Just this Sunday my pastor urged caution to people using social media. He reminded us all that words said on social media, like words said in person, are permanent. On the heels of that cautionary reminder I read an article by Thom Rainer entitled “Seven Warnings for Church Leaders Who Use Social Media.”

Rainer is an expert in church growth and health with Lifeway, an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Rainer has spent several decades learning about what helps a church grow, and what causes churches to die. He is the first to say that utilizing social media is a must for any pastor and church in our culture. Rainer readily admits that the lack of social media use, even the fear of it, contributes to the closing of churches each and every day.

So Rainer is not against social media by any stretch of the imagination. But he is wise in his counsel on how to properly use social media. Rainer writes:

“Those of you who read my blog or listen to my podcasts know I am a strong proponent of Christian leaders utilizing social media. I have seen so many good things take place on the various platforms available. I have seen the gospel clearly shared and embraced on social media. But social media is a two-edged sword. It can be used for good or great harm. And it can harm the ministries of those in Christian leadership.”

Rainer is right. More than one pastor or Christian leader has ended up in hot water because of comments made on social media. Look no further than controversy surrounding Mars Hill Church founding pastor Mark Driscoll as a result of comments he made on social media as an example.

Like anything, social media is a tool. How we use this tool will determine the worth of social media in our ministry. If we fear social media and refuse to utilize it we will lose ground to those more skilled that utilize this powerful tool. That’s an obvious problem; especially for any church wanting to reach millennials and other younger generations. But if we don’t use the tool wisely, rather than helping to build our church up it will only serve to damage it.

So how can we utilize social media wisely in a way that will reach unbelievers with the Gospel and won’t harm our church or ministry? Rainer shares the following 7 suggestions:

1. Consider anything you say on social media to be permanent. Yes, you can delete or scrub regretful things you have said on social media but, more times than not, the information can still be retrieved. And countless people take screen shots the moment they see something unwisely posted.
2. You can be misunderstood often on social media. The readers or viewers usually cannot see your body language. They don’t know your humor or sarcasm. If you have any question about something you will post, don’t post it.
3. Emoticons are not sufficient to soften what you have posted. In fact, emoticons are so ubiquitous now that many readers ignore them.
4. Attacks on other people’s character or positions are considered cowardly by many. The reader or the viewer typically sees the person writing the information as one who hides behind a keyboard or microphone. They wonder if the writer would have the courage to say the same things in person.
5. Too many Christian leaders are posting on social media in the heat of emotional moments. If you are angry or otherwise agitated, take a 24-hour break from social media. If not, you may regret it later.
6. Churches and other Christian organizations are checking social media of Christian leaders. It has become more commonplace for churches and Christian organizations to do a social media background check of potential candidates. And I recently conversed with a pastor who was fired from his church because of something he posted on Facebook. And remember, at the risk of being redundant, most of the words or photos or videos you have posted are permanently recorded.
7. The non-Christian world is watching Christians attack each other on social media. Our Christian witness is compromised again and again by our social media actions. When we say or write scathing attacks on others, non-believers see us as hypocritical, inconsistent, and unworthy of emulating.

That’s a list worthy of re-reading and even posting by our computers as a reminder. Especially pertinent is the advice to wait 24 hours when we are emotionally charged before posting on social media. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Perhaps instead of posting on social media when angry we should work on reconciling and repairing whatever has caused our anger. Though we are not supposed to let the sun go down on our wrath, it seems wise to let the sun go down at least once before posting on social media when we are angry.

I’m thankful for social media. No other platform in the world allows me to interact with people from all over the country and the world. I’ve had the chance to engage people in discussions about the Gospel and theology that I otherwise would not have been able to. For that I am eternally thankful for this modern tool of ministry. But, we must remember that social media is a tool and must be used as one. My Pastor reminded us that words, like toothpaste, cannot be taken back once it has come out. We would do well to remember this parting advice from Thom Rainer:

“Be wise. Be gracious. Be kind. And be Christ-like.”