Series: Technology and Ethics: A Biblical Worldview for the Digital Age
Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:19–20
Theme: Redemption
Click to Disciple: Can the Great Commission Go Viral?
It started as a 60-second video. A young woman named Alisha sat in her car, tears streaming down her face, reading aloud from John 3:16. Her voice trembled. “God so loved the world…” she paused. “Even someone like me?”
She wasn’t a pastor. She didn’t quote Greek. She didn’t even finish the chapter. But somehow, that video—raw, unscripted, imperfect—reached over a million people in 48 hours. Some left mocking comments. Others asked for prayer. One person commented: “I’ve never heard the gospel explained so simply. I gave my life to Jesus tonight.”
The same platform that spreads lies, gossip, and rage had just delivered grace.
It begs the question: Can social media be redeemed? Or are we trying to baptize a beast? In an age of filtered faces, hot takes, and dopamine hits, can the church faithfully fulfill the Great Commission online?
Let’s explore what it means to bring light into the digital darkness.
The Biblical Framework: The Mission Hasn’t Changed—Only the Medium
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” Matthew 28:19
Jesus didn’t give His disciples a location-specific mission. He gave them a global one. And He didn’t limit it to footpaths and fishing villages. From the very beginning, the gospel has traveled on the highways of culture—through tongues, trade routes, and technologies.
Paul wrote letters that became Scripture. Early Christians used Roman roads and the Greek language to spread the message of Christ across the empire. Today, those roads are digital. And the question isn’t whether we should use them—it’s how.
The Apostle Paul described his strategy this way: “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). That’s not compromise—it’s contextualization. And it’s needed now more than ever.
Redemption in Christ extends to all areas of life—including the digital realm. As Colossians 1:20 reminds us, God is reconciling all things to Himself through Christ. That includes Instagram feeds, TikTok reels, and livestreamed worship services. The medium isn’t neutral. But neither is it beyond the reach of grace.
Just as papyrus became pulpits, and parchment carried the gospel to Galatia, so too can pixels carry truth to people who might never step foot in a sanctuary.
Cultural Application: The Scroll and the Soul
Social media is a strange and stormy sea. It amplifies emotion, distorts reality, and rewards controversy. Welcome to the algorithmic marketplace of ideas—where truth and tribalism go to war in 280 characters.
But even here, God is at work.
There are stories of missionaries using WhatsApp to disciple house churches in closed nations. Pastors posting daily reflections that reach the brokenhearted. The What Would You Say? video series offers biblical clarity to confused teens. Tim Keller’s gospel threads continue to influence even after his passing. Faithful believers are planting gospel seeds one post, reel, and DM at a time.
And yet, the dangers are real.
- Performative faith becomes a form of virtue signaling—light without heat.
- Theological trolling turns ministry into mudslinging.
- Platform addiction tempts us to trade obedience for applause.
So how do we engage redemptively?
- Clarity before cleverness – Let your speech be seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6), not sarcasm.
- Consistency of life and message – A curated feed means little if our private walk is withering.
- Humility in engagement – The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind (2 Tim. 2:24–26).
And here’s a fourth invitation—not a rule, but a calling: build digital places, not just content.
Algorithms may chase attention, but discipleship thrives in community. Instead of merely broadcasting opinions, what if believers used comment sections, group chats, and live sessions to form spaces of encouragement, accountability, and spiritual depth? Digital platforms can become more than scroll-holes—they can become sacred meeting places where believers pray, learn, and grow together.
The goal isn’t to go viral. It’s to be faithful.
Discipleship Insight: Post with Purpose
Before you post, pause.
Ask yourself:
- Have I prayed about this?
- Will this reflect Christ or just my opinion?
- Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it loving?
A wise believer once said, “The internet never forgets.” Neither does the Lord. Every word matters—whether spoken aloud or typed at 2 a.m. in frustration.
Instead of venting, what if we started discipling?
Micro-discipleship can happen in comments and captions. A story about God’s faithfulness. A reel explaining why you trust Scripture. A share that invites someone to a Bible study. It’s not about numbers. It’s about names. Souls. Seeds planted in hearts by simple faithfulness online.
Let your digital presence be a preview of the kingdom, not a parody of the world.
Challenge to Action: Audit Your Feed, Align Your Mission
Your platform is a pulpit.
Take ten minutes today and scroll through your last 20 posts. What would a stranger learn about you? What would they learn about Jesus?
Then ask: Is my digital life shaped more by the Spirit—or by the spirit of the age?
Choose one step today:
- Share a verse that encouraged you.
- DM someone who’s hurting.
- Delete a post that stirs division, not peace.
You don’t need a blue checkmark to be a digital missionary. You just need a surrendered heart and a willingness to speak truth in love.
Series Navigation
← Previous: Digital Addiction: When Technology Becomes an Idol
→ Next: Ethics in a Digital Age: Truth, Privacy, and Responsibility
View all: Technology and Ethics Series Page
Key Takeaways
- Social media is not inherently evil—but it must be redeemed, not just used.
- The gospel can thrive in digital spaces when truth is paired with grace.
- Discipleship doesn’t stop at the screen—it begins with intentional presence and mission-minded posting.
Live it out. Share the truth. Walk with courage.
References
- Keller, T. (2020). On Preaching and the Gospel in a Digital Age. The Gospel Coalition.
- Reinke, T. (2022). God, Technology, and the Christian Life. Crossway.
- Thacker, J. (2020). The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society. B&H Academic.
- Smith, J. K. A. (2016). You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. Brazos Press.
- Ott, K. (2022). Christian Ethics for a Digital Society. Fortress Press.
- The Colson Center. (n.d.). What Would You Say? [YouTube Channel].
- Paul, I. (2017). “Social Media and the Church.” Premier Christianity.
