{"id":31239,"date":"2022-09-10T15:22:30","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/6-dangerous-social-media-habits-for-pastors-to-avoid\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:22:30","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:22:30","slug":"6-dangerous-social-media-habits-for-pastors-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/6-dangerous-social-media-habits-for-pastors-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Dangerous Social Media Habits for Pastors to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
dole777 photo – Unsplash<\/div>\n

By Daniel Darling<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 And he\u2019s a pastor!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

I hear this phrase almost every week about a pastor\u2019s online activity\u2014namely, their treatment toward another human being through harsh speech. It\u2019s almost as if we get behind a keyboard or touchscreen and forget our calling as heralds of God\u2019s Word, shepherds of God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n

Today there are many ways for pastors to disqualify\u2014or at least embarrass\u2014themselves, but few are as easy and fatal as social media. One friend of mine remarked recently that before looking for a church, Christians should check a pastor\u2019s social media feed. That\u2019s good advice.<\/p>\n

Pastors\u2014particularly when we have that label in our social media bio\u2014can make or break the opinion of seekers or cynics when it comes to representing Christ well in our interactions. And a pastor who displays a critical spirit or ill will toward those not in their tribe can quickly discourage other believers on Twitter.<\/p>\n

So what are some critical mistakes pastors can make on social media? Here are six of the most common ones we should avoid.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

1. Pretending to be a conservative news pundit <\/strong><\/h3>\n

You might be conservative in your politics. And though we might use our platforms to speak out on important issues, we can send the wrong message if every single tweet or Facebook post is talking points from right-wing media.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, pastors sometimes ape the tone of some of the most partisan commentators in ways that communicate a lack of Christian kindness and civility. Speak out, but remember, you\u2019re a pastor, not a pundit. <\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Pretending to be a liberal news pundit<\/strong><\/h3>\n

OK, maybe you\u2019re the pastor who’s determined not<\/em> to be a right-leaning news pundit. Good. But being the anti-conservative critic of everything conservative is a bad look as well.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to speak out on issues and be prophetic against troubling issues among evangelicals. But doing this nonstop online and doing it in a condescending way can alienate the people we’re called to serve.<\/p>\n

So be wise. Be prophetic. But again: Remember you\u2019re a shepherd and not a pundit. <\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Being a troll<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m distressed by the number of pastors online who are just constantly dogging other Christians, writing up half-truths and leveling accusations against well-known Christians.<\/p>\n

We need discernment and public polemics against false teaching, but there\u2019s a difference between a winsome, tearful rebuke and engaging in the kind of behavior Paul tells Timothy is disqualifying for Christian leaders: \u201cnot a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome\u201d (1 Timothy 3:3).<\/p>\n

4. Endorsing questionable teachings or teachers<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I want to be careful here, because some who fit the previous category would consider anyone who doesn\u2019t agree with them to be a false teacher. And yet there are heretical teachings and unbiblical ideas pastors shouldn\u2019t only avoid endorsing, but should warn their people against.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
See also  Is It \u2018Ministry Failure\u2019 To See a Counselor?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

We often forget that when we’re online, we\u2019re still in public. People are reading, listening, and watching. What we give our full-throated endorsement to can often lead folks to confusion.<\/p>\n

We need to be wise and practice discernment.<\/p>\n

5. Being a jerk<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I don\u2019t really know a kinder way to say this, but pastors who act like jerks online are putting their ministry at risk. What\u2019s more, they\u2019re dishonoring the name of Christ in doing so. Pastors who act like jerks online are opening up a window into what kind of leader they might be and are potentially turning off those who might be interested in visiting their church.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not enough to chalk it up to \u201cHe\u2019s a bit over the top on social.\u201d It\u2019s good and right for pastors to engage on social media, to speak out on important issues, and to share scriptural truths.<\/p>\n

But pastors should do this with the same care they would if they were speaking to a public gathering of their own congregation. James 3 reminds us of the sober responsibility of Bible teachers and the weight of our words. They can either bring life or bring death.<\/p>\n

6. Passing on misleading or incomplete information<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m amazed at how often pastors will post or share articles that are often misleading, especially if they confirm biases. James 1:19 says we should be \u201cslow to speak,\u201d and Philippians 4:8 says we should pursue the truth.<\/p>\n

It would be better to hold off on that post and wait to make sure we\u2019ve got the story right before we post something that may advance a narrative that isn\u2019t true. If we\u2019re tasked with handling the truth of the Word of God, we shouldn\u2019t be flippant about distinguishing between what’s true and what’s fake news online.<\/p>\n

Remember, pastor: Before they come to your church, they might come to your timeline. We must steward our words well. But before we can do that, we must ask the Lord to search our hearts.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Daniel Darling<\/h2>\n

@dandarling<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Dan is the director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Seminary. He is the bestselling author of several books, including The Characters of Christmas<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n