3 Ways to Stay Above the Online Fray

I remember when social media became a thing. I was working on air as a spokesperson for QVC. “Become friends with the world” is what it felt like.  I hated the word, “friends.” It felt so disingenuous. These weren’t my friends. They didn’t even know me. 

Then I finally caught a vision for what the world of social platforms could be.  Ahhhh….the modern marketplace, one column writer called it. And I was set. I love the marketplace! I get the marketplace. I can do this after all. But I discovered online wasn’t only the marketplace, it was harassed and tired Christians. And strong, loving people mixed in, too.

Here’s the truth about social media and me: 

It wasn’t just QVC telling me to build a platform. It’s the whole Christian speaking world. I discovered that literary agents, publishers and speaking agents wanted to see my platforms. The idea that God had called me and I could just get out there and speak was unrealistic. “Show us your platforms.”

With that constant request, I’ve had a mind and heart shift, and you can, too:

People are not my platform. My platform is Christ alone.

My job is to love the person right in front of me, whether in person or online. My joy is to cut through the crap that’s out there - the taunting, the lies, the sizzle, the smoke and mirrors, the nasty - and point you, me, us all to the God who loves us and calls us to life. 

I’ve never been one to shy away from the hard places. Please. Have you met Jesus? Do you know where He spent His time? If you’re like me, let’s keep our wits about us. Let’s stay clear on what these online platforms are for. Here are three ways to help with that:

1.   Dedicate your media platforms to God. Hand them over to Him. Every one of them.

2.   Love one person at a time. Actually engage with people honestly and lovingly. One by one. (But not everyone or you’ll crash and burn.)

3.   Resolve to be an ambassador for God in any hard place, including (if you’re able), online platforms. As Jonathan Edwards once said, “Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.

I’m real because God is so real.

~ Nancy 

CALLING

Make your social platforms an offering to God. Move toward the electronic wild, wild, west confidently knowing why you’re there.