That’s one of those points of view that you sort of already realize but that seems to make a profound impact once you read it in print. At least, that has been my experience because I have thought much upon it during the last few days. The internet presents the Church with an incredible resource for Gospel ministry across ethnic, geographical, religious, and even linguistic barriers. However, it also, along with every other modern convenience, presents the Church with the temptation of self-absorption and self-promotion. Technology has set before us the greatest of Gospel opportunities or the greatest of self-centered sinkholes! I believe this dichotomy is expressed most clearly in the ever-increasing world of social networks. Therefore, my careful personal examination and earnest plea to other believers is: May we not waste our social networks!

There are definite dangers we must avoid.

1. Prideful boasting in the guise of rejoicing.

Is it really necessary to inform everyone we possibly can of our latest gadget or newest possession (or as we call them, “blessings”)? Is it really necessary to “tweet” about dating our wives while on a date with our wives? When I read those I always wonder how the wife must feel watching her husband tweet to the world during the few minutes this week he was supposed to be giving his undivided attention to her!

Now, please hear me very clear. Should believers rejoice in the blessings of God and should we share our praises with one another so that we can all join in the praise? Absolutely YES! We are called to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). Frankly, social networks are a fairly good avenue for both. The problem is not in sharing “life” with one another, the problem is that we must be constantly examining WHY we are sharing these certain items. Are we sincerely just bubbling over with joy to the Lord and must share the joy with others? If so, go for it! Or, are we really just wanting others to know how “good” we are and how “good” we have it! If so, get your thumbs off your phone and spend some real, quality time with your family! (They know if you are not really there!) Pride comes dressed in all forms, and it is never more deceiving than when he dresses up as a praise report!

2. Ego-driven flattery in the guise of friendship.

It’s one thing to rejoice with a brother in order to encourage him in his walk with the Lord. It is quite another to flatter him in order to “ride his coat tails!” Again, there is nothing innately wrong with giving a guy a high five in the form of a “retweet” or “blog comment” or a “like” on Facebook. Those can be great forms of brotherhood, community, and locking arms with one another for the good.

The issue comes back to motivation. It’s all about the WHY not the WHAT. When we comment, retweet, or whatever, is it about “us” or is it truly about agreement with content or being thrilled to find common ground with a fellow believer? Do we really want the blogger to know how his gifts are being used by God to bless us or do we really just want that blogger to notice us? Is it about us? Is it about his ministry? Is it about the furthering of the Gospel?

These are not puny, unimportant questions and matters! In our age of information, these “hidden” sins are excused, overlooked, and even celebrated! If they are exposed, the ones issuing the warnings are often ignored or patronized.

We must guard our social networking because our use of communication as believers is a matter of our witness and a matter of the Gospel. As Paul said in 1 Thess 2:5, “For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.”

It does all boil down to this: How does God “witness” our social networking?

3. Promotion of self in the guise of promotion of ministry.

This one hits close to home because I am President of a ministry, and hopefully soon, a pastor as well. When we blog or utilize a webpage to “advertise” ministry endeavors, opportunities, and accomplishments, is it a sincere attempt to garner support for ministry in order to further advance the Gospel? Is it truly rejoicing in God’s great work? Or is it a platform to announce to the world how great we are how much we have done?

All of these items are indeed a fine balancing act, but balance we must!

Please dear friend, hear these words fresh today (and how I pray that I may hear them fresh as well)! Prov 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” God will not give His glory to another! That includes His children no matter how many times we try to cover our self-promotion with a few scattered “Praise the Lords!”

There are awesome opportunities before us.

Despite the dangers ready to leap at every “click,” the opportunities for Gospel ministry are too enormous to pass over. Technology has its advantages, its Gospel advantages.

1. Sounding forth the Gospel!

Every month I receive a report from our internet sermon ministry, sermonaudio.com, and I am always blown away at how far the preaching of the Word has traveled around the globe in one month’s time, even into hard, closed fields at times! The possibilities are literally endless. If you have some imagination, some creativity, and some technology, you can send forth the Gospel to persecuted Christians hiding for worship and unbelievers randomly searching the web. It’s amazing! We must take hold of this avenue and utilize it to the our fullest capabilities.

Sometime last month, somewhere in India, 3 sermons were downloaded from our ministry site. Maybe by one person. Maybe by three different people in different places. Maybe believers. Maybe unbelievers. Maybe each sermon will be heard 1 time by 1 person. Maybe each sermon will be heard 100 times by 100 people or 1000 times by 1000 people. I don’t know. I do know, however, that without the internet that would not have been possible. I also know I wish I knew how to do more far reaching ministry like that!

Social networks present us with real Great Commission opportunities. For example, last month I spoke with a SS teacher in Pakistan via Skype! That’s mind-blowing and thrilling! (Matt 28:18-20)

2. Encouraging the Saints!

A good Christ-centered way to measure our social networking is by keeping our motives and our words within the bounds of Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Think about it. If we are lifting ourselves up through social networks, we are surely not building up one another. If we are blasting out at one another hiding behind screen names on forums, how much edification is taking place? Are we really “giving grace” to our “followers” when our posts are always about us? Email provides an easy way to talk "big and loud" a thousand miles away instead of face to face or at least voice to voice in a sincere effort to really find unity and reconciliation. What’s worse, when we get in the flesh and things get out of hand, we as believers sound and act just like unbelievers on social networks all the while parading our “love Jesus” blurb in our bio!

Let’s use social network for something greater! Let’s exhort and encourage one another.

3. Never-before imagined global prayer networks!

It could not happen so quickly and so vastly before the internet age! In a matter of minutes, prayer concerns can cross the globe and thousands of saints can be praying a host of intercessory prayers! It is probably the most amazing door that the internet and social networking has provided the Church. Let it NOT be the most neglected one!