Should Christians Use Social Media for Evangelism—or Is It a Distraction?

[Fritzpw_Admin]

Should Christians Use Social Media for Evangelism—or Is It a Distraction?

Social platforms can amplify the gospel—or absorb our attention. Which one is happening in today’s church?
#Evangelism #SocialMediaFaith #DigitalDiscipleship #christianforums #crosswalkforums #forums #crosswalk #faithcommunity #faithforums

From Facebook feeds to Instagram reels to TikTok clips, social media has become one of the most powerful communication tools in the world. Millions of voices compete for attention every day—political, cultural, personal, and yes, spiritual.

Some Christians see this digital landscape as a mission field. They believe social platforms provide an unprecedented opportunity to spread the good news, reach people who might never step foot in a church, and create community across borders. Others, however, worry that the very structure of these platforms encourages vanity, division, and distraction more than true discipleship.

Does sharing a verse online count as evangelism—or is it just noise in a world already drowning in content? Can a gospel message go viral without being diluted? And how do believers draw the line between using social media as a tool for Christ and being consumed by it themselves?

Infographic

Read more here:

7 Do’s and Don’ts for the Christian on Social Media

[Who-me]

To use social media for evangelism requires wisdom and skill.

One particular piece of wisdom is to establish a pseudonym for both email and what ever media one is using. Why? To protect oneself from Internet attacks that prevent one from using your own email and Internet accounts.

Also to limit the opportunity for trouble makers from causing g one to loose one employment because of the challenging things being written.

You must be aware of the cases where a Christian has lost their job because of what they wrote on Facebook etc.

Also because of algorithms the Internet feeds people what they like and shields them from what they don’t normally watch.

As a result one’s social media posts are not likely to be seen by non Christians.

[bdavidc]

Christian evangelism on the internet is also known as online evangelism or digital evangelism. It is really the practical application of the internet, mobile technology, and social media to proclaim the gospel and meet spiritual needs in the online world. It matters because today’s culture is a digital culture. Of the estimated 7 billion people in the world, about 4 billion are using the internet and 3 billion are using social media. That’s a mission field we can’t ignore.

Online evangelism can give churches and individuals the opportunity to reach a broader audience with the message of Jesus Christ. It can also provide believers the opportunity to “go into all the world” by participating in digital missionary efforts, sharing God’s Word with people who may never enter a church building. This could be as simple as posting Scripture, or as formal as developing websites, creating videos, or leading online Bible studies and faith-based chat rooms.

Here are a few of the most common ways for Christians to utilize these tools:

Websites that share biblical teaching and apologetics

Social media posts, live streams, and online conversations to share messages and interact about faith

Blogs and videos that can teach the gospel and answer real-life questions

Online ads or outreach to share God’s Word to unreached people groups

Easy ways to share the Gospel online: You can make comments on news reports, youtube videos, message boards and add a link from one of the below websites that explain the gospel. Find a topic you are interested in and comment on it then find a link with something in common with the post.
https://video-tracts.com
https://audiotracts.com
https://e-tacklebox.com - The Internet Evangelism Tackle Box

But I have also discovered something else: a lot of unsaved religious people are on Christian forums. They may claim the name of Christ, but they have never been born again. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Paul called them, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). They wear the mask of Christianity but they do not know the Savior.

This is why online evangelism matters. So many who claim to be Christians are still lost and they need to hear the true gospel. They do not need a Christian mask, they need a new heart. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). When we speak the Word of God online, through a post, a Scripture verse, or even a testimony, it could cut through the false religion and lead someone to true repentance and faith. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

The bottom line is this: the internet can absolutely be a powerful mission field if we use it wisely and biblically. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). In our day and generation, “all the world” includes the digital world. Sharing a verse online, or posting a gospel message is not “noise.” God’s Word promises, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void” (Isaiah 55:11). Even one verse on a social media feed could be the one that reaches someone in their darkest hour.

Social media can be a trap if we use it carelessly…but used with discipline, humility, and a focus on Christ, it could also be one of the greatest tools for evangelism in our generation.

[NSH]

This is a good question. For me it comes down to the metaphor of ‘not hiding the light under a basket’

If I am in a situation where I can point to God and I don’t, well, I’m kind of hiding the light I’ve been given. So to put the light on a stand means to take seriously every opportunity that would allow me to tell of God’s grace and glory in a way that is positive and helpful to others. This includes online and social media, but it also requires discernment to not get involved in senseless arguing and disputes. I’ve had my share of those, and thankfully have found a new maturity and grace where I don’t need to get involved in those heated discussions that go in circles and end in personal attacks.

