Why You Should Stay Postive On Social Media

Joy is contagious, so stay positive on social media.

Have you ever walked up on some people laughing and then started laughing yourself? And then you ask, "What are we laughing about?" 

Have you ever been in a crowded restaurant and a group of people across the room erupt into laughter? The next time that happens, notice how many people in the room start laughing the longer it carries on. And they have no idea why.

Joy is contagious. 

Psalm 126:2 acknowledges the contagious nature of joy.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

Psalm 126:2

Joy brings glory to God. It also points people to Jesus. 

Unfortunately, we gravitate toward the negative. We are wired with a negativity bias (How to Stay Happy All Day). According to Psychology Today, you naturally take more notice of negative things. This is why politicians run negative campaigns, why gossip gets our attention, and why negative posts on social media get far more response than positive ones. 

It is the priority of the people of God to point people to Jesus (Acts 1:8). That being the case, wouldn't it be more beneficial if we posted more about our joy rather than our complaints? Why not build people up rather than tear them down? We damage the joyous agenda of God when we engage in negative social media activity.

Recently, Washington D.C. Pastor John Joseph shared his testimony with Christianity Today. The title of the article grabbed my attention, What do Bill Maher, Donald Miller, and John Piper Have in Common? John's testimony is a witness to the power of the gospel. The article also stresses the importance of our digital witness. John came to know the Lord by Googling information about God. He came across several pastors and authors online who helped answer his questions and investigations of Jesus.

We each leave a digital footprint. Could someone follow your digital trail of social media posts, comments, and searches and find joy? Does your digital witness lead the nations to Jesus?

Joy is contagious. Unfortunately, so is negativity. 

In a world filled with so much negativity, it should be God's people who sow the fruitful seeds of joy into the fertile fields of the world's sorrow. Let your social media accounts be like a table that erupts with laughter in a crowded restaurant. May your joy in the Lord be a delightful voice in the noise of a hyper-critical culture. 

God has given His people joy so that He may be glorified and so that we may point the nations to Him. Choose joy.

Bible Study:

Read Psalm 67. Psalm 67 speaks about the evangelistic nature of joy.

• Make a list of the specific things the Psalmist requests of God.
• What does Psalm 67 teach us about joy?
• Make a list of the promises and commands contained in the Psalm whether they are stated or implied.

Challenge:

Go back through your social media posts over the past year. Delete those that you feel may hinder your witness, mislead others, or fail to reflect the joy you have as a child of God.