Will Following Social Media Trends Constitute Idolatry?

Is Following Trends on Social Media a Form of Idolatry?

Every morning, Alexa wakes me up and tells me it’s time to start the day. I wish I could be like the ladies of Proverbs 31 and spring out of bed ready to take on the day with a dazzling grin on my face and a sprightly attitude, but alas, that is not typically the case. It’s true that the aroma of coffee makes my mouth water, but it just gives me enough strength to turn over and beg for five more minutes of sleep.

Now that the school morning rush has begun, I realize that the aimless scrolling I did in front of the computer till midnight is to blame for my lack of motivation. In a manner typical of robots, of course. Sigh. Just as I start to become angry with myself for being up so late, the screen beckons to me once again. Warning messages flash brightly in its cold light, daring me to take a peek. I cave, as you probably expected.

Check. Scroll. Publish and provide feedback. Don’t forget to double-check. By this time, most youngsters haven’t had breakfast and are fighting over a hairbrush as they scurry to get ready for school. The combination of the background commotion at home and the “noise” I’ve chosen to immerse myself in on my portable media player has only served to increase my level of annoyance. That reminds me, I need to go listen to some current radio hits and discover a new popular tune. I must! If I don’t change that, I’ll get five views and zero likes.

It’s shameful, but I’ll confess that social media has already graced my presence and poisoned my time before I even pick up my Bible or open a Bible app. Possibly you can identify.

Terrible old social media battles. We’re all social beings at heart, after all. Every one of us craves acceptance, acclaim, and comprehension. In addition to being in our genes, social media also pays for itself. The greatest way to connect with others and build a sense of community may not be via these channels, but they do have their advantages. This is why we convince ourselves again and over that we will keep time logs and “impose” limits. That is, until the next “ding” demands our immediate attention. Argh!

If you’re a content creator who uses social media to reach an audience and promote your work, you’re probably well aware of the mental and emotional games social media can play, as well as the trends you need to monitor (thanks to social media’s ever-shifting algorithm) to remain “present” and in the eyes of your target audience. Putting in a lot of work while sitting at a desk might be exhausting.

For me, as a writer, social media provides a platform where I can spread encouraging messages, give people reason to have faith, and build meaningful relationships. But I keep having the same problems. Despite our best intentions, there are times when our lives become unbalanced because of our preoccupation with various online platforms.

Be careful to keep your emotions in check.

My friend, I am only skimming the surface and trying to give this issue a little bit of justice, but there is a lot of meat on the bone. So, if you take away nothing else from this piece, may this Truth be the one you carry with you today.

Scripture in Philippians 4:7-8 reads, “Your hearts and minds will be protected in Christ Jesus by God’s peace, which surpasses all human understanding. To sum up, my dearly beloved brothers and sisters, reflect on the following: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy, think on such things.”

As Christians, we may rest easy knowing that God is keeping our emotions under control. He protects us. The truth is, however, that we have some say over the things we decide to do and, yes, even the compulsions that drive us. In light of the fact that we are ordered to take personal responsibility for our thoughts, we should actively seek to dwell on what is good, pure, attractive, and right in God’s sight.

Our pursuit of social media fads begs the question: is it possible to return our attention to more fundamental concerns?

I think there are two parts to the solution. Or, we might open our hearts to the true Creator and ask for wisdom to know how to utilize material to present a message that brings glory to Him, rather of getting lost down rabbit holes searching for the ideal reel concept to be noticed (getting caught up in self). The decision is yours to make.

In reality, social media will forever be vying for our focus, stealing our time and energy while turning us against ourselves. But if we concentrate our energies, we can use it to our advantage, finding ways to disseminate truth and light in a world awash in deception and darkness.

There are positives and negatives to using social media.

You should first understand that use social media is not inherently harmful. It is our responsibility as Christians to share the gospel with others (Matthew 28:19). In the same way that Jesus taught to enormous audiences, we may now reach an audience via the use of social media. An wide audience with which to spread His word.

Keep in mind, however, that there will be difficulties if we utilize social media to communicate the Truth cloaked in love and compassion. The response will likely be negative. In one form or another, it will occur. Why? Because bad guys are constantly looking for somebody to attack (1Peter 5:8). Keep in mind that even the ones who claimed to love Jesus the most were unable to save Him from being persecuted (Luke 23:11, Mark 14:65, Isaiah 53:3).

If we take the time to learn about the many facets of social media, we may be able to perceive it as a positive tool; but, this will need deliberate action on our part.

Listed below are some of social media’s positive aspects.

It’s possible to reach out to many people, including those who don’t believe in the gospel.

Make use of your imagination and explore your artistic side.

Spreading the message of leading others to Christ requires networking and interacting with individuals who share the same values.

You can learn a lot from other people, including some cool and original ways to have fun.

Inspiration and optimism may be found if you only know where to search.

The Negatives

Intense use is likely to lead to dependency.

When you aren’t purposeful with your time, it might cause issues.

You’re always trying to keep up with the ever-changing algorithms.

Self-interest, rather than the objective of sharing Christ’s love, is often the emphasis of believers.

It’s simple to misinterpret posts and user comments.

The Ugly Side, too, of Course

It’s a slippery slope to unfavorable comparing.

Depending on our egos, we may put too much stock in our number of “likes” and “comments,” which may have a negative impact on our mental health.

Anxiety and despair are only two of the side effects that might result from being constantly connected to the internet.

There is a shadowy side that waits in the shadows, and if we let it out, it will flood our minds with poisonous ideas and pictures.

Set Limits and Guard Your Heart

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are presently utilizing social media and chasing trends to spread your message, product, or mission:

• Adhere to the principle of punctuality. Try not to rely too much on social media and instead utilize it consciously. Put it down if it interferes with spending time with your loved ones.
• Pray before sharing your thoughts online. Never stop using your judgment.
• Ask yourself, “Does the music or topic match up with how God views myself or others?” before you’re going to share.
• Instead of basing your self-worth on the amount of likes or views you get, seek confirmation and validation in the words of the Bible (Galatians 1:10).
• Pick your friends and followers carefully. If current trends or media make you feel uneasy because they deviate from the Truth, you should abandon them.
• Following fashion as such is not a kind of worship. A good thing may become a bad thing, an idol even, if it comes to dominate our lives to the exclusion of all else. Putting God first should be your first priority at all times. Tell Him about your motivations and how they inform your work on these sites. Then, wait for God’s timing and guidance before speaking.