Right now, we are living in some crazy times. Scary, yes, but also pretty crazy, at least from a worldly perspective. However, the thing that has me baffled the most, and this is more aimed at the Christian world than the world at large, is the obscene amount of time many people spend on social media (I’m guilty here as well).
Social media was something that was created, beginning with Facebook (I think) as a way to connect with those around you. Initially, Facebook was created for college students and to connect with those at your school. However, that expanded and has behemothed into the juggernaut that it is today, with over two-billion active monthly users. The amount of collective time that those two-billion plus people spend on borders on insanity. And, with the pandemic of COVID-19 still surging along, I doubt the time will ever dwindle.
However, when I look through the “Christian” side of social media, the amount of time spent on there is overwhelming from my point of view. I know that there are many healthy ministries and ministers that spend time on social media, and they reach people all to the glory of God, and there is nothing wrong with that. My issue comes when it seems like places such as Facebook and Twitter (and others) become more visited than homes, families, friends, and loved ones. When some people desire to follow an argument regarding competing theological view points, or fan the flames of the latest scandal going on in or around the church, people need to step back and redeem their time spent on social media.
I know that not everyone can do this, as there are places that are completely locked down, however, I believe the majority of the Body of Christ can, and should, redeem some of their time. There are plenty of ways that this can be done:
- Go visit someone from your church. A visit might be sitting in the living room, or talking through a cracked-open living room window, depending on where you are. However, sometimes just seeing a physical person’s face can be greatly encouraging.
- Make a phone call. Yes, I am encouraging you to talk with your voice and not with your fingers (texting) all the time. There are plenty of believers who don’t text and would love to talk on the phone. I relish the time I have with several saints who, due to one reason or another, only get visits via the phone. I know they do, as well.
- Invite someone out to breakfast, lunch, coffee, to go on a walk, etc. Again, there are many places where this might not be possible (Outdoor dining in the north, during winter…no thanks!). However, sometimes this time of fellowship is invaluable for a person’s mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.
- Write a person a letter. Notice that I used the word “write”, and I don’t mean “type”. I love getting mail, like written, physical mail. I always have and always will. I try to regularly write short notes of encouragement to the body of Christ at the church I pastor. I probably don’t do it enough, but I enjoy writing letters just as much as I do receiving letters.
- Find a way to serve those around you. Right now, whether you realize it or not, Christians have a plethora of ways to serve those in their communities. Whether it be grocery shopping for the elderly or yard maintenance for a single mother, there are many opportunities that are almost knocking on the door, and we must not ignore them.
This list is not an exhaustive list, and I think that we could find many other ways in which to redeem your time.
Whatever the way it is that you find out to be able to redeem your time from social media, I implore you to do so, all to the glory of God! Now, I am not saying to never get on social media (though, that is an option), we must intentionally make sure that we are not spending too much, or all, of our time in those places. Be present in your life and in the lives of those around you, and do so not just through social media.