16 Biblical Reasons to Delete Your Social Media Accounts
If you’re thinking “But we can use it for good!” think again.
A recent survey found that while most evangelicals believe social media is harmful to their faith, they use it anyway. If that statement describes you, here are just a few reasons that might convince you to take the plunge into a social media free life.
Social media has become an idol for many Christians. If you’re not willing to delete your accounts, that’s the first indication that you probably need to.
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:3-6
Social media tempts us to take the Lord’s name in vain. When you put “Jesus follower” or something like it in your bio and then act less than Christlike, that is taking our Savior’s name in vain.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
Social media tempts us to violate the Sabbath. The “need” we feel to “stay connected” is making it so much harder for us to digitally unplug for one day each week.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11
Social media intentionally fosters hate in us by driving us into groups of “us” and “them.”
“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:21-24
Social media tempts us to lust.
“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28
Social media incentivizes us to obfuscate the truth.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16
Social media makes it almost impossible to not compare our lives and possessions to the lives and possessions of others.
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” Exodus 20:17
Social media companies make a profit by treating people as commodities rather than image bearers.
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
Social media companies are designed to be addictive in order to keep us on their platforms, generating data that they can then sell to advertisers.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14
Social media algorithms reward inflammatory content and extreme statements.
“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” Ephesians 5:4
Social media exploits children and creates a prime environment for individuals to harm children.
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea… See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:5-6, 10
We were created for embodied community, not for app-based relationships.
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:11-12
Social media distracts us from our primary calling to be part of our embodied, local communities of faith.
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[g] serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.” Romans 12:9-16
Social media is designed to keep us dissatisfied and looking for fulfillment in everything except Jesus.
“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”” John 4:13-14
“As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” Psalm 17:15
Our history as the people of God goes back thousands of years, not to 2004. It’s time to get off our phones and start learning about the saints of the past and building IRL relationships with the saints of today.
“Forever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.” Psalm 119:89-91
And so, so many more…
I share all of these reasons as someone who spends a good amount of their day job managing the social media accounts of a Christian organization. Do I truly believe that Christians everywhere should opt out of social media? Yes. But I know there are many objections people may have. This is just meant to get us thinking biblically about the issue.
What other biblical reasons can you think of for deleting your social media accounts? Hit reply or leave a comment.
Beauty in Sabbath
This season of life is busy, busy, busy, so our family has been trying to be more diligent about guarding our Sabbath practice. We are trusting that when we honor the Lord in this way He will multiply our time and efforts the other 6 days of the week.
Beauty in Nature
I am convinced that so many ills can be alleviated by spending some time in God’s beautiful creation.
In pursuit of Beauty,
I believe you are correct about nature. We do family Sabbath too. It’s really nice.
Tabitha - thank you for sharing your pictures of the Jacob Trees. We were in Nevada recently and found miles and miles of them. A beautiful reminder of God's creativity! For us, Sabbath is a small group study at rotating houses where we prepare a communal meal. it is restful, and nourishing, and keeps us connected in serving one another and learning together.
One other thought on Social Media - the Blocking function may have been set up to keep people safe from predators, but angry misguided people often claim that they are exercising boundaries by shutting people out. This is a very hurtful practice that happens in friend groups and among family members. Boundaries are a good thing; they can help relationships grow in defined parameters, but when used as walls or weapons, they can be devastating.
I'm not sure how this fits with John 13: 34 - 35 A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you... or Matthew 18:22, which talks about forgiving a brother in Christ seven times seventy times. The anonymity-like feeling people have on social media causes them to act in ways they may not otherwise act in face-to-face situations.
Leaving on a more positive note, I found your newsletters on Social media and I am blessed by them each week. Thank you for the work you do.