What Would Jesus Post? by Brian D. Wassom :: A Review

This is a short but thought-provoking book that outlines seven principles Christians should follow in social media. It contains eye-opening statistics and ways the average person, as well as big companies, use social media. The author concedes that the market was lacking resources to point Jesus-followers in the way social media should be used, as defined through a godly lens.

A spin-off of the popular What Would Jesus Do? question, Brian Wassom decided to ask “What Would Jesus Post?” Although our use of computers and social media is light years removed from when Jesus was on earth, Brian does a great job using Biblical wisdom to guide us as to how we should utilize social media. Brian gives a set of guidelines that might be similar to what Jesus would have used if social media had been around when He was on earth.

What Would Jesus Post? caused me to really stop and think. Being a blogger, I write in an online world and I use several social media platforms to connect with people. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and one from way back called ShoutLife. Each outlet has it’s own feel and purpose and is used in different ways.

Have you ever stopped to think about why you’re on social media? Is there a real concrete purpose? Or is it just because everyone else is? When you are on your social media profiles, do you post random thoughts, something funny, or pictures of your kids? Those things are fine – I do those things, too. But have you ever considered purposefully using those platforms in ways that Jesus might?

I won’t go over all of the seven principles now, but something to think about is not only conducting our off-line lives by the Great Commandment, but also using it in our online interactions. The Great Commandment is in Matthew 22:37-39, “And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.”

Love God and love others. Social media allows us to be connected to more people than ever before. We can influence people’s lives and decisions more than ever before. It has potential to give us power. The thing is we need to use our powers for good.

Would our friends know from our posts that we are Jesus-followers? (Understandably, we don’t need to constantly quote Scripture or start debates to let our Light shine through. But is there enough “evidence” that we are different and believe different than the world does?)

Are your interactions with other people online filled with love? Are you kind and understanding?

We are in the world, but we’re not to be of the world. It’s okay to be on social media like the rest of the world. But we don’t need to use it like the rest of the world. Brian ends the book saying that although technology may change, “God’s desire for how we should live our lives does not change. …let’s be discerning of the effect it [social media] has on us and on others, and be intentional in using it to live like Jesus told us to.”

This book was really insightful and impactful to me. I enjoyed taking a different and intentional look at the way I should be using social media. It has made me stop and think before posting things. And it’s given me new ideas on ways to be intentionally connecting and interacting with people online. I’m going to be writing a series of posts over the next few weeks, taking a closer look at some ideas from the book and ones it’s given me. I hope you’ll join me!

(Note for those subscribed to the blog via email: I’ve changed the frequency with which you’ll receive posts. It’s set for twice a week delivery, no matter how many posts I put up. I’m considering even just once a week. It’s set for part of the most current post to be on top and the next five most recent posts listed below that – click the titles to read the ones you want to read. I don’t want to litter up your inbox.)

{Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”}