--- title: 5 Ways To Let Your Light Shine Online description: The appeal of social media in the 21st century is undeniable. The various platforms for sharing, from Facebook to Instagram to WeChat to Pinterest to {insert your favorite here}, offer connection to those we care about, and a channel for self-publication. But do we consciously consider how our social media use fits with our Christian […] --- - - - - - - - - - [![tunein-svgrepo-com (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/tunein-svgrepo-com%20(1).svg) ](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/WELSTech-Audio-p1206615/) - [![Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png?width=16&height=16&name=Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png) ](https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/g/welstech) - [Stitcher icon ](https://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/22792) - - - This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # 5 Ways To Let Your Light Shine Online Post by [Sallie Draper](https://welstech.wels.org/author/sallie-draper) September 19, 2017 The appeal of social media in the 21st century is undeniable. The various platforms for sharing, from Facebook to Instagram to WeChat to Pinterest to *{insert your favorite here}*, offer connection to those we care about, and a channel for self-publication. But do we consciously consider how our social media use fits with our Christian walk? I recently read the new [Churchm.ag](https://Churchm.ag) eBook [*The Social Christian*](https://churchmag.press/social-christian/). It served as a good reminder of why we do ***everything** *we do in this world – to share the Gospel message of the redemptive work of Jesus with everyone. With the reach of social media, many doors are now open to us which didn’t exist a decade ago. Rather than hide the saving Gospel, we can share it via social media in all we do and say. As you consider how best to use social media, consider these five guidelines for how and what you share: 1. ![](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ShineOnline-300x199.jpg?width=300&height=199&name=ShineOnline-300x199.jpg)**Be in the Word** – If only we had an instruction book for letting our light shine in the digital world. But wait … we do! God’s holy, inerrant Word found on the pages of the Bible is our all-encompassing instruction book. If we struggle with what to say or whether to say anything on social media, we can find the answer in prayerful study of his Word. With the Word nurtured in our hearts, our words and actions – both face-to-face and online – will reflect the joy of salvation we have received freely from Jesus Christ. Consider the amount of time you spend in the Word compared to using social media. Would your postings have a different flavor (perhaps including more “salt” ~ Colossians 4:6) if those times were reversed? > “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” > ~ Colossians 3:16-17 CSB 2. **Decrease self/Increase God** – Often I consider whether my posts on social media are narcissistic or self-absorbed or vain. It’s an easy trap to fall into when my own personal pedestal awaits on my favorite social media platform. Look what I did … Look how adorable my kids are … Look at how lovely my home is …To avoid that trap, consider that most people predominantly post the “highs” of their life on social media. Do we normally see posts about their failures, the times they have to discipline their children, their messy house? Those aren’t the norm. I’ve found it best to just be real. And reality for me is I’m a sinner who needs a savior. My normal is definitely not pedestal worthy. Instead I can elevate Christ alone in the good and bad of my normal life. He is my sure hope in times of sorrow and of blessing. > “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” > ~ 1 Peter 3:15 NIV 3. **Lift up others** – Make it your mission to share your joy in Jesus with your social media contacts. Where there is sorrow, share compassion and strength. Pray for those in need. Share a special verse or song (like the *I Will Rise* video shared below) that offers comfort. Let them know you care and, more importantly, that your savior Jesus cares. > “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” > ~ Ephesians 4:2 4. **Share wisely** – Perhaps you enjoy sharing things via social media. This tip is here to encourage you to be careful of what you share. Many links today can lead others who may not have faith or whose faith isn’t deeply rooted to explore associated content that isn’t God-pleasing. Satan would like nothing better than to use a Christian to lead someone away from salvation. > “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” > ~ 1 Peter 5:8 NIV 5. **Give God the glory** – I’ll say it again … In all things (including social media posts) give God glory!  One of my favorite ways to do this is through the popular practice of hashtaging posts. Oddly, this running together of words to convey what you are thinking has added another creative layer to our communication. Everyone enjoys coming up with and reading clever hashtags. When I close my post with what I’ve termed **#hashtags4Him**, I have turned not only my eyes and heart toward Jesus, but also those who read my posts. **#salvationthroughJesusiswhatmattersmost** > “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” > ~ 1 Peter 1:3 NIV Martin Luther College – *I Will Rise*. [See All Ministry Resources](https://welstech.wels.net/category/ministry-resource/) ###### Tags: [Ministry Resource, ](https://welstech.wels.org/tag/ministry-resource) [Christian, ](https://welstech.wels.org/tag/christian) [social media](https://welstech.wels.org/tag/social-media) ###### You might also like ### [755 – Social Media Graphics That Matter](https://welstech.wels.org/2025/07/24/7550-social-media-graphics-that-matter) ### [466: Social Media for Ministry: Pinterest](https://welstech.wels.org/2016/10/11/466-social-media-for-ministry-pinterest) ### [218 – Boundaries](https://welstech.wels.org/2012/01/11/218-boundaries) ### [371 – What Is My Purpose?](https://welstech.wels.org/2014/12/09/371-what-is-my-purpose) ### [488 – From Pork to Palms](https://welstech.wels.org/2017/03/14/488-from-pork-to-palms) ### [462 – Social Media for Ministry: Instagram](https://welstech.wels.org/2016/09/13/462-social-media-for-ministry-instagram) ### Comments ### About WELSTech exists to explore the use of technology to further the spread of the gospel. Audio episodes are released biweekly. This show is sponsored by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). ![WELSlogo_fullcolor_web_minsize](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Welstech/WELSlogo_fullcolor_web_minsize.webp?width=150&height=71&name=WELSlogo_fullcolor_web_minsize.webp) ##### Upcoming Show Topics ##### Archives Select a month… ▼ - [June 2026 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2026/06) - [May 2026 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2026/05) - [April 2026 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2026/04) - [March 2026 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2026/03) - [February 2026 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2026/02) - [January 2026 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2026/01) - [December 2025 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/12) - [November 2025 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/11) - [October 2025 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/10) - [September 2025 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/09) - [August 2025 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/08) - [July 2025 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/07) - [June 2025 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/06) - [May 2025 