has a right to do so; it's freedom of speech.

So, maybe this is my own little protest. It’s about my own preference. 

My opinion is—you were warned!—that when a person who calls himself Christian posts something on social media, it reflects in some way who he is as a Christian. If he posts something with filthy language in it, that content forms part of the person’s branding. It reflects who he is because he posted it. No, he didn’t say the words himself, and he may even be trying to show how the person who said it is wrong, but the Christian is exposing his friends to his post. Therefore, he's spreading the foul language by quoting it. He's spreading graphic and hate scenes by posting them. If a Christian posts a partially naked person, doesn't this also reflect back on him?

If a Christian puts graphic scenes on his feed, does this mean he is okay with them? (I’m not referring to anti-abortion rhetoric, just so we understand each other. I’m talking about gore, accident pictures, and war photos, even photos from a Hollywood film about Jesus that's gratuitously gory.) 

Maybe I’m the only one that doesn’t want to see blood and gore on Facebook? Maybe I’m overly sensitive to the family who lost their loved one(s) in such a horrible way. These scenes rip my heart out. Maybe it’s just me . . . .

When you put car accidents on my feed, I check to make sure my elderly parents are okay. When you talk about murders in an area where I have family, I do the same thing. Am I alone?

I’d like to propose an alternative way to use social media:

1. Use it to encourage others. Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad (Proverbs 12:25).
2. Use it to make people smile. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22a). I like your laughing babies, cute puppies, and clean jokes.
3. Use it to promote good. (If you want to expose evil, fine, but do it in a clean-spoken way.) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile (1Peter 3:10).
4. Use it to spread the gospel. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Matthew 16:15).
5. Use it to inspire. Post meaningful quotations, wholesome stories, true stories about people who inspire others.
6. Use it to share Scriptures with your friends. . . . the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (from 1 Peter 1:23).

On social media, I hope we’re actually encouraging our friends to think about whatsoever things are true . . . honest . . . just . . . pure . . . lovely . . . of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (from Philippians 4:8).

May we impact our world for Christ together!