Social Media and the Christian

I have noticed a disturbing trend on social media these days. I have seen it on Facebook and Pinterest. Someone will post a scripture or an inspirational story, and in the comments, it will get out of hand quickly. It goes something like this:

"God is good! I'm thankful for everything He has done for me."

That's the original post. Then someone, whom I imagine is wearing a smirk and possibly a little devil on his shoulder, will respond like this: 

"There is no God. Christianity is a fairy tale."

At that point, the Christian is enraged and flies off the handle. There's a lot of scripture-quoting and "I'll pray for you," but it's not done in love. Blood's boiling. Shaking hands are typing. Cutting words are mixed in with words meant to save. Ouch. It doesn't make us look good, does it?

Not only does it not make us look good, but I think it does a lot more damage than that.

When the Christian flies off the handle on social media, their witness is damaged, if not destroyed.

I know that sounds harsh, but hear me out. Every scripture we post, every praise item we give...what is the point? It is our hope that it will reach someone who NEEDS it, and that they will eventually be saved. What about that person who attacked you? Do they need salvation? Absolutely. We tend to view them as enemies of the cross, when in fact, they are souls to be won.

I am speaking in generalities here. Of course there may be those out there whose mission in life is to argue with Christians and prove them wrong. In fact, I know that is true. Those are the ones we have to pray for but not incite.

So what's the proper response for the Christian? Now, I am not an expert on always having the right reaction. You might even say I've learned the hard way! But God has been teaching me a few things about this lately that I thought I would share.

I have two choices. I can respond in love, or hold my tongue (or my typing-fingers in this case).

If I choose not to respond, there are some benefits.

1. If I don't respond, there is no guilt from flying off the handle in a very public setting. (Can I give you a Facebook tip? If you comment on something, it comes across EVERYONE'S news feed that you are friends with. Think about that and be aware.)

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 17:28

2. If I don't respond, the person who was trying to provoke me is left unsatisfied. 

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 

Proverbs 26:20

3. If I don't respond, within a few days, I'm likely to forget it even happened! (Or is this just me? A bad memory makes for a more blissful life. You forget someone even offended you!)

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be silent.

Exodus 14:14

If I do choose to respond, I can do it wisely and calmly.

1. I can wait until I am calm to respond. I know how it feels when someone talks about our God in an offensive way. It hurts my heart, but it also enrages me. I get a flash of fire through my veins. It reminds me of the apostle Peter when he chopped off the high priest's servant's ear (John 18:10). He had a fiery temper and a love for the Lord. But we can't go around chopping off ears!! That is effectively what we do when we go off on someone, but if we wait until we are calm, we can speak in love.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Psalm 141:3

2. I can respond by giving the other person honor and treating them with dignity. This is not the time for a biting "I'll pray for you" comment. They are expecting venom. They have laid the bait, and they are sitting back waiting for you to take it. (Sorry, mixed metaphor!) Go for the old "kill 'em with kindness" routine. 

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.

Romans 12:20

3. I will not argue with them. I will not win. Christianity is based on faith, and that is not something a non-believer can understand. In fact, I may do more damage since my knowledge of the Bible is a work in progress. The apostle Paul ran into this issue when he was in Rome. (Not that he lacked knowledge. He knew the Scripture from childhood.)  He started encountering all these philosophers and orators who were experts at debate. It got to the point where he was about to bang his head against the wall. (I am obviously paraphrasing!)  These guys had some good arguments, and Paul got pretty frustrated with them and himself. That is when he penned the famous verse:

For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

The thing that I feel like God is most trying to teach me from this lesson (which I am still learning, by the way. Devil, that is not an open invitation...) is that my witness is too important to throw away on a temper fit. Your witness is too important. It reminds me of the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus told the disciples to wait and pray while he went in to the Garden. These were His final hours with them, and He gave them one job: pray. What did they do? They fell asleep! When Jesus left this earth, He gave us one job: to be a witness for Him. Christians, we are falling asleep on the job!

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.

1 John 2:1-5a