By Jason Green

I use Facebook as a ministry resource. The average church member under the age of 60 likely has a Facebook page. Some use Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Some use all four. Because in modern society we all are attached to a mobile communication device to stay in constant contact with the world, it’s ridiculous not to use these networks in ministry.

The Bible calls people who follow Jesus “disciples.” That means that every single person who accepts Christ as savior is considered a disciple.

In Matthew chapter 28, the disciples are given some pretty straightforward instruction regarding their responsibilities to their communities and world: go make more disciples. Teach well, love well, model Jesus well. And as you do that, use the opportunities to minister that come to share with people how to become a follower of Christ.

In essence, the Great Commission, what this passage of scripture is called, instructs us to lead people by modeling Jesus, everyday, everywhere and in everyway.

In all we do, Christians are supposed to follow Christ’s lead as he sets our pace. We are to intentionally live a life that acts as an attractant for others.

Social media, while offering an opportunity to communicate our message to the world and to further our personal ministries, has become a place that, if not closely watched and personally managed, can do far more damage to our mission and our message than we give it credit.

The reason for this is simple: Christians have the same problems, struggles, frustrations and turmoil in our lives that everyone else does. The difference is, we have mercy, grace and forgiveness applied to our lives through Christ. By nature we must be different.

When Christians choose to air dirty laundry on social media and go on awful rants; when Christians don’t think before we type on social media, we drop the ball God’s given us with which to run.

It’s easy to get angry and lash out. It’s easy to see something that causes us to, in a moment, lose our minds and unleash the beast within! But the book of James, chapter 1, verse 2 tells us that we must have a different attitude in these times.

When frustration brings you to the point of explosion, we should “count it all joy when we face trials” because there is personal spiritual gain awaiting us when we gracefully endure it by trusting Jesus’ leading.

Hebrews 12 says this: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”

People are watching you because what we do speaks far more loudly than our words. Our actions are Christ’s doorway into people’s lives. When they watch us, they see the truth and will follow your lead, wherever your attitude and your words carry them.

Use social media wisely. If there are people out there who are leading you down a negative road and helping make it easy to ruin your on-line witness, I suggest using the best function I’ve discovered on Facebook…it’s called the “unfollow” button.

Finally, always think before you post, whether pictures or words. Your witness and God’s reputation is at stake.

The Rev. Jason Green is pastor of Mineral Springs Baptist Church. Look for another installment of his column in a future edition of The Clanton Advertiser.