As promised, let’s dive into some Social Media Theology! In the first post of this series, I shared my definition of social media theology:

The study of God through the lens of social media.

According to Statista, “in 2020, over 3.6 billion people were using social media worldwide, a number projected to increase to almost 4.41 billion in 2025.”

According to Forbes and Pew Research Center, “55% of U.S. adults now get their news from social media either ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ – an 8% increase from last year. About three-in-ten (28%) said they get their news ‘often,’ up from 20% in 2018.”

Here’s my thought: That’s a lot of people! This research tells me that there are many people consuming information, ideas, beliefs, and news online. If 55% of US adults get their news from social media, deep down, I believe more and more people are building their worldview and beliefs based on what they see and read on social media.

And if I’m honest, this concerns me. Why? As a Christian and teacher who speaks and writes on social media leadership, I’ve come to realize that we, as Christ-followers have a tremendous responsibility to share the truth on social media. People are watching, people are reading. And we have a window of opportunity to help lead them to the heart and truth of Jesus.

In this Social Media Theology series, I will share some of the top social media beliefs and worldviews that are making the rounds on social media and why we, as Christ-followers, have to be aware. I suspect these beliefs and worldviews hold so many of us captive from genuinely experiencing the freedom found in Christ alone. And my heart desires to see as many people as possible living a life filled with purpose and freedom.

Ready?

Belief #1: “You’re Not Broken, You’re Perfect Just the Way You Are”

This sounds good, right? I would love to see myself as good, perfect, and unbroken. It makes me feel good about who I am as a person. But here’s the issue, if I was perfect and unbroken, then I do not need Jesus. And if I proclaim to be a Christian, a Christ-follower, and at the same time declare that I’m not broken and perfect just the way I am, then what Jesus did on the cross was a waste.

Instead, what Jesus says, is come. If you are weary, come to Jesus. If you are burdened, come to Jesus. If you are broken-hearted, come to Jesus. If you are heavy laden, come to Jesus.

Jesus understands that you and I are broken and He wants nothing more than for us to come to Him in all of our brokenness. Why? Because when we do, he moves us towards righteousness. When we come to Him with our faults and sin, He can then do a new work within us. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17.

If we proclaim to be perfect, then we are equating ourselves with Jesus, who was and is perfect. 1 Peter 2:22 says, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” Stating that we are perfect just the way we are, sets us up to be our own god and savior, which we are not.

As Christians, it is our responsibility to view everything we read and see through the lens of the Bible. As this specific belief and worldview was making the rounds on social media, I had to ask myself, “what does the Bible say about this? Am I perfect? Am I not broken? In my research, here’s what I found:

“As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one…” ~ Romans 3:10

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” ~ Romans 3:23

“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” ~ Mark 10:18

“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” ~ Ecclesiastes 7:20

“For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” ~ James 3:2

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 3:12

When we declare to be unbroken and perfect, we put all of this pressure on ourselves to live life in such a way that leads to more stress, depression, and insecurity. Why? Because the minute we mess up (which we all do), we will be overcome with our lack of perfection and brokenness. The moment we don’t measure up, we will be overwhelmed with feelings of worthlessness.  Friend, we were not meant to carry this by ourselves. We were not meant to carry this burden. We were not meant to be our own god. We were not meant to be the savior of our life.

Instead, when we realize that we are broken and far from perfect, but yet, still loved by the One who created us, we can rest in our imperfections and brokenness. We can rest in the fact that our Salvation isn’t based on our good works, but rather, we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). If we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we will be saved (Romans 10:9).

Know this today, there is no shame in knowing that you are broken, imperfect, and in need of Jesus. That’s why He came and gave His life for us. In Jesus alone is where we can and will find the freedom to be who He has created us to be.