The Digital Snape: Is Social Media Stealing Your Soul (and Your Marriage)?
We’ve all seen it. You walk into a restaurant, and instead of the hum of conversation, there’s a heavy, eerie silence punctuated only by the clinking of silverware. Every person at the table—from the dad to the youngest child—is hunched over a glowing screen. We call it “staying connected”, but as a recent sermon from the channel Are We Relevant? points out, we might actually be falling into a very old trap with a very modern design.
In a world where we spend 5-7 hours a day glued to our devices, it’s time to ask a hard question: Are you using your phone, or is your phone being used to destroy what matters most to you?
The “Devices” of the Modern Era
The video Are you trapped by social Media? opens with a sobering reminder from 2 Corinthians 2:11: “Lest Satan get advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” [00:24]. While we often think of “devices” as our hardware—iPhones, tablets, laptops—the speaker suggests that these are the literal tools being used to “devour” our time and attention [00:49].
For 6,000 years, the goal has remained the same: to get us to turn our backs on God and on each other. Only now, the “serpent” doesn’t need to hide in a tree; he’s right in your pocket.
1. The Death of Real Connection
We’ve become a world of “walking zombies”. People walk down the street with earphones in and eyes down, never looking up to acknowledge a neighbour [01:53]. We sit in church, we sit in our homes, and we look at the phone instead of the person across from us [02:07]. This “silent world” is a direct attack on the human need for face-to-face communion.
2. The Silent Killer of Marriages
Perhaps the most harrowing part of the message is the link between social media and the breakdown of the family. The speaker cites terrifying statistics: in some regions, there are over 400 divorces per week, with nearly half occurring within the first 10 years of marriage [03:03].
How does it start? It’s never a “big sin” at first.
- The Notification: A ping on WhatsApp. [03:26]
- The Rationalisation: “It’s just an old school friend.” [04:03]
- The Interaction: A simple thumbs-up or a “like” on a Facebook post. [04:27]
Because these actions feel small, we excuse them. But these “innocent” digital interactions often grow into meetings, tea dates, and eventually, the destruction of a marriage [05:03]. Satan uses these tools to steal your partner and kill your intimacy.
The Thief in the Screen
The video references John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” [08:44].
Social media acts as that thief by:
- Stealing your imagination and joy. [09:25]
- Planting seeds of doubt. It is easier than ever to find content that tells you the Bible isn’t true or that Jesus isn’t God [10:12].
- Luring children away. The speaker shares a heartbreaking story of a mother who bought her son a phone out of frustration, only to later write a letter saying, “I’m a mother without a son,” because the device stole his attention and his heart away from his family [13:13].
How to Fight Back: A Spiritual Warfare Strategy
If you feel like your house is under attack, you don’t argue with your spouse—you go after the “snake” that entered the garden. The speaker emphasizes that we aren’t wrestling against flesh and blood (our partners or children) but against spiritual wickedness [18:05].
Step 1: Put on the Armour.
Don’t be passive. Use the Word of God as your shield. Recognise the “wiles of the devil” within your apps and your scrolling habits [17:50].
Step 2: Act Immediately
If there was a physical snake in your house, you wouldn’t wait a week to deal with it; you’d get a shovel now [19:16]. If you see bitterness or distance growing in your marriage because of a phone, address it today. Pray together, talk face-to-face, and invite God back into that space.
Step 3: Choose “Face-to-Face” over “Facebook”
Social media can be a tool for good, but it is a terrible master. The speaker challenges us to:
- Throw the phone away for a while. Go for a weekend away without it [24:00].
- Make an appointment. Get in your car and go see someone [23:30].
- Give God the glory. Instead of seeking “likes” for yourself, use your platforms to tell people what God has done for you [21:51].
Final Thoughts: Reclaim Your Abundant Life
The promise of Christ isn’t found in a TikTok feed; it’s an “overflowing life” that happens when we are present [15:11]. Don’t let a 6-inch screen steal your purpose or your family.
Watch the full message here: Are you trapped by social Media?
It’s time to look up, put the phone down, and start living the life you were actually meant for. Phone a friend today—not a text, not a DM—an actual call. You might be surprised at how much joy it brings back into your world [24:35].