So it’s a matter of pointing to God gracefully, posting content that is uplifting and in the light, and again, avoiding that ego battle stuff as much as possible. Social media can be very distracting. Let’s pray that God helps us be ministers of the light and not the darkness.

[bdavidc]

@NSH

So it’s a matter of pointing to God gracefully, posting content that is uplifting and in the light, and again, avoiding that ego battle stuff as much as possible. Social media can be very distracting. Let’s pray that God helps us be ministers of the light and not the darkness.

I agree that we should lead people to God in grace and not get bogged down in fruitless ego wars. At the same time, Scripture also clearly teaches that we can’t just sit quietly when false teaching is being propagated. If others are reading and being led astray, it’s not biblical for us to remain silent. Paul instructed Timothy to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). Silence in the face of lies only gives error more room to expand.

At the same time, once the truth has been given and rejected, Jesus told us not to keep casting our pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). There is no point in engaging in endless argument with someone who has hardened their heart. We speak the truth plainly for the sake of those who are listening, and then move on. That is how we remain ministers of light without feeding the darkness of endless strife.

[SFsergio]

This topic was covered by Mudd, who is covering for Levin, last night; his point^[1] was the same.

Couple of interesting factoids:

1. In the past 5 years the Gen Z & Millenial generations have doubled in church attendance.
2. Of the 64% of churches (also cited above in factoid) that have an online presence, their attendance is comprised of this increase of the Gen Z & Millenials / youth.
3. Gen Z & Millenials have overtaken the earlier generations, in terms of attendance, in large population chuches.
4. More young people are attending.

My Church is small and Gen Xers & Boomers are still the majority but there is another larger church that I went to for a musical production and I saw this trend bear out.

If we are to follow our calling to spread the gospel, we must embrace social media. Just in this this forum we come across people thirsty for God’s knowledge and in need of comfort & prayer.

May God Bless All who seek,

---

1. His point was actually an intro to the Turning Point phenomenon of the explosive growth of 60,000 new chapter requests and 100Ks volunteers ↩︎

[NSH]

Yes, thanks for bringing up the point about not staying silent when false teaching is being spread. It’s a true work of the heart to walk that line and be Christlike as much as possible.

[bdavidc]

@SFsergio

In the past 5 years the Gen Z & Millenial generations have doubled in church attendance.

I agree and I like seeing young people show up and that we should use every tool God has given us to proclaim the gospel. But we also need to guard against equating response with numbers. Jesus said the way is narrow and “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). A full church or growing livestream doesn’t mean people are being born again.

Many megachurches today are attracting the masses through entertainment rather than through the power of God’s Word. This is what Paul was talking about when he said, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3).

So yes, let’s use online to reach people, but let’s also make sure we’re not watering down the gospel. We need to preach repentance and faith in Christ, not just provide warm fuzzies and feel-good Christianity. The fruit of the gospel is changed lives, not bigger crowds. And that’s exactly why we need to stand against false teachers, because the entertainment church model is bringing in a whole lot of false converts.

[ccrussell]

Social media is a tool. In some ways, it’s great. You can share a Bible verse, or a personal need, or a statement of encouragement with millions of people with just a press of a few buttons. Just like it can be used for good…it can be used for evil as well. Many social media outlets have little to no monitoring. While as a supporter of the 1st Amendment…I get it. When you start moderating posts, it really depends on the moderators. Too strict limits expression too much. On the other hand, no monitoring…could you imagine what could be posted on here? Teens would post to be funny, anti-Christians would post to shut down the page, etc.

So social media is just a tool.

[Andrew]

I hate social media with a passion I’m kind of be totally honest with you. There are good uses evangelism and Christian fellowship are two. But when it comes to some social media. Well I would say most social media it’s a way to emotionally self-gratify yourself. It’s sickening when you use social media to constantly say look at me look at me I’m wonderful it’s it’s really disgusting. So I say it depends on what you mean. They’re a good useless and bad uses and the two uses you’re talking about are the right ones and also it’s good for keeping in touch with family I’m not I’m not attacking positive uses I’m saying that to answer your question it can be used for good purposes but oftentimes it’s for self-gratification and that is a problem we have too many pastors and evangelists and Ministers of different branches of different churches who literally use social media as a way to bring attention I believe to themselves it has nothing to do with God. So I feel like if it’s simply for the positive purposes is great but otherwise I am not for it but that’s my personal thing