20 Bible Verses for Using Our Words on Social Media

The Christian and social media.

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Social media can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on how we use it.

As in all areas of life, a Christian’s words should be guided by what God has said in His word. As it turns out, there’s a lot that God has said that addresses our speech.

We will look at 20 Bible verses reminding God’s people how to use our words - even on social media.

Ephesians 4:15.

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

We must speak what is true. It also matters that we communicate the truth in love - a genuine desire for the well-being of others.

2 Timothy 2:24-26.

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

In teaching others, the Lord’s servant (which applies to all Christians) must not be quarrelsome (looking for a fight) but must teach God’s word accurately, gently, patiently, and humbly. There must be a sincere desire to help save the souls of those opposing the truth.

2 Timothy 4:2.

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

Whether it’s a popular message or not, God’s word must be proclaimed to encourage and correct. This must be done with faithfulness to God’s word and longsuffering.

Colossians 4:5-6.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

The life and speech of a Christian must be characterized by “wisdom” and “graciousness” toward those who are not Christians so that we can know how to provide answers to them about the gospel of Christ (Colossians 4:2-4).

1 Peter 3:15-16.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 

Even if Christians are falsely accused and reviled, we must always be prepared to defend our hope in Christ “with gentleness and respect.”

Galatians 5:22-23.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The Christian’s life ought to be characterized by “the fruit of the Spirit” and not the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21). These things must extend to our words on social media as well.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

You’ve probably heard how you can replace the word “love” in these verses with your name. The point is that our lives as Christians should be characterized by love. Are our words on social media a reflection of this?

Ephesians 4:31-32.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

We ought to treat others based on how God in Christ treated us.

Philippians 2:3-4.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The Christian ought to have “the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5-11) - a humble, selfless mindset.

James 1:19-20.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

I wrote an article about two years ago from this passage titled, “How Christians Ought to Interact with Others on Social Media.” There is tremendous wisdom in following what James wrote in this passage, especially in our social media interactions.

Proverbs 15:1.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

The way we speak to people - even on social media - makes an enormous difference in the direction a conversation takes.

Proverbs 12:18.

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Uncontrolled words are like trying to stab someone to death, while wise, controlled words are like healing medicine.

Proverbs 16:24.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Gracious and pleasant words are sweet to receive and can make a lasting difference in a person’s life.

Proverbs 10:19.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Wisdom sometimes means not saying anything. There is an ongoing flow of sin in the life of a person who doesn’t know when to close their mouth.

Proverbs 11:12.

He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

It is a foolish thing to despise or disrespect your neighbor. Wisdom and understanding mean not saying what you might feel like saying.

Proverbs 11:17.

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

It’s actually to your benefit to be kind to others. If you are cruel in how you treat or speak to others, you end up causing trouble for yourself.

Proverbs 13:3.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Once again, wisdom means not always saying everything you might want to say. A runaway mouth has been the undoing of many people.

Proverbs 21:23.

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Guarding what comes out of our mouths will spare us from a lot of trouble.

Proverbs 18:7.

A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

On the other hand, the one who doesn’t guard his words is brought to ruin and is caught in the trap of his own devising.

Luke 6:45.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 

Our words are like fruit on a tree (Luke 6:43-44). Just as a bad tree bears bad fruit, so an evil heart brings forth evil words and speech. The words we say and how we talk to other people directly reflect the condition of our hearts.

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Social media is a tool. How we use it depends on us.

As Christians, our light should continue to shine even when we are on social media.