Social Media as Mission Fields!

A Case for Digital Mission

Image borrowed from “Make Use Of”

Our world is overflowing with social media apps. Every now and then, a new app storms our devices. First, it was YouTube, then various Google apps; later came the era of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, and it continues.

In the midst of all this, as Christians, we have not thought much about these social media platforms. We might use them to chat, hang out, and have some fun, but that’s it. We don’t think too much about it. However, if we are careful in how we use these platforms and view them through a biblical lens, we’d be wise to see them as mission fields. This blog is an attempt to show why we need to see social media as tools to advance God’s Kingdom.

Before we go any further, let’s clarify the definitions.

Social Media: Social media platforms are built and coded to create a virtual space where people can hang out and ‘socialize.’

Mission Field: A mission field is a place where believers are sent to work among people who do not yet know the Lord. Their goal is to share the Gospel, help non-believers come to faith in the Lord Jesus, and thus transform them, their families, their communities, and their surroundings.

With these brief definitions, let’s quickly explore three reasons why Christians need to perceive social media platforms as mission fields.

The Subtle Transition

Social media has always been seen as a platform built for updating information. Most churches and Christian organizations just post invitations to their events at some physical location or updates and reminders for their events.

However, this changed with the advent of COVID. COVID closed church buildings. No in-person meetings were possible, and thus all meetings, including church services, were forced to be conducted online. This was a new phenomenon. People were not accustomed to it, but they adjusted. And thus, the transition from promoting Christian ministry to becoming Christian ministry itself took place.

Because of this, many churches now conduct services online. Many Christian IG pages (including Bible Insights) came into being. While the pandemic took many lives, it birthed social media ministry. God can bring good out of anything!

The Great Commission

Another reason why we need to see social media platforms as mission fields is that we are commanded to “go.” Matthew 28:18 reads, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Too often, the strategies of our churches and Christian organizations are to invite and ‘bring’ people into our Christian spaces. While this is fine and needed, the command originally given to all of us is to “go.”

The early church took this seriously. The Apostles went and preached the Gospel in various places—even amidst persecution. Of course, we need to go out today and share the Gospel in person. But we should neither limit it to just physical spaces nor intentionally exclude or neglect the virtual space.

So, let us “go” into this virtual space and share the Good News.

Light in the Darkness

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus calls us (His Church) the “light of the world.” A light always shines in the darkness. Christians should always be ready to face the darkness—whether it be in real space or virtual space.

So many people today are broken, hurt, lonely, sad, depressed, lost, and even contemplating suicide. A lot of these people are more likely to share such conditions of their lives on social media platforms than in person. So, just as Jesus saw people in their sheep-without-shepherd condition and was compassionate enough to help them, we, too, are called to be compassionate and help such people. We are called to be the “light” in this dark world.

So, how can you and I share the Gospel through social media platforms?

Let’s discuss that in the comments. You can even reply to this email and let us know.

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A Note: I am not advocating that every Christian should have a Christian page or account on social media platforms. All I am saying is that we already engage on social media, so why not use it to share God’s Word and extend His Kingdom?

God bless you!