WHAT ARE YOU BROADCASTING?

Dearly Beloved, WHAT ARE YOU BROADCASTING? “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV). The accessibility of online social media (like Facebook, WhatsApp Messenger, BlackBerry Messenger, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, Instagram, imo, Tango, Skype and the likes) through mobile phones, computers and other Internet-enabled tools has made it very easy for many people to become broadcasters without any journalistic training. Any information can become viral and get to the uttermost part of the world in a matter of minutes through these social media as people forward such message from one source to the other without verifying its authenticity. The fact that many mobile phones and other mobile technological tools have in-built cameras and voice recorders makes it easy to record audio messages and/or video occurrences and transmit such to other people instantly. This indeed is a good and welcome development. However, what are you broadcasting through these social media? Apostle Paul in his first epistle to the Christians in Thessalonica commended them for “broadcasting” the word of God to every place around them (see 1:8). These were people that were at risk for accepting the Gospel (see 1:6). They lived when the Gospel message was not popular: a message that seemed foolish to the common people then (see Acts 17:1-15; 1 Corinthians 1:18). In spite of this, the message became viral through the Thessalonians to other places. The lives and words of these Christians in Thessalonica became the “social media” through which the word of God was “broadcast” to other people. Again, what are you broadcasting through social media? Are they unconfirmed news/alert, useless jokes, pornographic pictures/video clips, politics, sports, job alerts, or the Gospel message? What are you known for on social media? The types of posts/messages you “like” and/or make comment about (which you are actually indirectly broadcasting) and the types of posts/messages that you directly broadcast/rebroadcast on social media will also determine who really you are and what you are “broadcasting” to the world. While many people may not see you or live with you to assess your character, your broadcasts on social media go a long way to portray who you are, and they serve as veritable tools to tell the world about the Gospel message. Will you be commended or condemned for what you are broadcasting on social media? What are you broadcasting? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to use the social media in commendable ways by broadcasting inspiring messages especially the Gospel message.