OCT 30 | When Jesus Says Don't Post Your Prayers (But Also Do?): Understanding the Biblical Theology of Public vs. Private Faith
The Modern Christian's Social Media Dilemma
You just donated to a missionary friend's fundraiser. Your finger hovers over the "share" button. Do you post about it, or is that showing off? You're about to share a vulnerable prayer request in your small group, but Jesus's words about praying in your closet echo in your mind. So do you keep it to yourself?
If you've ever felt paralyzed by this tension between authentic transparency and humble privacy, you're not alone. This struggle sits at the intersection of ancient biblical wisdom and modern digital culture, and it's confusing thousands of Christians every single day.
Here's what makes this particularly challenging: Jesus—in the exact same sermon—tells us to let our light shine so people see our good works AND warns us not to practice our righteousness in front of others to be seen. So which is it? Post the prayer request or don't? Share the mission trip photos or hide them?
The answer isn't a simple binary, and understanding the nuanced biblical theology behind public versus private faith expressions might completely transform your relationship with authenticity, vulnerability, and spiritual disciplines.
The Apparent Contradiction in the Sermon on the Mount
To understand this tension, we need to examine two passages from Jesus's most famous teaching moment—the Sermon on the Mount.
Let Your Light Shine: Matthew 5:16
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus declares: "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
This directive seems crystal clear: be public, be visible, let people see what you're doing. Jesus isn't suggesting we hide our faith or keep our good deeds secret. He's actively commanding the opposite—shine brightly where others can see.
But notice something crucial in that verse: the purpose clause at the end. The goal isn't applause for you; it's glory directed to "your Father in heaven." You're not the star of this show—you're pointing the spotlight toward God.
Beware of Practicing Righteousness to Be Seen: Matthew 6:1
Then, literally one chapter later in the same sermon to the same crowd, Jesus warns: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."
He proceeds to give three specific examples: giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting. In each case, Jesus warns against doing these righteous acts "to be seen" by others. He uses vivid imagery—don't sound trumpets when you give, don't pray on street corners to be noticed, don't make your fasting obvious with a disheveled appearance.
At first glance, this appears to directly contradict Matthew 5:16. But the key to resolving this tension isn't in the action itself—it's in the motive behind it and, more specifically, the intended audience.
The Critical Distinction: Motive and Audience
The Greek language provides helpful clarity here. When Jesus says "let your light shine," he's not commanding you to create light—if you're following him, you already are light. The instruction is simply not to hide what's already there. Don't put a lamp under a basket.
But in Matthew 6:1, Jesus warns about doing things "to be seen." The Greek word is theathenai—literally meaning "to be spectated," like in a theater. This implies performance for an audience. You're not just doing good; you're staging it for maximum visibility and acclaim.
Here's the revolutionary insight that changes everything: It's not about whether others see what you do. It's about whether you're doing it so they'll see.
The difference is entirely about heart motive. Jesus understood that human hearts are complicated enough to do genuinely good things for genuinely bad reasons. We can feed the hungry while secretly hoping someone notices how generous we are. We can post a prayer request while actually fishing for sympathy rather than seeking intercession.
Biblical Examples of Public Righteousness Done Right
This principle of motive over visibility shows up consistently throughout Scripture.
Paul's Public Vulnerability
The Apostle Paul openly shared his sufferings with the Corinthian church—beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, persecution. He lists them in detail in 2 Corinthians 11-12. Was he bragging? Absolutely not. He was pointing to God's sustaining power through human weakness. His conclusion wasn't "look how tough I am" but rather "when I am weak, then I am strong." The glory redirected to Christ, not to Paul's endurance.
James on Confession
James 5:16 instructs believers to "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." This is inherently public and vulnerable. This isn't about hiding your mess; it's about showing it to your spiritual community. But notice the purpose: so the body can pray, heal, and grow together. The audience is the community seeking mutual edification, not the world watching your performance.
Jesus's Selective Publicity
Even Jesus demonstrated this nuanced approach. After certain miracles, he strictly commanded people not to tell anyone. Yet other times—like with the demoniac freed from Legion—Jesus specifically sent the man back to his hometown to tell everyone what God had done for him.
Same Jesus, different contexts, but a consistent thread: always directing glory to the Father, never building a personal brand or cultivating human fame.
