5 Ways Social Media is Rewiring Your Soul (And What Jesus Says About It)

Jan 8

It's 3 AM, and you're still scrolling. Your thumb moves mechanically while your eyes glaze over. Another video, another post, another fleeting moment of connection. Sound familiar? I've been there – we all have.

Every morning, my wife and I have coffee together. It's our sacred time – just us, a homemade latte, and conversation about the day ahead. But yesterday, something shifted. Ten minutes in, we both had our phones out. The coffee grew cold while we scrolled through feeds, sharing the same space but living in different digital worlds.

That's when it hit me: we're living in a world where the virtual is drowning out the vital. Our real lives are becoming background noise to our digital existence.

Here's what's fascinating: while we're chasing likes, shares, and the perfect filter, something profound is happening beneath the surface. Our brains – and more importantly, our inner lives – are being fundamentally rewired.

We're seeing shifts in how we seek validation, build connections, and find meaning. And most of us don't even realize it's happening.

“We spend an average of 2 hours 27 minutes on social media daily”

Read that again: We spend an average of 2 hours 27 minutes on social media daily. That's nearly one full day per week given to the scroll.

What if those minutes were reshaping more than our schedules? What if they were actually rewiring our souls?

5 Ways Social Media is Rewiring Your Soul

1. The Validation Vortex

Every notification triggers a dopamine hit. We're becoming emotional slot machines, chasing the next rush of likes. Just last week, I caught myself posting a Bible verse just to see how many "amens" I'd get. Here's what struck me: Jesus addressed this heart issue directly in Matthew 6:1: "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them." The warning isn't about the platform – it's about the posture of our hearts.

2. The Comparison Trap

We're curating highlight reels while living blooper reels. Let me be honest: I've retaken photos of my “spontanious” moments just to make them look better. This digital keeping-up-with-the-Joneses is exhausting our souls. Jesus's words cut straight to the heart: "Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15). Or in modern terms – followers, likes, or perfectly filtered photos.

3. The Attention Erosion

Our capacity for deep thought is fragmenting. The average person checks their phone 96 times daily – that's once every 10 minutes of our waking hours. I noticed recently that I can't even make it through a single conversation without reaching for my phone. Jesus modeled something radically different – regular withdrawal for prayer and reflection (Luke 5:16). What if our souls are starving for that same kind of sacred solitude?

4. The Connection Paradox

We're more connected yet lonelier than ever. We know what our old college roommate had for breakfast but haven't had a real conversation with our neighbor in months. Real community is being replaced by digital approximations. Jesus emphasized physical presence and breaking bread together (Acts 2:46). There's something irreplaceable about eye contact, shared meals, and unfiltered laughter.

5. The Identity Confusion

We're outsourcing our self-worth to algorithms. Every refresh of our feed is really a search for approval. But Jesus offers a radically different metric: "You are valuable because you're created in God's image" (Genesis 1:27). No number of followers can add to or subtract from that fundamental truth.

Hearing about how social media affects your soul can feel overwhelming. But here's the good news: small changes create significant shifts. Here are four practical ways to start rewiring your soul back to what matters most:

4 Ways to Fight back

Instead of feeling guilty about your screen time or trying to quit cold turkey, let's focus on building new habits that heal rather than harm.

1. Create Digital-Free Sacred Spaces

Start by identifying your sacred spaces: morning coffee, family dinners, date nights, or your quiet time with God. These moments deserve your full presence.

Try this: Create physical 'phone boxes' in your home – beautiful containers where devices rest while relationships grow.

2. Practice the Art of Presence

"Be where your feet are" isn't just a cute phrase – it's a spiritual discipline. When you're at church, be at church. When you're with friends, be with friends. I started wearing a watch again so I wouldn't check my phone for the time and get caught in the scroll.

Here's a challenge: Next time you're waiting in line, resist the urge to pull out your phone. Instead, pray for the people around you. Notice details. Practice being fully present in what feels like empty space.

3. Reset Your Worth Matrix

Before you open any social media app, open your Bible app. Before you check your notifications, check in with God. I've started a new practice: for every minute I spend on social media in the morning, I spend an equal minute in prayer or Scripture. It's revolutionary how this shifts your perspective from temporary likes to eternal love.

Start your day by declaring this truth: "I am loved by God, known by God, and valuable to God – no matter what my notifications say."

4. Invest in Three-Dimensional Community

Virtual community is like sugar-free candy – it gives you a taste of the real thing but it’s not the real thing. Start investing in what I call "3D relationships" – real people, real conversations, real presence. Host a dinner where phones stay in a basket by the door. Join a small group that meets in person. Have coffee with someone instead of just liking their posts.

A Prayer for Digital Disciples

Let me leave you with a prayer you can start praying: “Lord, help me use technology without being used by it. Show me how to be salt and light in digital spaces while keeping my soul anchored in eternal truth. Give me wisdom to know when to engage and when to unplug. Amen.”

Remember: Jesus didn't call us to isolation but to transformation. The goal isn't to abandon technology – it's to use it in ways that deepen rather than diminish our souls.

Clay Monkus

Clay has devoted nearly three decades to reimagining what church can be. As a pastor and leader, he's dedicated his life to creating authentic spaces for people who've previously walked away from faith and church. His passion isn't found in building traditional religious structures, but in fostering communities where every person's story is safe and no one faces judgment.

Clay has consistently pushed against the conventional boundaries of church culture, choosing instead to focus on what he believes matters most: helping people discover the full and meaningful life Jesus offers.

Through his authentic approach and genuine care for others, he's helped countless individuals find hope and purpose, particularly those who thought they'd closed the door on faith forever.

With more than 30 years of pastoral experience, Clay leads with a simple mission: everyone's welcome, no perfect people allowed. His approach to ministry emphasizes creating safe spaces where real conversations happen and genuine community flourishes.