Does Your Social Media Do Good to Everyone?

I was studying Scripture recently when a simple phrase caught my attention:

“Let us do good to everyone.”

Paul writes in Galatians 6:10:

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

I have read that verse many times. Usually, when I think about “doing good,” I think about actions. Helping someone who is struggling. Giving to someone in need. Encouraging a discouraged person. Serving a neighbor.

But this time another thought came to mind:

What about social media?

If I am commanded to do good to everyone, shouldn't that command affect what I post online too?

That question made me uncomfortable.

Our Words Are Actions Too

Social media has given every one of us something previous generations never had: an instant audience.

Within seconds, we can tell hundreds of people what we think.

We can tell them what made us angry.

We can complain about the restaurant that messed up our order.

We can criticize politicians.

We can complain about our jobs, our families, our churches, our neighbors, or the person who drove 45 mph in a 55 mph zone.

We can share an article because the headline confirms what we already believe without ever reading the article.

And sometimes we can say things through a screen that we would never say if the person were sitting across the table from us.

Yet Scripture does not give Christians one standard for face-to-face conversation and another standard for Facebook.

Paul writes:

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
— Ephesians 4:29

That verse gives us a remarkably good test for social media.

Does what I am about to post build people up?

Does it fit the occasion?

Does it give grace to the people who will read it?

If not, perhaps the best thing I can do is hit delete instead of post.

But What If My Opinion Is Right?

This may be where things get harder.

Christians are not commanded to have no opinions. Neither are we commanded to remain silent about truth.

There are times when Christians must speak clearly.

Jesus certainly did.

Paul certainly did.

The prophets certainly did.

But being right does not give me permission to be reckless with my words.

Paul tells believers:

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
— Colossians 4:6

Notice the word always.

That includes conversations with people who agree with us.

It includes conversations with people who disagree with us.

And yes, it includes social media.

The question for a Christian cannot simply be:

“Is what I am saying true?”

We should also ask:

“Am I saying what is true in a way that honors Christ?”

Truth and grace are not enemies.

What About Complaining?

This one may hit even closer to home.

Social media makes complaining incredibly easy. Something annoys us, and within thirty seconds everyone we know can hear about it.

But Scripture says:

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
— Philippians 2:14–15

Paul connects our refusal to grumble with our witness before the world.

That means my complaining isn't always merely “venting.”

People are watching.

They know I claim to follow Jesus.

And if my social media consists primarily of anger, criticism, outrage, complaints, and arguments, what picture of Christ am I presenting?

There is certainly a place for expressing grief, frustration, concern, and even righteous anger. Scripture itself contains lament.

But there is a difference between lamenting what is broken and developing a habit of complaining about everything.

Remember Who May Be Reading

This may be the part we forget most easily.

Your social media audience probably includes people who don't know Christ.

They may never walk into your church.

They may never listen to one of your sermons.

They may never attend a Bible study.

But they read your posts.

And whether we realize it or not, they are learning something about Christianity by watching Christians.

Jesus said:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
— John 13:35

That doesn't mean Christians never disagree.

It doesn't mean we compromise biblical truth.

It doesn't mean we affirm everything another person believes or does.

But it does mean that love should be recognizable in the way followers of Jesus treat people.

That includes people on the other side of a screen.

The Tongue Has Become a Keyboard

James wrote long before smartphones existed, but his warning about the tongue may be more relevant than ever:

“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire.”
— James 3:5–6

Today, perhaps we could add:

And sometimes that fire begins with a keyboard.

One angry sentence can be shared hundreds of times.

One careless accusation can damage someone's reputation.

One sarcastic comment can wound someone.

One post written in anger can remain online long after the emotion that produced it has disappeared.

James reminds us:

“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
— James 1:19

Maybe in the social-media age we could apply that principle this way:

Be quick to read.
Slow to type.
And even slower to hit “Post.”

Before You Post, Ask a Few Questions

Perhaps Galatians 6:10 gives us a different way to approach social media.

Before posting something, we might ask:

Is this doing good to the people who will read it?

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

Is it gracious?

Does it build up rather than simply tear down?

Am I posting because something needs to be said—or because I am angry and want everyone else to know it?

Would I say this the same way if the person I am talking about were sitting across from me?

And perhaps the most important question:

Does this make Jesus look more beautiful to the people watching my life?

That doesn't mean every post needs to contain a Bible verse.

Post the family pictures.

Tell the funny story.

Share the Vikings post—even if another disappointing season may provide plenty of opportunities to practice Philippians 2:14.

But underneath everything we do should be the realization that following Jesus doesn't stop when we open Facebook.

Paul said:

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
— Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do.

In word.

That certainly includes the words we type.

So maybe before we hit “Post,” “Share,” or “Comment,” we should remember that simple command that started this whole thought:

“Let us do good to everyone.”

Because the people on the other side of the screen are included in everyone.