Jennifer grabbed her phone, hopped onto her bed and started browsing the wonderful world of Pinterest. Scrolling through the categories she came to one of her favorites—fashion. As she browsed through the never ending images, she pinned, pinned, pinned away. “Adorable,”
“For my dream closet,” “To die for,” were the comments she left with each pin.
Her dream closet was set, and it was time to move into her dream future.
She plugged “celebrity guys” into the search bar. “He is a dreamboat,” “What a hottie,” “Look at those abs.” Jennifer’s dream future was in place. The hottest looking guys on the block were quickly pinned to her board titled, “Guys.”
Does that story sound familiar to you? Don’t worry, I’m not intentionally spying on your Pinterest boards, but I’ve noticed a trend among Christian girls. Ever since Pinterest was created, Christian girls have been pinning, pinning, pinning. Sadly, I’ve noticed that many girls seem to be living a fantasy life through their Pinterest boards and pinning images that don’t measure up to God’s standards.
Clarification: I’m not totally against Pinterest. I enjoy looking at fun new fashion ideas, remodeling ideas, adorable animals, DIY’s, and much more. I think it can be a pretty cool tool when it comes to projects and much-needed boosts of inspiration.
But who you are online should reflect who God calls you to be in “real life.”
Here is my question: If I was given access to two Pinterest boards, one being yours and the other being a non-Christian’s, would it be obvious that you are Christian by your board?
Would I clearly see that your pins are more pure and God-honoring than a non-Christian girl’s?
Sadly, I’ve seen a lot of Christian girl’s Pinterest boards, and I can’t say that they look much different than the world. Somehow the fact that it’s online and not “real” seems to justify the type of pins being picked.
Does God care about our Pinterest boards? You bet! He cares about every area of our lives. So how can we know what kind of girl He wants us to be online (and offline)? Through His Word.
Wild vs. Wise Women
Here is a comparison between the “wild woman” described in Proverbs 7 and the wise woman described throughout God’s Word. As you read through, ask yourself which type of woman your fantasy Pinterest girl is representing. Which of the characteristics best describe your current Pinterest boards?
The Wild Woman:
- Sexual (Prov. 7:5)
- Provocative (Prov. 7:10)
- Rebellious (Prov. 7:11)
- Enticing (Prov. 7:21)
- Loud (Prov. 7:11)
The Wise Woman:
- Wise with her tongue (Prov. 31:26)
- Avoids sexual sin (1 Cor. 6:13)
- Keeps her eyes from sin (Psalm 101:3)
- Fears the Lord (Prov. 31:30)
- Loves purity (Phil. 4:8)
I want to challenge you to evaluate your Pinterest board and see what has been captivating your attention. Do the things you pin communicate “wild” or “wise”?
What have you been browsing, and what have you been pinning? Would you say that it fits with God’s definition of a wise woman?
Let me offer you some suggestions in the section below. Keep reading for practical application.
Make It Personal
Are you willing to delete all the pictures off of your Pinterest boards that are not honoring to God? If you aren’t sure which pictures are and aren’t, read through the above passages for some clues.
What boundaries can you put in place? Here are a few suggestions:
- Delete the app off your phone.
- Commit to only getting on during the day (No nighttime visits)
- Log on for a certain amount of time a day. (For example, 30 minutes)
- Give access to a wise friend or parent.
- Delete your account altogether.
Make this verse your Pinterest mantra,
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
Written by Bethany Baird