Practical Diagnostic Questions for the Digital Age
Understanding theology is one thing; applying it to your Instagram feed is another. Here are practical diagnostic questions to help you navigate the tension between public witness and private devotion:
Question 1: "If No One Ever Knew, Would I Still Do It?"
This is perhaps the most revealing question you can ask yourself. If you're giving to a cause and you'd still give the exact same amount even with no social media post, no tax receipt, and no recognition whatsoever—then post away. You're genuinely letting your light shine.
But if you're honest enough to admit "I probably wouldn't give as much if I couldn't tell people about it," that's your heart revealing mixed motives. This doesn't make you a terrible person—it makes you human. But it's information worth having about yourself.
Question 2: "Who's the Hero of This Story?"
When you share about your mission trip, ask yourself: Is this "Look at what I did for these people" or "Look at what God is doing in this place"?
When you post about your spiritual disciplines, is it "I woke up at 5am for quiet time again" (making you look disciplined) or "This passage wrecked me today and I had to share it" (pointing to Scripture's power)?
The difference might seem subtle, but it's the difference between self-promotion and God-promotion.
Question 3: "What Am I Actually Hoping to Get from Sharing This?"
Be ruthlessly honest here. Are you hoping for:
Genuine prayer support and community?
Encouragement for others facing similar struggles?
To make God's faithfulness known?
Or are you secretly hoping for:
Validation that you're a good person?
Admiration for your spirituality?
Social capital in Christian circles?
Both motivations can exist simultaneously, which is why this requires brutal self-examination.
The Danger of Performing Righteousness
Here's the sneaky thing about practicing righteousness to be seen: it actually works. You get the applause. People think you're spiritual. You receive the "wow, so inspired" comments.
But Jesus warns that this applause is your reward—and it's the only reward you'll get. When you've aimed for human praise and received it, you've already been paid in full. You forfeit the intimate reward that comes from your Father in heaven seeing what you do in secret.
The vague-posting prayer request ("I'm going through something, just need prayers") that's really about getting attention without offering actual vulnerability? You get the sympathy you wanted, but you miss the genuine community support that comes from honest sharing.
The humble-brag mission trip post that's carefully crafted to look selfless while actually highlighting your sacrifice? You get the admiration, but you lose the joy that comes from anonymous generosity.
Cultivating a Secret Life with God
The counterbalance to public witness is intentional private devotion. Jesus instructs his followers to give, pray, and fast in ways that only "your Father who sees in secret" will know about.
This isn't about legalism or performance (even private performance). It's about cultivating a relationship with God that exists completely independent of anyone else's knowledge or approval.
What does this look like practically?
Give anonymously when possible
Pray when no one's watching (and no one will know you prayed)
Serve in ways that will never make it to social media
Practice spiritual disciplines without announcing them
Make sacrifices that only God sees
Here's the transformative secret: the more you do things in secret for God's eyes only, the less you'll feel the compulsive need to advertise the public stuff. When you're getting validation from the One whose opinion actually matters, you're not starving for human approval anymore.
Living in the Tension
So where does this leave us? We're called to be visible—salt and light don't work if they're hidden. Your testimony, your generosity, your transformation can genuinely encourage others and point them to God.
But we're simultaneously called to examine our hearts ruthlessly. To develop a rich, hidden life with God that no one else knows about. To do acts of righteousness that only our Father in heaven sees.
This tension is uncomfortable, and that's precisely the point. The discomfort keeps us honest. It forces us to continually assess our motives rather than operating on spiritual autopilot.
The Question That Changes Everything
Maybe the question isn't "Can I post this?" Maybe the better question is "Why do I want to post this?"
If the honest answer is "to make God famous," then share it boldly. Let your light shine. Tell the story of what God is doing.
But if the honest answer is "to make me look good," perhaps hit delete. Then go do something kind that literally no one will ever know about except you and God.
That's where you'll find the real reward—not in the likes, comments, or shares, but in the quiet smile of a Father who sees what you do in secret and is pleased.
The theology of showing your work isn't about choosing between total transparency or complete privacy. It's about constantly calibrating your heart toward an audience of One, while simultaneously being willing to let that transformed life shine publicly when it serves His glory rather than yours.
That's the tension. That's the freedom. That's the narrow road Jesus invites us to walk.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
