Seven Deadly Apps

by Lillian Daniel | published on Oct 15, 2017

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

It seems that for every ancient sin, there is a social media app. Envy? Try Pinterest. You get so busy looking at pictures of what other people have, you don’t pay attention to what is right in front of you. “Sorry kids, I can’t play with you right now. I am too busy pinning pictures of hand carved playroom furniture to my ‘I Love Being a Mom’ board.” 

“Social networks do best when they tap into one of the seven deadly sins,” LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman told the Wall Street Journal back in 2011,  “LinkedIn is greed,” he admitted, and I would have to agree. It really is the most simultaneously boring and annoying app of all time. Those invitations better pay off. 

If you want to connect without actually having much connection, the technology has never been easier. Lust? The dating app Tinder can get you there. Gluttony? Indulge in all those pictures of food and vacations on Instagram. 

Anger? Twitter.  Now, more than ever. Sorry losers and haters.  #Fakenews WORST EVER

“Why does the website that caters to our baser instinct always seem like the sound investment?” a recent article in the Atlantic asked. “And why have the civics-focused social networks yet to take off?”  

I could think about that troubling and important question, but I’m too busy indulging my sin of sloth on Netflix. 

As for pride, they say it is the big sin from which the others flow. So, while I still think Facebook does it best, I suspect all forms of social media can be used in pride’s humble service.  

So, if you appreciate this devotional I just wrote, be sure to like it, post it, tweet it, share it and follow me on Facebook, LOL. 

Prayer

Dear God, forgive us when we spend more time liking things on social media than we spend loving you. 

(PS: Prayer is not a tweet, so feel free to add on here, as many characters as you like, sharing only with God.) 

16177.jpg About the Author
Lillian Daniel’s new book Tired of Apologizing for a Church I Don’t Belong To: Spirituality without Stereotypes, Religion without Ranting is now available for purchase, but you can hear it all for free at 1st Congregational Church of Dubuque, Iowa.