Something that very much fuels more performative Christianity is social media. It’s so easy to post about every aspect of your life on social platforms, and religion isn’t excluded. I see way to often Christians on instagram filming and posting themselves praying or worshipping. Filming yourself praying to post online is the modern equivalent to the Pharisees who would put ashes on them and pray in the street corner to be seen. The Bible clearly outlines that certain things are supposed to be done in private and others in public. Now, I’d like to make it abundantly clear that it is okay to pray and worship with others, in fact it’s encouraged to do these things in community. The problem is when you blur the lines of online community and real community in Christ.
I believe people can have good motives, but I have a hard time saying that putting intimate parts of yourself or your relationship with God online is something that should be encouraged. Along with that, if your motives are just to get views or likes on instagram that is a problem. Even if you originally have pure motives, posting this part of your life opens you up to temptation. No one is beyond being tempted by social media. You see all the likes and comments, and some even make money off of it. Think about that, do you really want to be monetizing your time in prayer or worship?
I would also like to make it clear that there are different layers to this. I’m definitely not saying that you should never talk about your walk with Christ online, that would also be wrong. What I am saying is that there are some things (such as prayer, worship, fasting, ect.) that the Bible clearly tells us is personal between you and God.