Andy Sherrill

Forgiven Sinner, Servant of Christ, Expositor, Confessionally Reformed Baptist (1689 London Confession), Pastor, Husband and Father.

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

**The Dangers of Social Media and the Internet**

“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

It has been 15 years since I first began to use social media. I was very skeptical, but was encouraged to engage, “because that’s where the people are.” I was told of all the potential for ministry. And so I began.

Through the years I have not been silent that my concerns have remained, yet I did not leave. As a pastor and evangelist I have often found myself in very uncomfortable, contemptible, and even dangerous places, because of my desire to carry the life saving message of the Gospel to those enslaved in sin.

However, there is always a danger of becoming hardened to sin, calloused and indifferent. There is always the danger of having your own heart carried away from devotion to Christ.

This is a constant struggle that we must face as Christians. We are in the world, but not of the world. How do we engage the world with the Gospel, without falling into the pits which we must inevitably pass?

My concerns about the internet in general, and social media in particular have not been reduced in the least. Many are the dangers. For every positive effect, there are a hundred negative effects. I have grown more and more afraid. Afraid for my own soul, for the souls of those of my family, of those whom I shepherd, just afraid in general. It’s as though the Church has been secretly drugged until she has become an addict.

Now to be clear, I am not saying that social media is inherently sinful. But that also does not mean that it is good for you. There are many things which are not inherently sinful, which are very addictive and can be very harmful.

Social media has a way of implying that everyone has the right and obligation to be heard. It encourages people to constantly voice their opinions and to rant about every frustration. It constantly seeks for attention through likes, views, and comments. We no longer know who to listen to. Experts and amateurs all look alike.

The whole genre incubates selfishness, contentiousness, pride, and envy. Honestly, I cannot say that my soul is one wit better for the decade and a half I have used these platforms. In fact, most of my greatest battles with sin have been directly related. I struggle to focus as well as I once did. I struggle to balance time with my family. I don’t read as well as I did. I battle discouragement far more than ever. My time in prayer and the Word is distracted. Overall, I would say the effect has been almost universally negative, with the exception of a few friends and ministries which have been helpful to me through the platforms.
I have said for some time that I believe Christian social media should shut down, because more times than not it has been a reproach to Christ, rather than glorifying to Him (obviously there are exceptions). Yet I have remained.

I have taken brief hiatuses and I even drastically changed the way I used social media a few years ago, but I have never really cut the cord. I wrestle with all of the normal rationale about “being were the people are” etc. Yet, for the sake of my own soul, the good of my family, and those for whom I must give an account, I am not sure the arguments hold up.

Therefore, I will radically alter my behavior and usage of the internet and specifically social media. I do not plan to delete my account entirely, at least not at the moment, but I will severely cut my time and energy used on it, perhaps completely I do not know. I may return and I may not. At this point I want some time to evaluate the options.

I have seen many people post that they are leaving social media, through the years, only to prove to do otherwise in the future. Be sure that is not what I am doing. If you desire to continue interactions and do not have my personal contact information, I will check this page until the end of the week. After that, Facebook and X will no longer be a viable way to reach me.

My intention for writing this post is to encourage believers to seriously consider what is at stake. We often see and criticize the danger, but never really deal radically with it, then we have the audacity to act shocked when we see the consequences. If you stay, then I wish you well, but please don’t do so mindlessly.

The truth is, I have not been called to pastor the internet. I have very little influence at all, and the stewardship I have been entrusted with was not to be a keyboard warrior. I do not know how long I have left on this earth, but I know for certainty that on the other side of the river of death I will face God, and I want to be found faithful.

I want to spend more time with my God, my family, and with the venerable dead which await me in my study. And so I bid you, Adieu.

[Reformed Baptist Network @RefBapNet]

Thankful for the dedicated mighty men and women who made up the 2026 Reformed Baptist Network General Assembly in McKinney, TX.

We celebrated our 10th anniversary, and
hosted Dr. Joel Beeke as our keynote speaker.

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@Support why do I keep getting labels and restrictions on my account? This started back in the spring after a religious post.

[Mark Chanski @markchanski]

John Gill:
“The reward of good works will be of grace, and not of merit:
good works will be considered at the last judgment,
not as causes of eternal life and happiness,
but as FRUITS of grace,
and EVIDENCES of the truth of faith, and of the saints’ union to Christ, and interest in him.”

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@Support I keep getting temporary labels added to my account. What’s the deal? I haven’t even been posting or commenting on the platform…

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

I want to take this opportunity to say to the @PredsNHL “You need to repent of your embrace of unnatural and perverse lifestyles. Repent of promoting what God hates. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Look to Him and live.”

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@elonmusk I have appreciated your support of “free speech” over the years, but I was recently banned from X for calling the @PredsNHL to repent for their LGBTQ propaganda. I said this as both a fan and a Christian. Yet, I was banned under the label of “inauthentic activity.”

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

I now have a temporary label added to my account which limits its reach. I have violated no rules. If X is serious about being a “free speech” platform then these issues need fixed.

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

“Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty conscience peace
Or wash away the stain.

But Christ, the heav’nly Lamb,
Takes all our sins away;
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.”

Isaac Watts

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

τετέλεσται

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

It is sad to see so many in the Reformed camp abandoning Christianity in favor of nationalism.

It’s the moral majority all over…

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel⁠—“ Galatians 1:6

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@elonmusk There aren’t any innocent. Yet, God’s love ad mercy was demonstrated in this that Christ died to save sinners. Look to Jesus with the eye of faith and live.

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@BrdgstoneArena Repent

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@PredsNHL Repent

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@PredsNHL @BrdgstoneArena @FanDuelSN_SO @1025TheGame Repent

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@PredsNHL Repent

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

@PredsNHL Repent

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

https://t.co/tBCwtYYIPt

Is it well with your soul?

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” 2 Timothy 2:24-25a

[Andy Sherrill @sherrill_andy]

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14