Proposed HHS Rule & Biblical Considerations About Social Media

The Biden Administration is considering a rule change that could affect private health information shared by health care agencies. The proposed change is in response to the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, according to the Department for Health and Human Services.

Brent Leatherwood, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) president, took issue with the proposed change in a June 16 letter sent to the HHS.

He believes the proposed rule change cuts the legs out of from under the Dobbs decision and puts a patient’s private information at risk.

The ERLC says protections under HIPAA standards could be greatly affected by the change. Their calling on the Biden administration to withdraw the request.
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Social media is here to stay. People of all walks of life use various platforms to stay connected, find out about news or express themselves to the world. While much of it is helpful, some is not.

Clint Lewis wrote has a piece on Baptist Press that offers five tips for using social media in a way that honors God.
First, he says, start with a commitment to honor God with your posts. “Psalm 19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Social media engagement is an extension of the words we speak. Therefore, a commitment to honor God with what you say applies wholly to our online interactions,” he writes.

Next, he says, “Before you engage someone or in some debate on social media, discern the likely outcome of your engagement.”

He also says the user should examine their own heart before using social media. Clint says, “If you are consistently drawn to social media debates, arguments, or controversies, I suggest you check your own heart. The Bible tells us in Luke 6:45, “A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil in his heart for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.”

Finally, he says, find someone to hold you accountable in your posting and social media usage and he says don’t be afraid to walk away if you need to.

“First, you can walk away from social media for a short, prescribed time,” he writes, but if that doesn’t help, consider walking away permanently.

Read the full piece and sign up for our daily emails at Baptist Press.com.