3.11.2026
Back in the dark ages, when I was at the University of Alabama, my teacher congratulated us for choosing communications as our major. “The future will belong to communications,” he told us. “As technology progresses, our computers will get smaller and smaller. They will combine with mobile phones and will eventually fit into the palms of our hands.”
I distinctly remember thinking, “Good grief. Who would want that?”
But here we are! Some 40 years later and almost all of the world’s knowledge (except, according to some, whatever is hidden in the Vatican archives) is at our fingertips through our phones and computers. In some ways, that’s good. In others . . . maybe not.
I know I take potshots at social media from time to time, so I thought I should go ahead and address some concerns that I have a little more fully.
First, my self-worth is rooted in Christ and not in how many likes my post gets. I have a young friend who spends half of his life in the Slough of Despond when people don’t respond to his Instagram posts. Don’t get your validation from likes. Most people scroll and click with no real investment in true friendship . . . you know, just like you do. Find your validation in loving God and loving others.
Second, be skeptical of everything you see on social media and don’t get all your news from just one source. This is a biggie. When you watch, like, and/or share a video, the algorithm makes certain you get more of the same type of content. It wants to keep you scrolling and sharing. And not only that, but if you watch, like, and/or share one political party’s videos, your algorithm will make sure that’s all you see, AND it will only present you with the worst possible images of the other party. You’ll end up thinking that everyone who thinks differently than you is a complete idiot (which they may be, but don’t let Twitter or FaceBook make that decision for you).
Remember that sin divides; Christ unites!
A major way these platforms make money is by keeping us angry and hating. That passion you feel makes you want to scroll more, and the more you scroll and the more vitriolic videos you watch, the more revenue they make. AND, on a related note, have you noticed that the more you talk about something, the more your phone picks up on it and incorporates that into your algorithm – and you start getting ads for stuff you never actually looked up.
I follow people on all sides of the political spectrum for balance. Sometimes I end up having to do some digging in order to make a decision, but that’s the price of being informed. And it’s better than being handed my opinion by some influencer or some talking-head on whatever news network.
A good dose of skepticism is healthy, especially now with instant, 24 hour news reporting. Here’s something I learned a long time ago. Whenever I hear a story, especially a political story or a scandal, I always say “Maybe.” Maybe it happened; maybe it didn’t. Maybe it means what they say it means, maybe it doesn’t. Don’t react immediately. Give it time for the truth to come out.
Third, please, please, PLEASE! Don’t get your theology from TikTok. To be honest, there are some good theologians on TikTok, but they are completely outnumbered by the numb-skulls who repeat false ideas that have been debunked for centuries. If someone has the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other . . . RUN!
And it doesn’t have to be something in the Bible. Here’s a great example that is tied up with Iran, Epstein and Aliens: I keep seeing posts and getting questions like this: “When did they take the book of Enoch out of the Bible?”
It was never in the Bible. It’s fan-fiction based on obscure verses in Genesis 5 & 6. The book of Enoch is actually a compilation of at least 5 separate books that were started around 300 years before Jesus was born and finished up around 70 years after his resurrection. In its pages, people think they see aliens (the Nephilim), and Iran and Epstein (endtime prophecies) AND THEY ARE NOT THERE.
I have a copy of it, if you really think you need to read it. Just make sure you’re in a comfortable spot so you won’t hurt yourself when you fall asleep. As Mark Twain said of the Book of Mormon, “It is chloroform in print.” I promise you, you won’t miss anything if you never read it. It was never taken out of the Bible because it was never part of the Bible (now, yes, it is quoted in Jude, but that doesn’t mean that because it was known and read in New Testament times that it is scripture in any way. Paul quoted Aratus, Epimedides and Meandar, pagan writers; they certainly were not holy scripture!).
Well, that was a lot of negativity (and there’s still a lot more I could be negative about) so let me give you some positive uses for social media.
Post about Jesus. Post about Christ Church.
In the cesspool of garbage that makes up so much social media, plant a flower. You know manure grows some mighty fine flowers. And tomatoes.
At Christ Church, we’re all about being a blessing and letting good works point others to Christ — if you’re wondering how to do it, your posts on social media are great ways to start.
I mean, you already post about your children or grandchildren or some meal you’ve eaten or a trip you’ve been on, so you know how to post. Now, post something that blesses others: our memory verse, something from last week’s sermon, our mission project, our Holy Week schedule, or just anything from our newsletter or bulletin (like this Pastor’s Note – always feel free to copy and paste it in your favorite social media. It’ll only take a second – just like hitting “like” as you scroll).
Social media is redeemable. We just have to make certain we control it and it doesn’t control us! Go plant some flowers! Or tomatoes!
Blessings,
Pastor Terry