This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Rooted – Grounded in Grace (CLICK HERE)
The purpose of this devotion this morning isn’t to unduly bash social media or tech companies that run them. I am not professing to be an expert in the algorithms and how they work, however, here’s what I have discovered.
Social media algorithms very quickly and readily feed you information that supports your search record, your viewing record and yes, even the conversations you have around your phone. These meme’s, reels, and posts suggest more content that follows what you were viewing and listening to. The result? You have more inputs that solidify an idea or thought you were already having.
And if you don’t like the content of a post? You can tell your feed to snooze it for 30 days or to eliminate the content altogether.
To be sure, social media is not intended to be the end source of all your information, let alone the sole guide to your spiritual life and growth in faith. But without other inputs, the feed on your phone can give you information, teaching and thoughts that mold your beliefs and eliminate anything that would challenge that.
Is that healthy?
It might “work for you” but with eternal life in the balance and the will and Word of God so important, do you really want Mark Zuckerberg and others feeding your faith?
The value of being part of a sound, Bible-teaching church is that you provide yourself the accountability of other Christian friends and a pastor who, God-willing, are also grounding themselves in the Word of God and allowing the Spirit of God through that Word to challenge, mold, and solidify the teaching that truly is the path to eternal life.
The challenge of surrounding ourselves with only things that we want to hear is not new to the 21st Century Christian. Consider what Paul encouraged Pastor Timothy to be aware of in 2 Timothy 4:1- In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
We need to be part of a church, a gathering of biblical Christians to protect us from surrounding ourselves with teacher that just say what we want them to say. We need the sound teaching of biblical truth to address the sin in our life and point us to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. We need the community of believers to provide godly accountability so all of our faith and life is molded by the Word of God.
Why do we need Christian relationships? We need Christian relationships to provide biblical soundboards to counter secular soundbites.
Apply: We all get comfortable in our beliefs. When is the last time you were actively part of a Bible Study at your church? If recently…great, do it more. If it’s been a long time, let me encourage you to join one and let your beliefs be molded by the Word of God!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for Christian relationships and the accountability they bring to keep me close to you and your truth. Lead me to be actively engaged in your church and always allow my beliefs to be molded by you and your word through the people you put around me. AMEN.