Danger, Will Robinson! It seems that we can’t get away entirely from talking about the dangers associated with using Social Media. For good reason.There are dangers everywhere. How did we get here?

We now live an age, where everyone can be a publisher of audio, video and text.

Most of us are still sorting out how to effectively live out our faith online.

These are powerful technologies.

The potential pitfalls and dangers for Christians using social media have been well documented.

Social Media can:

Interfere with Bible reading and prayer. Shorten attention span. Compete with face-to-face relationships. Fuel narcissism. Stroke the ego.

As I see it, there are two ways to respond to the risks of using Social Media. One, label it a problem to be avoided and retreat from active engagement. Two, acknowledge the dangers and redeem the time spent using these media for God’s purposes and glory.

I chose the second response, joining with others that are learning how to integrate faith into Social Media activity.

Granted, it’s on the job training.

A planner by nature, I’ve found that being online without a faith plan indeed exposes one to the aforementioned dangers. To put it bluntly, for me, it was like stepping into a den of deadly snakes with no protection of any kind.

I hate snakes.

Developing a faith plan for Social Media does at least three things: 1) Guards against spiritual attacks, temptations & personal shortcomings; 2) brings clarity to what technology tools should be used and for what purposes; 3) enables a means for measuring progress from using the various media channels.

Here are five-steps to developing a basic faith plan for using Social Media.

1. Have a mission. What is God’s purpose for my ministry and work online? Defining the mission, has enabled me to be intentional in how I work and think while online. The mission is the filter through which I run every media and technology related idea and activity. It steers me clear (on most days) of the myriad of detours and distractions to be found in the wild and wooly new media world.

My mission is “Helping others extend their reach and impact through communication technologies.”

2. Hit your knees before your keys. Online activity has become a part of my daily prayer and Bible reading routine. I’m finding that verses will often come alive with relevance for Twitter and Facebook conversations, online prayer requests, blog posts and comments, and for sharing insights. Do the aways on, internet-connected, wireless devices occasionally compete for my devotional time? Yes, sadly. Still, I’m certain that seeking the Lord and His help first is the only way for me to keep the dazzling technologies in their proper place, as “tools only.”

3. Ask, ‘What Would Jesus Digitize?’ We are Christ’s ambassadors in Cyberspace too. In every communication, interaction and activity. When Jesus gave this astounding promise, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing,” He didn’t restrict it by location or use of lawful and legitimate means, i.e. Digital Media

4. Promote God’s work. I am encouraged by some of the New Media ventures of Christian ministries. Global Media Outreach, Center for Church Communication, Internet Evangelism Day and The Lausanne Global Conversation come to mind. There are many others. Social Media enables us to connect with anyone, anywhere; learn about what they’re doing, and to put their ideas, projects and initiatives immediately into the real-time sharing stream.

5. Innovate. Innovate. Innovate. The interactive, real-time communication of Social Media is facilitating ministry and workplace opportunities we’re just beginning to understand. The more we try new things, share what we’ve learned, and work together to solve problems, the more we will see God’s bigger picture for all this unfold.

With God’s help and working in prayerful support of one another, we can redeem our online presence. “For the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” It could just be a matter of learning again, as the classic phrase says, ‘to be in the world, but not of the world.’ This is our prayer. This is our hope.

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this:

You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

“God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!”

That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.

Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you.

Psalm 91:9-13, The Message

Question: Do you have a faith plan for using Social Media? What steps would you recommend including?