When You Have a Platform, Use It Well

November 10, 2015

Every day I've gotten on social media this week, I've been floored by what I've seen. Floored in a good way. 

I've seen Kaitlyn (the Bachelorette) instagramming about spending a night sleeping on the streets in Vancouver later this month to raise money to support the homeless.

I've seen her fiancee use the drama in the media about his rivalry with another contestant to start a "battle" to raise money for Movember which raises awareness for men's health.

I've seen a friend in Missouri tweet relentlessly about the racism and injustice and hunger strikes on her campus, raising awareness about events I never would have heard about otherwise.

I've seen another friend in another state share about the racism and injustice in South Carolina, using her tweets to share that #BlackLivesMatter even as a white woman.

 I've seen a friend share vulnerably and beautifully about her journey to becoming a foster parent with her husband and welcoming a precious little boy into their home and care.

I've seen several influential people share stunning photos and stories for World Adoption Day of the children they adopted and love so fiercely.

People are using their platforms for good. And it floors me.

It floors me because so often, social media becomes debates about red cups and hearts-versus-stars and other useless things. But it doesn't have to be that way, and lately, I've been overwhelmingly reminded of that. It can be powerful. It can be a radical. It can be life-changing and it can be world-changing. We can use social media to share the Gospel when we use it well, and it's incredible to see that happen.

We have platforms like never before. We have access to people all over the world. We can craft a message and share it with the masses in a matter of seconds. We have power. We can raise awareness easily. We can mobilize support quickly. We can be a force for good. We can bring about change. And we're doing it.

It keeps coming to mind that we are called to be in this world but not of it. It applies to social media too. Let's be in it, but not of it. Let's build platforms and then use them to build the Kingdom. Let's build trust and build relationships and raise awareness and raise support and raise money and rally the troops to make things happen.

Let's rise above the drama and the gossip and the things that don't matter and choose to speak love, mercy, grace, and truth.

Let's use our platforms well.