Facebook and Instagram are the world’s most popular social networking websites. One of the features of these sites is the ability to ‘like’ something that has been posted there by another user. Typically, to ‘like’ something means that you find it funny, or agree with what is being said. It is a way of indicating that you appreciate it in some way – that you are a fan of it – that you just ‘like’ it.
Unfortunately, there are frequent examples of Christians ‘liking’ things that should actually repulse them. For example:
· Someone posts an inappropriate picture of themselves in immodest clothing – yet several of their ‘friends’ and ‘followers’ will indicate that they ‘like’ this.
· Another discusses some recent immoral behavior – effectively boasting about the sinful thing that has been done – and his social media buddies nod their approval with a thoughtless ‘like’.
· Often people will reference some risqué movie, an ungodly television show, or a worldly concert or performance. They suggest that they really enjoyed it and recommend it to others – and many are quick to ‘like’ this, too.
In all of these things and more, we need to be reminded that God’s Word says we should “not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them,” and warns us that “it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them” (Ephesians 5:11,12). Surely, this is the polar opposite of ‘liking’ such things.
And, one more thing to consider – increasingly we are hearing of certain brethren who are posting questionable and erroneous doctrinal statements on their social media sites. Or, they may ‘link’ to some article or comments by a religious false teacher. They endorse this, and their ‘friends’ ‘like’ it as well. But the Scriptures teach us that we should not “bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 10,11)
Be careful about your influence and example before you ‘like’ something on social media. Think!
– by Greg Gwin