The Power of a Platform

Have you heard of the app, Timehop?

If you haven’t, the gist of Timehop is that it shows you your social media photos and posts on the same date from previous years.

Some days it can be really awesome— I love seeing photos of my babies when they were itty-bittys and remembering special and everyday events that would otherwise be forgotten.

Other days scrolling through Timehop can be a really humbling experience because, sadly, in my former days I didn’t understand the power of a platform.

Social media is, whether you’ve thought about it this way or not, a platform. It’s where you stand to tell the world what you believe and what is important to you.

Here’s the tricky part as believers: For most of us, our friends and family know that we are Christians. They see our posts about going to church, and how “#blessed” we are and our occasional Bible verse from our morning devo.

But what else are they seeing?
Complaints about our job? Argumentative comments on someone’s status?  Article “shares” that belittle those in authority?

Did any of those ring a bell? Don’t worry-- I’m right there with you.

Last night a friend (who is not a believer) shared several posts on a topic we disagree on. Everything within me wanted to respond, and, in fact, I came close.

What stopped me?
I remembered that social media is a platform;
I remembered that as an outspoken Christian I am a representative of Christ to my friends and family-- believers or not;
I remembered that everything I say and do paints a picture of Christ and what I believe about Him.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are… Christ’s ambassadors (representatives), as though God were making his appeal through us…”.


My goodness. Do you feel the weight of that statement? Everything we say and do can either pull others towards God, or push them away.


How will others feel about Christians and, consequently, Christ because of that post we put up yesterday?

What kind of example are we setting for our teen children, on social media?

And could our “honesty” quite possibly be a stumbling block to those around us, keeping them from being reconciled to God?


Jesus was trying to relay the importance of our role when He said this: “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?” (Matt. 5:13)

Salt-- what does it do? It makes things taste good and it makes people thirsty. Similarly when others get a “taste” of God through our words and actions, it should make them crave more.

But have we lost our flavor? Have we lost sight of our influential role here on earth?

I, for one, am so guilty of this at times. I get stuck in survival mode or caught up in a tidal wave of emotion and-- BOOM-- my salt loses its flavor and there’s nothing about my behavior that would make somebody desire Christ.

People are looking to us— we need to make sure that the things that we profess reflect the God that we possess.

Christ chose us for His own.
Today let’s put into place a filter over our words and actions-- not one that says we can’t be real, but one that remembers the magnitude of our role as Christ’s “salt” to this lost and hurting world that so desperately needs Him.


Word of the Day:
“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Colossians 4:5

Prayer:
Father, forgive me for often forgetting the weight of the words I say and the things I do. Thank you for choosing me and giving me the privileged of being your ambassador of reconciliation. Help me to filter my voice and actions, keeping them “salty” to my friends and family, today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Author: Katie Gibson

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