Every day, before many of us have even said our morning prayer, we have already checked WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok or Instagram. We scroll through family updates, news, jokes, arguments, advertisements, gossip, success stories and opinions from people we may never meet. But as Christians, maybe we need to pause and ask a deeper question: What is all this doing to our hearts?
Social media is not evil in itself. It can connect families, spread the Gospel, encourage people and give churches a platform to reach those who may never walk through their doors. The challenge is not simply whether we use social media, but whether social media is beginning to use us.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” If we are constantly feeding our minds with anger, jealousy, sexualised content, gossip, negativity and materialism, we should not be surprised when those things begin influencing our thoughts and attitudes.
This is where faithful scrolling comes in. Before we like, comment, follow or share, we can ask ourselves: Is this true? Is it helpful? Is it honourable? Does it reflect the person Christ is calling me to become?
Philippians 4:8 gives believers a powerful filter, urging us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. It does not mean Christians must ignore difficult realities or pretend everything is positive. Rather, it challenges us to be intentional about what receives our attention.
This is particularly important when scrolling becomes a source of comparison. Someone is showing off a new car, another person is celebrating a wedding, someone has travelled overseas and another is announcing a new business. Before long, we can begin wondering why everyone else appears to be progressing while our own lives seem stuck.
But social media often shows us people’s highlights, not their whole story. Galatians 6:4 teaches us to examine our own actions rather than constantly comparing ourselves with others. God did not call us to live according to someone else’s timeline.
We must also be careful with our words. In WhatsApp groups and Facebook comment sections, disagreements can quickly become insults and people can share information without checking whether it is true. Ephesians 4:29 tells believers to speak in ways that build others up.
Perhaps the next time we reach for our phones, we should pray first: “Lord, help me guard my heart, control my words and use this platform in a way that honours You.”
Romans 12:2 reminds us not to be conformed to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We may not be able to control everything that appears on our screens, but we can choose what we follow, what we engage with, what we share and when we put the phone down.
Our faith should not disappear when the church service ends.
It should follow us into our homes, workplaces, WhatsApp groups and social media feeds. The question is not simply, ‘What am I scrolling through?’ It is: ‘What is my scrolling making me become?’