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/05) - [April 2025 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/04) - [March 2025 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/03) - [February 2025 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/02) - [January 2025 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2025/01) - [December 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/12) - [November 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/11) - [October 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/10) - [September 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/09) - [August 2024 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/08) - [July 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/07) - [June 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/06) - [May 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/05) - [April 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/04) - [March 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/03) - [February 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/02) - [January 2024 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2024/01) - [December 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/12) - [November 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/11) - [October 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/10) - [September 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/09) - [August 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/08) - [July 2023 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/07) - [June 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/06) - [May 2023 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/05) - [February 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/02) - [January 2023 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2023/01) - [December 2022 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/12) - [November 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/11) - [October 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/10) - [September 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/09) - [August 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/08) - [July 2022 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/07) - [June 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/06) - [May 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/05) - [April 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/04) - [March 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/03) - [February 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/02) - [January 2022 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2022/01) - [December 2021 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/12) - [November 2021 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/11) - [October 2021 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/10) - [September 2021 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/09) - [August 2021 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/08) - [July 2021 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/07) - [June 2021 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/06) - [May 2021 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/05) - [April 2021 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/04) - [March 2021 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/03) - [January 2021 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2021/01) - [December 2020 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/12) - [November 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/11) - [October 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/10) - [September 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/09) - [August 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/08) - [July 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/07) - [June 2020 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/06) - [May 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/05) - [April 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/04) - [March 2020 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/03) - [February 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/02) - [January 2020 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2020/01) - [December 2019 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/12) - [November 2019 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/11) - [October 2019 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/10) - [September 2019 (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/09) - [August 2019 (2)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/08) - [July 2019 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/07) - [June 2019 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/06) - [May 2019 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/05) - [April 2019 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/04) - [March 2019 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/03) - [February 2019 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/02) - [January 2019 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/12) - [November 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/11) - [October 2018 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/10) - [September 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/09) - [August 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/08) - [July 2018 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/07) - [June 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/06) - [May 2018 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/05) - [April 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/04) - [March 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/03) - [February 2018 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/02) - [January 2018 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2018/01) - [December 2017 (6)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/12) - [November 2017 (8)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/11) - [October 2017 (10)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/10) - [September 2017 (8)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/09) - [August 2017 (9)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/08) - [July 2017 (8)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/07) - [June 2017 (7)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/06) - [May 2017 (10)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/05) - [April 2017 (8)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/04) - [March 2017 (10)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/03) - [February 2017 (8)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/02) - [January 2017 (15)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2017/01) - [December 2016 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/12) - [November 2016 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/11) - [October 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/10) - [September 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/09) - [August 2016 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/08) - [July 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/07) - [June 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/06) - [May 2016 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/05) - [April 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/04) - [March 2016 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/03) - [February 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/02) - [January 2016 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2016/01) - [December 2015 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/12) - [November 