How many friendships have been destroyed because of reckless words written in jest or haste on a social media platform? I know I have probably lost a few myself. The years that were 2020 and 2021 were chaotic for sure. We all went through the same storm, but we didn’t navigate that storm in the same way. I’m not gonna lie. It was the most challenging two years of my life, and there isn’t even a close second.
Between April and June of 2020, with much of the country in lockdown and my father in hospice, there wasn’t much else to do other than scroll through social media and read people’s comments about COVID and politics. As a Christ-follower, I should have known that my time would have been better spent in God’s word.
I learned a lot about the nature of people, including myself, during that season of life. With information flowing faster than we could process it, I think most of us found ourselves responding to people’s comments before reflecting on why people felt a certain way. Isn’t it true that we want people to judge us by our intentions, but we often judge others by their actions? Instead of assuming the best about people, we have become a society that believes the worst. Social media is the mechanism by which we shout out our disdain and outrage.
The book of James warns us about the power of the tongue.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:3-6
Jesus encouraged His disciples to love, do good, and pray for those who mistreated them. We have been called to be God’s channel of mercy. He wants to use us to pour His grace and blessing upon the world. We must let forgiveness and giving flow. When we do, God will bless us, “full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over” (Luke 6:38). Give and forgive. “Then your reward from heaven will be very great….” (v. 35).
I have recently put myself to the challenge that I am going to encourage others to follow. If someone says something on social media that is offensive or alarming, I will simply move on. No law says I have to respond. My social media presence should be an extension of who I am as a person and as an ambassador for Christ. If I wouldn’t say it in person, I don’t need to say it on Facebook.
Finally, let’s all return to the mindset where we just assume the best about people—no more allowing ourselves to get caught up in cognitive distortions. We should never limit our perception of people based on what we read on Facebook. There is always more to the story.
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Have a Thoughtful Thursday!
Bill
