Proverbs 27:2 (KJV) Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
The basic premise of social media is self promotion, which directly conflicts with a biblical worldview and the proverbial injunction against boasting and praising one’s self. That is the fundamental uneasiness a biblical believer will have with putting his/her life out there on social media. It is so easy to cross the line from participating in community to displaying the praiseworthy components of our lives for global consumption.
One way to determine if and when that line is crossed is by looking for the presence or absence of balance. If a person is willing to share the unflattering about their lives as well as the flattering they are likely more concerned about sharing their life experience than they are about seeking praise. If you hear about the ugly behavior of their kids as well as the cute stuff, learn about their screw ups on the job as well as their triumphs, and see their house before it is cleaned as well as after, there is balanced sharing going on.
‘Let another praise you and not you yourself.’ It is, however, possible to use social media to amplify another person’s ability, including strangers, to praise you by affording them viral tools for praising people and groups they like and respect. By encouraging friends and customers to comment about their experiences with us on social media we eliminate self praise and put the tools of praise where they belong: in the hands of others, the ‘end users.’
