It still amazes me how often people are surprised when others take what might seem personal and make it a global catastrophe. “I didn’t mean that,” they say. “I’m entitled to my opinion.” “I’m just venting.” Social media is both inviting and dangerous, and we need to think about what we post or respond to.

We can get into a lot of trouble on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. It can affect our employment, our chances of renting an apartment, and it can cause trouble even in your church life.

You might think it strange, but I require our church members who are on Facebook or Twitter to add the church’s and my personal profiles to their friends/following lists. I do this for several reasons:

• To keep people informed. If you are on one of these sites, chances are that you check it often. You get alerts on your smartphone, and it’s the last thing you look at before you go to bed. One way to keep you up to date on what’s going at church is to keep you virtually connected.
• To speak into their lives. Facebook and Twitter are often the first place we talk about what is going on in our lives. As a pastor, I can check through posts and see how people are doing during the day. They might need a kind word, the posting of a verse, or just a Happy Birthday message.
• To keep an eye people. That’s right, Pastor is watching. Why? Because your social profiles are your point of contact with the world. What you say about God, church, your pastor, and live in general, all influence how people who do and don’t know Jesus see you and the God that you serve. If I have to confront someone about what they post (and I have), I prefer to do it privately and not as part of the discussion, unless I can do it quickly and without causing harm.

Maybe you have posted online and seen your single, personal thought turn into a battle of words that are often harsh and brutal. Let me share a few things to remember about social media posting that can help keep you out of those situations.

• Social media is not private. Another way I’ve said is, “Facebook is not a diary.” You can’t hide it under your bed with a little golden lock to keep everyone out of it. When someone gets noticed and pulled into a heated discussion, they like to say that they are entitled to their opinion or just venting. That is not what social media is for. If you want to have private, personal thoughts, buy a journal.
• Social media is about interaction. Why are people shocked when others comment on their posts? Did they think everyone would just scroll past it like billboards on the highway? Social media is designed as a mode of interaction. To post something live on the internet is an invitation for others to comment on what you have written.
• Social media is honest. Did you post pictures about the parties you went to between Christmas and New Year’s, and then try to post something spiritual on Monday morning? With a quick scan of your timelines and photos, people can see what is truly important to you and who you really are.
• Social media is instant. All too often we think that we can go back and delete or hide something once we have hit the post button. Sometimes it only takes the fifteen seconds between you realizing what you’ve said and trying to delete it to get around the world and hurt someone.

Be careful. Draw boundaries to keep yourself safe. Think before you type. Know that sometimes you might really want to post something (or respond to a post), but it is better to leave it alone.

Talk Back

How have you created boundaries for yourself on social media? How did you realize you had to it? (In other words, was it preventative, or did you have to learn the hard way?”)

To be honest, it isn’t a spiritual gift. I had hoped it was just a fluke. My wife’s inability, though, means it is something special. What could be so special? You’ll never guess.

Have you ever walked through the stores at Christmas and end up buying a new artificial Christmas tree? With the pre-lit and LED varieties coming down in price, it may be more likely. After all, you pay one price for ten or more years of easy up, easy down Christmas delight. But then you open the box for the first time, put the tree together, and wonder why it looks so…flat.

My newly discovered gift is the ability to fluff an artificial Christmas tree or garland. It’s silly, I know. But it is unique.

It may sound strange, but there are a few gifts that can come out Christmas time. Not shiny, wrapped and bowed gifts, or boring (but useful) gifts like my tree fluffing ability. These are real, true, spiritual Gifts. What could they be?

Gifts like helping others (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28). At Christmastime we talk more about helping others than any other time of the year. We are offered chances to help the poor, the present-less, the sick, and the lonely. You can shovel someone’s driveway or put together a holiday box for the local food bank.

Along the same line is the gift of giving (Romans 12:8). Besides the obvious type of giving the season is known for, you might be led to help by giving your time, your talents or your resources. You might wait all year for the telethon that raises money for the children’s hospital. Maybe you like to help the Salvation Army raise money by watching over a kettle at the local mall and rejoice when you see the fruits of your time spent.

You may also consider hospitality to be a gift (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9). This gift is easily understood at this time of year. Do you enjoy preparing your home for the enjoyment of others simply to be a blessing? It may take you all week to prepare and a day to recover, but you enjoy it all.

Even during the Christmas season we should have our eyes and hearts open to what we are doing. You may have a gift that blooms this time each year, but you consider it another part of the season, being in the spirit of things. It is possible that what you enjoy , not something spiritual or applicable to how you live all year long.

Talk Back

[Q:] Is there some part of the Christmas season that energizes and excites you? Is there a place of service where you can take that enthusiasm and put it to use all year long?