Recently, my Christian fiction writing group had a discussion, trying to decide if we should have a session to discuss the pros and cons of using social media as a platform for what we believe as Christians. When important social issues are discussed, should we sit on the fence, remain silent, or attempt to influence others?
I can’t answer that question for other writers. Christian writers must decide what’s right for them through prayer and being in God’s Word. We don’t get to dictate to one another what is right or best on this issue. Many of my colleagues will disagree with me and that’s okay. What I hope we can all agree on, however, is that when we decide to wield social media as a tool to convince people we’re right on social issues we better act like Christians when we do it.
I’m good with whatever my colleagues decide to do, because I love them and I support them. I know they have good hearts for Christ. This blog is for the Christians who are making the rest of us look bad. Please stop. For months (maybe years), I’ve been horrified and ashamed at the self-righteous, hateful, angry, vitriolic venom spewed on social media by folks who say they’re Christians. Yes, non-Christians do it too. But they’re not following the guy who wrote the book on what it means to love one another—even when they don’t love us back.
We’re specifically called to be Christian ambassadors of reconciliation. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
What does it look like to be a reconciliation ambassador? It doesn’t look like calling people names and telling them they’re going to hell. It’s loving them and praying for them and looking for opportunities to talk quietly like civilized human beings on topics about which we all care deeply.
We’re studying the fruit of the spirit in my Sunday school class. We’ve spent two sessions on love, specifically agape love. This is different from brotherly love or sexual love. It’s not a feeling. It’s a divinely inspired action. It comes from God. We can’t do it on our own. It requires sacrifice. When Scripture says love your neighbor, it’s not a choice, it’s a command. Which means we must love people even if we don’t agree with them.
We don’t get to call them out in a holier-than-thou, take-that tone of voice that says they’re scum while we’re angels-in-training.
Here’s the thing. Jesus did not belong to a political party. Contrary to popular belief, he was not a Republican. He loved the woman at the well. He loved the tax collector. He loved the adulterer. He loved the sinner. He loves me. He loves President Trump. He loves Nancy Pelosi. He loves Hillary Clinton. He loves President Obama. He expects us to love them and each other.
Finding that difficult? Fine. Start with one of the first things Mom taught us. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Then move on to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
And then “let he who has no sin cast the first stone.” That’s a good one. Every time I walk by the closet that holds the memories of the decade of my twenties, the skeletons rattle so hard, they fall out. Sometimes I still wake up at night in a cold sweat asking God to forgive the horrible things I did between 1976 and 1987, even though I’ve already asked and He’s already forgiven me and crushed those iniquities under his heel. I can’t be the only one still haunted by my wayward youth.
I can’t stand in judgement because I have this enormous plank in my eye and I can’t see the splinter in the other guy’s eye. Unless you’re perfect—and only one perfect person has ever walked this earth—I suspect you’re in the same boat.
“We love because He first loved us. If anyone says I love God, yet he hates his brother he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: whoever loves God, must also love his brother.” 1 John 4: 19-21
What happens if we don’t love our neighbors as ourselves? Galatians 6:15 says “If you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Strong words, indeed.
It may be a tough nut to swallow, but we’re all brothers and sisters in God’s eyes. We’re his family. Let’s start acting like it.
Feel free to leave constructive, loving comments below.
Kelly you sure hit the nail on the head with this blog and I hope and pray that others will read it and that it will touch their heart. I have always said to go to the church of your choice and vote for the person that you believe will do the best job. Pray about both decisions and never ever argue either subject.
I read your books as they come out and enjoy each and all of them. You have a beautiful family and I enjoy reading about them also. I know you struggle daily with your illness, but God has given you a beautiful attitude. My thoughts and prayers are with you my friend. God Bless!
Thank you, Jane. I try to do my talking regarding politics with my vote. That’s seems like the most effective thing to do. God bless you, also!
Great column and great topic! I also cringe at the self righteousness and theological one-ups-man-ship I sometimes come across online and out in the ministry. Being kind to someone – even if you disagree with them – costs you absolutely nothing. Succumbing to that very human impulse to put on airs of moral superiority could cost you much in terms of your own spirituality. Thanks for the reminder to love our online neighbor, Kelly.
thanks, Shellee. I don’t want to cause people to turn away because of something I’ve said or done. Life is hard enough without making it harder for people!
Amen. We are all brothers and sisters. Let’s start loving each other and showing God’s love to everyone. Great message.
Thank you!
What you wrote is so true. I will work on being a kinder person.
We all need to work on it, Ann!
Kelly I love your post!!! We share the same sentiments. I really believe we are to be the loving hands and heart of God, instead of throwing barbs, or stones. We need to be that light for Christ, instead of the dark oppression being spread by Satan.
Thank you for spreading the Good word in your writing, as well as in your life!!! You are such a blessing!
Thank you, Anita. I’m trying to be careful and respectful. Sometimes it’s hard!
Thank you so much! I’ve been struggling for a long time as well with how much we disgrace God and turn people off from ever desiring to know Jesus. A lot of grieving the Spirit goes on and self-righteousness. We can uphold God’s values and still be loving. There are 82 bible verses regarding hate speech. I found this web page listing them. https://www.openbible.info/topics/hate_speech
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matt. 5:9
I love how Jesus lovingly told individuals about their sin and urged them to go and sin no more. We Christians need to pray for our leaders, showing them respect, even if we disagree with them. It’s humbling to remember that as the nails were driven into Jesus on the cross He prayed, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. He didn’t rant and rave against them but loved them and prayed for them, even as they took His life.
You’re so right. The list of verses regarding hate speech is very helpful. I’ll bookmark it for later reference. thanks!
Thank you for this blog. It is something we all need to remember to treat everyone with love and respect. Satan loves it when he gets Christians to be horrible to each other. And he is causing a real mess in this world so our duty as Christians is to take God’s love and mercy to this hurting world. Pray that God leads and guides each of us as to how we are to take His love and mercy to the world. God bless
You are so right about that. Satan loves to work us against each other.
I love to read your insights on this. I struggle with this a lot. Do I just keep my mouth shut when I read the hateful things people write or do I try to write my opposing view? I don’t want to get into an argument, but I do want the other person to know I don’t agree and let others know too so they won’t be scared into submission and keep quiet.
Most times I just breathe and pray and let it go. So much so that my social media time has dwindled to a few minutes each week instead of hours daily.
But did Jesus call us to be quiet or to speak up? It’s so hard to argue or discuss issues calmly. I try though. Not always successful.