Speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

— Ephesians 4:25

Social media has changed our world. Even in Burkina Faso, a fairly isolated country, the internet has made it much easier for people to connect with the rest of the world. This was a tremendous benefit during the COVID-19 crisis.

But there is another side to the use of the internet. Social media has had negative effects on society and even on faith. Sharing information and rumors—often from questionable sources—has become easy and very tempting. Many people in Africa, including Christians, are doing this. We especially like to share news about scandals, dramas, and conspiracies. We might think that these kinds of things are so common that they are harmless. But sharing false information is the same as lying.

I find it fascinating that Paul gives the following reason to speak truthfully: we are all members of one body. Each body part affects the whole body. So if believers in Christ spread misinformation, we reduce the truthfulness of the church. Christians are then seen as untrustworthy, and this dishonors Christ and ultimately harms our ability to be taken seriously when we share the good news of Jesus.

Christians are called to live by the truth. That doesn't mean you have to stay away from social media. It means you must follow Jesus, who says, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Let's look for ways to make that resonate in the social media world.

Holy Spirit, let us be people marked by the truth. And may the truth reach many people with the gospel. Amen.