Instagram and the Body of Christ
The role of social media is ever-changing and in this dynamic Covid-19 season, the rate of change has become further amplified.
It has been amazing to be part of the digital connection of Zoom calls, Tiktok and Houseparty to name a few. To connect with each other through increasingly creative forms. To see the youth of Aotearoa really lean into the gift of technology.
All this has got us thinking about what social media (particularly Instagram) is not. It’s not the church, or a spiritual booster for people to become dependent on, or even meant to replace community.
And so we have started to dream what social media could be—a source of connection, challenge, and a prompt to head out of the virtual world and to be grounded in the here and now.
There’s a well-loved passage of Scripture, which exemplifies the notion of balance and everything having its place:
“In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” Romans 12:4-6
This has been a grounding passage for Scripture Union NZ (SUNZ) as we approach our own social media. We each have a role to play in the body of Christ, and while it would be a stretch to say that Instagram is a part of Christ’s body, the people behind it definitely are— which means stewarding Instagram as a way we operate in the body is crucial.
Let’s not dismiss social media as unhelpful or unnecessary. Rather, let’s work with it as a unique way to develop better habits, accountability and to point each other back to Christ.
We’re no social media experts, but please feel free to use our SUNZ Instagram as a resource. We hope that our intention inspires intentions of your own, and prompts you to pursue community as you care for and connect with your young people.
