If It’s Viral, Is It Biblical?

I once heard a theologian say, “If it’s viral, it’s likely not biblical.”

 At first, I thought that was too extreme. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I see the wisdom behind the statement.

 Virality thrives on quick grabs: “you’ve never heard this before,” or “this one verse will change everything.” (and in case you're wondering- yes- I'm guilting of doing this!) But biblical teaching? It often does the opposite. . 

Scripture lives in tension, nuance, and layers of meaning that ask us to slow down and seek understanding.

Think about Jesus’ parables: people walked away scratching their heads. Paul’s letters were so complex that Peter admitted, “There are some things in them that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). God’s Word isn’t shallow—it requires patient listening, careful study, and Spirit-led discernment.

Two verses come to mind when I think about viral theology:

Proverbs 18:2 – “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Test everything; hold fast what is good.”

Those are radically different postures than the “share first, think later” culture of our day.

 God calls us not to be impressed with our own opinions or with clever soundbites, but to test, to discern, and to cling to what’s true. 

A lot of viral Christian reels or posts happen because someone thinks they’ve spotted a secret insight in Scripture. Something new, something shocking.

The problem is—often, the passage isn’t saying what they claim it says. They’ve pulled it out of context, maybe even with good intentions, but the meaning they’ve assigned isn’t really there. It’s like trying to squeeze a “wow factor” out of the Bible instead of letting the Bible speak for itself.

Now, don’t get me wrong—God can and does speak personally to us through His Word in surprising ways. Maybe you’ve had the experience of opening your Bible, your eyes falling on a verse, and it speaking straight to you in that moment. I have! That can be real, not doubt.

But there’s a difference between God using a verse to comfort or guide you personally and claiming, “This is what the verse means for everyone.”

Public teaching (yes- even social media) requires us to handle the Word with care.

We need to ask: What did it mean to the original audience? What’s the timeless principle here? How does it apply today? That’s how we honor Scripture's intended meaning instead of twisting it.

Viral theology often markets itself as a “new revelation” or “something you’ve never heard before.” But God’s truth has been faithfully passed down for generations. Scripture warns us against itching ears that run after novelty (2 Timothy 4:3) and against going beyond what’s written (1 Corinthians 4:6).

 The gospel doesn’t need a flashy hook to be powerful. 

So what do we do when we come across viral Christian content? Here are some simple, biblical steps:

Slow down – Don’t share it just because it sounds good.

Test it – Read the surrounding passage. Does it actually say that?

Seek context – What did this mean to the first hearers?

Ask God for wisdom – James 1:5 promises He gives it generously.

Viral doesn’t automatically mean wrong—but it almost always means simplified. And simplified teaching can quickly become distorted teaching.

 At the end of the day, we don’t need viral takes. We need steady truth. 

The kind that won’t always rack up likes but will quietly anchor us in Christ.

 So the next time you see a viral Christian reel or post, remember, don’t settle for shallow opinions. Test everything. Hold fast to what is true.