The Social Media Christian

You ever really have one of those pet peeves that turns the inside of your stomach into a knot? Well for me, one of those gut wrenching annoyances is when I go onto social media and see someone I know post something "biblical" or "christian", and yet not even an hour later they post a status about how they were wasted off their minds last night. Hypocrite much?

This is an example of what I call: The Social Media Christian or SMC

My definition of a SMC is someone who uses social media platforms to share their superficial relationship with God in hopes of justifying their character and reputations that they made for themselves through their everyday actions and lifestyle.

Examples of these social media posts include: aesthetic Instagram posts of bible and coffee (cute mini plant-optional), trashy picture with a biblical quote, and even the "share if you love Jesus" Facebook posts.

Now don't get me wrong, all of these are great things to do IF your lifestyle backs it up. Too many times do I see people share a deep meaningful verse or lesson on social media, and then proceed to go off clubbing that same night. Like really?!

"Don't judge me" is what I usually hear when I confront someone with this wishy washy mentality. That single phrase in itself is a clear sign of a weak relationship with Christ and a lack of biblical knowledge. For the bible encourages us Christians to judge according to the word and to judge righteously. Meaning I can't say whether or not you are going to heaven or hell, but I can judge you on whether you are doing something against or for the word of God. That is what true unconditional love is (this whole concept needs a post of its own).

This being said, I myself am guilty of being a social media christian from time to time. Sometimes I look back through my feed and think to myself, "Am I really representing my newsfeed or am I just doing it for the likes?"

Being a social media christian and living a non christian lifestyle is like giving a paint job to a car without an engine. Sure it will look super good on the outside, but it won't take you anywhere. This type of hypocrisy will not further your relationship with God anymore than an engineless vehicle will get you out of your driveway. Why must we validate our christianity through social media? Is our sense of security in Christ so weak that we use the digital world as a foundation for our morality? These are the questions that we have to ask ourselves before posting that great selfie and throwing Jeremiah 29:11 as a caption.

The bible says that others will recognize the Jesus in our hearts through our actions and through our lifestyles. Mathew 7 also has a very clear and scary warning for those who live a sinful lifestyle and yet claim they are Christians; basically for those who are hypocrites.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Mathew 7:15-23)

That's scary

So I'll end with a prayer that we as young (and old) christians don't fall trap to the trend that is Social Media Christianity. Practice what we preach, live out our posts.