Social media has become one of the most powerful forces shaping our world today. From Facebook to WhatsApp, Instagram to TikTok, YouTube to Twitter, billions of people are connected every single day. Lives are influenced, ideas are shared, and entire cultures are being reshaped on these platforms. The church of Jesus Christ, which exists in the same world, is not untouched by this revolution. The gospel is being preached through live streams, souls are being reached through reels and short videos, and many testimonies have come from people who encountered God through a message online. At the same time, social media has introduced distractions, false teachings, and subtle temptations that are pulling many believers away from intimacy with Christ.
The question before us is simple but urgent: Is social media strengthening the church, or is it weakening her witness? Is it a blessing, or has it become a distraction? To answer this, we must look at the issue through the lens of scripture.
The Mission of the Church in a Changing World
When Jesus gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20, He commanded His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations.” That mandate has not changed. What has changed are the means of reaching the nations. In the first century, the apostles traveled by foot, by donkey, and by ship to spread the message. Paul wrote letters on papyrus that had to be carried physically across cities and churches. Those letters are now part of our New Testament. In a sense, Paul was using the most advanced communication tool available in his day to spread the gospel.
If Paul lived in the twenty-first century, it is not far-fetched to imagine him using social media to send encouragement to the churches. Instead of waiting weeks for letters to travel from Corinth to Galatia, he could have recorded a teaching on YouTube or written a long post on Facebook that would reach believers instantly. The point here is that the message of the church is eternal, but the tools of communication are always changing. The church must be wise enough to use the tools of her generation without losing the purity of her message.
The Blessing of Social Media for the Church
There is no doubt that social media has opened doors for the church that were unimaginable a generation ago. In Mark 16:15, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Through social media, that command can now be obeyed more literally than ever. A pastor in a small village can stream his message, and someone in another continent can hear the Word of life. A believer can post a verse or a testimony on their WhatsApp status, and a friend struggling with depression might find encouragement at just the right time.
The gospel has always spread fastest when God’s people embraced the tools available. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to speak in different tongues so that people from many nations could hear the gospel in their language. Today, translation apps and subtitles on videos allow the Word to cross language barriers instantly. The internet has become a modern “marketplace” like the one Paul entered in Athens (Acts 17:17), where he reasoned daily with whoever was present. If Paul could use the synagogue and the marketplace to preach, we can use Facebook and YouTube today.
Social media has also become a lifeline for those who cannot attend physical services—shut-ins, the sick, those in countries hostile to Christianity, or believers in remote locations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when churches worldwide were forced to close their doors, it was online platforms that kept worship alive. Sermons were streamed, prayer meetings were held on Zoom, and worship teams ministered through live broadcasts. In this way, technology became an instrument for the preservation of faith.
The Dangers and Distractions of Social Media
Yet, we cannot close our eyes to the dangers. The same platforms that carry the gospel also carry distractions, temptations, and false doctrines. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:4, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Today, anyone with an internet connection can declare themselves a prophet, teacher, or apostle. Many who are not grounded in scripture are swept away by teachings that sound spiritual but contradict the Word of God.
Social media also encourages a culture of performance and comparison. People showcase the best parts of their lives, while hiding their struggles. This creates pressure, envy, and sometimes despair. Even within the church, ministers may feel tempted to measure success by likes, views, and shares, rather than by faithfulness to God. But the Bible reminds us, “It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). God measures faithfulness, not popularity.
Another danger is distraction. Many Christians spend hours scrolling through endless feeds, watching videos, or engaging in arguments online, yet they struggle to spend fifteen minutes in prayer or reading the Bible. Jesus told Martha in Luke 10:41–42, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.” Social media has made many Marthas—busy, distracted, anxious—while robbing them of the Mary posture of sitting at Jesus’ feet.
And then there is the issue of sin being magnified online. Lust is fueled by images, anger is fueled by arguments, pride is fueled by self-promotion, and greed is fueled by endless advertisements. If a believer does not walk carefully, social media can become a snare that slowly hardens the heart. Paul’s warning in Ephesians 5:15–16 feels more urgent today than ever: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Biblical Wisdom for the Digital Age
The question then is not whether social media is good or evil. The real question is: How should Christians use it? Paul gives us a guiding principle in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This applies to our posts, our comments, our videos, and even the amount of time we spend online.
Believers must learn to use social media with intentionality. It should not consume us; it should be a servant, not a master. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “I have the right to do anything—but I will not be mastered by anything.” Social media must not master us. We must master it. That means setting boundaries. It means asking ourselves before posting: Does this glorify Christ? Does this build others? It means knowing when to log out so that our quiet time with God is not stolen.
Discernment is also critical. First John 4:1 warns: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” This means we do not accept every teaching we hear online. We test it against scripture. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 were called noble because they examined the scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true. If they examined even Paul, how much more must we examine what we see on TikTok or YouTube?
Finally, we must use social media as a lamp, not a mirror. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14–16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our social media presence should shine the light of Christ, not merely reflect our own image.
Examples from the Bible for Today’s Digital Believers
The Bible may not mention Facebook or WhatsApp, but it gives timeless lessons. Nehemiah faced distractions while rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. His enemies tried to lure him into endless discussions, but he replied in Nehemiah 6:3, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” In the same way, many believers must learn to say, “I cannot waste my time in endless scrolling. I am doing a great work for God.”
Paul, too, teaches us something important. His letters were the “social media” of his day—written messages circulated quickly among churches. But his focus was not to gain followers for himself, but to point people to Christ. In 2 Corinthians 4:5, he says, “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” The same should be our focus online: not to promote ourselves, but to lift up Christ.
A Call to the Church Today
The church cannot ignore social media, nor can she blindly embrace it without caution. We are called to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:15–16). That means we must be present online but distinct in our character. The church must train believers on how to use digital tools wisely. Pastors must remind their flock that discipleship cannot be outsourced to YouTube alone; personal prayer, Bible study, and fellowship are still irreplaceable.
If we use social media wisely, it can become one of the greatest evangelistic tools of our time. If we misuse it, it can quietly drain the church of her power, one distracted believer at a time. The choice belongs to us.
Conclusion
Social media is a double-edged sword. It can be a blessing, opening doors for evangelism, discipleship, and encouragement. But it can also be a distraction, leading to comparison, false teachings, wasted time, and even sin. The key is wisdom. The church must not run away from these platforms but must enter them as salt and light. Each believer must decide to glorify God with every post, every comment, and every video.
As Jesus said in John 9:4, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” Time is short. Let us use every opportunity—including social media—to shine the light of Christ. May the church in this digital age be found faithful, not distracted; intentional, not careless; and may her witness shine brighter than ever before.
Leave a comment