Scrolling in Faith: Navigating Social Media as a Christian

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By Dorian B. Francis

Washington / March 13, 2026 / BPALiveWire I'm 24 and often find myself scrolling and constantly seeing what Instagram has to offer. Sometimes it is just like a muscle. This is a muscle, however, that should not be exercised. Honestly, social media feels like both a blessing and a curse for my walk with Christ and many Christians likely feel the same way.

As a believer, apps like TikTok, Instagram and X have the capability to really hurt or really help a walk with Christ. They shape how believers see God, community and personal worth. They help in a sense that great faith based content can appear and allow people to grow in an online community and fellowship. They can hurt in the sense that it is easy to spend more time on the apps than necessary and potentially fall into temptations such as lust and envy.

Social media can especially hit hard on the comparison front. Open the app and people are sharing amazing lifestyles, friends are posting huge life updates and others are talking about how God is moving in their lives and how they are growing in their faith and sharing revelations. Suddenly personal progress or blessings may not seem like enough and it can feel like more should be happening. It becomes easy to wonder why God is not giving the same wins. That trap breeds doubt. If everyone else looks blessed, it can raise the question of whether faith is somehow being done wrong.

In Colossians 3, believers are commanded to keep their eyes set on things above, where Christ is, not on the things of this world. That includes social media likes and followers, opinions on the lives of others compared to ours and similar distractions. In James 3:14-16, believers are warned against harboring bitter envy or selfish ambition in their hearts and that such wisdom does not come from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic. There is clear biblical evidence against comparison.

But as mentioned before, social media can also be used for positivity. People make Christian skits online, teach valuable lessons that believers can learn from, build community and share encouragement. People are coming to faith all around the world through social media. Celebrities share testimonies and encourage others to seek the Lord. Superstar athletes share their faith and give glory to God any chance they get. That has certainly happened in years past, but without a doubt social media has helped amplify it.

The key for believers is to guard their hearts and eyes when social media goes against God's word. Pray and ask God for discernment to help guide what is consumed on social media and how it is used. It is important to take action, even if that means using the tools provided to manage and restrict screen time. Social media works on an algorithm. Build that algorithm so that it feeds godly content. But the most important thing is remembering that social media does not replace real time in God's word and with God's people.