04/03/2026
TOPIC: IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE
TEXT: 2 Timothy 2:15-23
INTRODUCTION
Social media creates a complex situation when it comes to its impacts on Christians. While social media platforms have been useful for churches in 21st century, yet it must be noted that it has negative impacts on Christian obedience. Although social media has helped many Christians to keep in touch with one another across the globe, the platforms are playing crucial roles in shaping our Christian norms and values today. In recent times, social media are now being utilized for many religious activities like meeting, worship, live programmes, sharing of spiritual materials, discussion on religious matters, religious campaigns/ updates etc. Nevertheless, social media platforms have so many drawbacks, hence, the need for us to look at its impacts on Christian obedience.
Social media platforms enable people to connect, establish relationship, share contents, ideas and opinions on all subjects. It removes all forms of social, geographical, and religious barriers, and exposes people to pictures, videos, documents, and opinions that are capable of influencing their Christians beliefs. Social media platforms enable Christians to chat with people they have never known and on subject matters that can affects their Christian lives. Apostle Paul, asked Timothy to warn believers against godless chatters because it results to ungodliness and separation from God. He said "Keep reminding them of these things. Wam them before God against quarrelling about words; it is no value, and only ruins those who listen... Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly" (2 Tim. 2:14, 16). Ungodliness that are going on in social media can spread so easily like infectious disease and can affect the spiritual lives of believers.
The need to know that social media can corrupt Christian characters cannot be overemphasized because the Scripture says "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupt good character" (1 Cor. 15:33). Therefore, Christians should not take the impacts of social media on Christian
obedience for granted. We must remember that just as bad company corrupt good character, so also if we associated with bad people and especially Christian youth must flee immoral relationships and contents on contents on the social media, they can influence us negatively. Christians, social media platforms in order to remain obedient to God.