Let's Go Back to the Bible

Are We Sharing or Virtue Signaling?

Virtue signaling is a relatively new term. It is the practice of posting your moral opinion of a situation on social media for the purpose of making you look good to a certain group of people. Perhaps garnering more attention and followers. An example of what you might find on Facebook [to be read with Scarlet Ohara dramatization]: “It is so hard to be a righteous daughter of God and find fashionable modest apparel for my teenage daughter.” Or someone announcing how many doors they knocked on in the hot sun for a gospel meeting. Then, people make comments and likes that continue to feed these kinds of posts. In a similar fashion, people post flags, stand in solidarity on social media, and throw out thoughts and prayers all to look moral or get attention. Frankly Scarlet, it is annoying. You might be surprised to learn that this is not a new concept, just a new platform.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 6:1). We need to be careful of falling into the trap of doing things to be seen by men. “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Prov. 27:2). Virtue signaling and fishing for compliments are roundabout ways of praising ourselves. We should be practicing our righteousness for the glory of God. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). The scribes and Pharisees were famous for this type of behavior. “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger” (Matt. 23:2-4).

Is it wrong to post about moral or Godly things? No, but maybe think about why we are doing it. Is it to purely inform people about a particular issue or work of the church? Or are you unnecessarily keeping yourself in the center of the spotlight? Who really is getting the attention? Paul would say, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). John was also exemplary on this point: “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:27). Jesus said there was none like him in the kingdom (Matt. 11:11). If we would humble ourselves and keep the work of the Lord in the spotlight, we would truly be in a good place. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:12). Virtue signaling is just online self-righteousness and brings glory to no one.