8 Tips for Evangelising on Social Media

Social media can be a fruitful mission field, but used poorly it can also harm the faith. Günther Simmermacher offers some tips on how we all may evangelise well on social media.

Whenever we are talking about matters of our faith, we have a chance to evangelise — or the capacity to turn people off God. This is amplified in the digital world when we engage on social media, often from the safety of our privacy. But what we type on our keyboards or phones reaches others, and with our words, we can do good or bad.

As Catholics, we should always aim to propose Christ, in our words and in our attitudes. Some people do it in an organised way, having obtained the requisite skills for creating evangelising content, using the various available platforms. For most of us, when we identify on the socials as Catholics, just our presence means that we have a missionary opportunity.

Here are eight tips for evangelising on social media, and what to avoid.

Represent!

Sadly, many of those who might be effective missionaries on social media are absent from it. How many bishops are present on the socials? At the same time, some very enthusiastic Catholics are poor missionaries because they aim to dictate rather than propose God to others.

At all times, those identifying themselves as Catholics on social media represent Christ and the Church. This means that our conduct and our content must always reflect that reality. Our task must be to show people the beauty of the Gospel which builds us up and never tears down.

It also means that we mustn’t make the Lord look foolish. Bad theology, misrepresented Church teachings and practices, ill-informed apologetics, lack of compassion, and so on, feed anti-Catholicism. Just listen to celebrity atheists — the God they reject is not the God in which well-formed Catholics believe. Likely, such people received their image of God from bad religion, presented by Christians themselves.

Be gracious

You know what you believe, but not everybody agrees with you. That is the recipe for flare-ups in all kinds of discussion on social media, be it on politics, football or religion.

In debate, avoid getting angry. Put across your point of view with civility, charity, even kindness. Don’t assume that the hotter you argue for Christ, the more you serve him. On the contrary, anger and animosity betray him.

In Scriptures we frequently find Jesus in debate with others, usually people who tried to trick him. And yet, he always remained civil.

Sometimes the nastiest arguments are between Catholics. How can we talk about God’s love when we show acrimony towards one another? Peter and Paul disagreed on many things, but they never let that disrupt their unity.

If you are not certain about whether your post will be understood how you intend it or if you might have chosen the wrong tone, pause before you post; pray over the content — and if in doubt, delete it.

Bodyguarding God

God is almighty. The Church has been around for 2000 years. They will survive all attacks and mockery.

Of course, as Catholics we should state our objections to unfair attacks, mockery and blasphemy. But when we do so, we must not be wrathful or vengeful in our tone, even if we are angered. Rage will not persuade those to whom we are responding, nor the “onlookers” who follow the debate.

God doesn’t need us to act as his bodyguards; he can take care of himself. And in its nearly 2000 years, the Church has survived violent persecutions, suppression, wars and division. It will survive ignorant memes and bad jokes. Jesus promised that he will be with us till the end of time. If we act as though a bit of derision could bring down the Church, we show doubt in that promise.

When you mount a defence of your faith, ask yourself: Will my response teach others something, or will it look like I’m responding in anger because my own pride in my faith has been hurt?

Be a healer

Many people who have abandoned the faith did so because they felt hurt, neglected or rejected by the Church. When confronted with such stories, don’t judge. Acknowledge that the institution sometimes does get things wrong and that there indeed are hypocrites in the pews (and there’s always space for more), because it is run by humans. But the Church is greater than the people running and populating it. Emphasise, in words and demeanour, the joy of being a Catholic who has access to a spiritual treasury unlike any other.

Be humble

Few people on social media like to present themselves as imperfect. But don’t shy away from revealing your problems — everybody has them! Take your struggles as an opportunity to show others how you face these with God by your side.

That requires humility. But have you ever noticed which quality people most often highlight about priests or bishops who impress them? They’ll say: “He’s so humble.”

Be troll-proof

This is difficult: to remain cool when an Internet troll throws shade at you. When you encounter ridicule or attack, remember that Christ warned us that this would happen.

But if you live a life of prayer, receive the sacraments, belong to a real community of fellow believers, and have Jesus and Our Lady by your side, what power can a troll have over you?

And it goes without saying: Don’t be a troll yourself!

Be truthful

Social media is full of lies. Sometimes a meme that purports to present something you fully agree with may be based on something that is not true. Double-check everything before you share it, or you might break the 8th Commandment — and lying in support or defence of God is blasphemous.

Propose God!

Speaking about God isn’t always easy. But when God has done things for you, don’t be shy to tell people. And even if you have nothing to tell, be sure that in all you say and all you do, you reflect the Divine. Let your contacts on social media think: “Yes, I want this in my life too!”

Published in the January2025 issue of The Southern Cross magazine