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/11) - [October 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/10) - [September 2015 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/09) - [August 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/08) - [July 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/07) - [June 2015 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/06) - [May 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/05) - [April 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/04) - [March 2015 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/03) - [February 2015 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/02) - [January 2015 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2015/01) - [December 2014 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/12) - [November 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/11) - [October 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/10) - [September 2014 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/09) - [August 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/08) - [July 2014 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/07) - [June 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/06) - [May 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/05) - [April 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/04) - [March 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/03) - [February 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/02) - [January 2014 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2014/01) - [December 2013 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/12) - [November 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/11) - [October 2013 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/10) - [September 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/09) - [August 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/08) - [July 2013 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/07) - [June 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/06) - [May 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/05) - [April 2013 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/04) - [March 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/03) - [February 2013 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/02) - [January 2013 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2013/01) - [December 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/12) - [November 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/11) - [October 2012 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/10) - [September 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/09) - [August 2012 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/08) - [July 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/07) - [June 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/06) - [May 2012 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/05) - [April 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/04) - [March 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/03) - [February 2012 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/02) - [January 2012 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2012/01) - [December 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/12) - [November 2011 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/11) - [October 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/10) - [September 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/09) - [August 2011 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/08) - [July 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/07) - [June 2011 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/06) - [May 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/05) - [April 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/04) - [March 2011 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/03) - [February 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/02) - [January 2011 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2011/01) - [December 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/12) - [November 2010 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/11) - [October 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/10) - [September 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/09) - [August 2010 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/08) - [July 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/07) - [June 2010 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/06) - [May 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/05) - [April 2010 (3)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/04) - [March 2010 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/03) - [February 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/02) - [January 2010 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2010/01) - [December 2009 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/12) - [November 2009 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/11) - [October 2009 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/10) - [September 2009 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/09) - [August 2009 (6)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/08) - [July 2009 (9)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/07) - [June 2009 (6)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/06) - [May 2009 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/05) - [April 2009 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/04) - [March 2009 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/03) - [February 2009 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/02) - [January 2009 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2009/01) - [December 2008 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/12) - [November 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/11) - [October 2008 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/10) - [September 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/09) - [August 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/08) - [July 2008 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/07) - [June 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/06) - [May 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/05) - [April 2008 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/04) - [March 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/03) - [February 2008 (5)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/02) - [January 2008 (4)](https://welstech.wels.org/archive/2008/01) [![Subscribe](https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/45057981/wtButnSubscribeEnewsContent-300x164.webp) ](https://welstech.wels.org/e-news-subscription/) WELS.net | [Privacy Policy](https://wels.net/privacy-policy/) - - - - - - - - - [![tunein-svgrepo-com (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/tunein-svgrepo-com%20(1).svg) ](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/WELSTech-Audio-p1206615/) - [![Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png?width=16&height=16&name=Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png) ](https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/g/welstech) - - - - ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Sallie Draper", "url" : "https://welstech.wels.org/author/sallie-draper" }, "datePublished" : "2017-09-19T07:30:53.000Z", "headline" : "5 Ways To Let Your Light Shine Online", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://welstech.wels.org/2017/09/19/5-ways-to-let-your-light-shine-online", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/WELSnet-Logo-2021.png" }, "name" : "Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod" } } ```