With the recent onslaught of debate in the sensitive issues of gay marriage and gun control legislation, I have noticed increasingly aggressive rhetoric coming from my friends on Facebook and Twitter. I like to think that I have many friends from a range of backgrounds, religions, locations, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. In fact, one of the things that I most value about social media is the wealth of knowledge that I gain from each and every one of these diverse perspectives.
As a Christian, I do believe that the Gospel is very clear on many issues, but I also believe that God, in all his great knowledge, did leave some large grey areas that are not bound. I am not taking a stance on any of the recent heated issues in this post, because I and others could go round and round on why we believe what we do. What I do know is that I have seen many Christians take hold of their convictions at a great cost: their witness, and as a byproduct, the witness of the church as a whole. No matter what you think on these divisive issues, there is a truth that was said by Christ himself that I have seen largely ignored:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13: 34-35 (ESV)
No matter which side of the issues you find yourself on, the truth of Jesus' commandment remains the same: they WILL know we are Christians by our love for each other.
This is not grey; this is black and white.
Christians who are choosing to slander one another and the church on social media are showing disunity inside of Christ's body. I am not saying you cannot share your point of view. I am not telling you to have no convictions. But what I am asking of you is to consider the way you are presenting yourself. Are you weakening the witness of the church?
I liken it to my marriage. Erik and I do, in fact, disagree. We argue. We wrestle with difficult issues; we even sometimes disagree on the issues I mentioned above. We do not, however, put these things in the social media realm. We don't publicize our arguments. We don't name call. Why? Because to do so would present us as a disunited front. We leave these things for face-to-face meetings out of respect, love, and a commitment to be united.
I implore you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to consider doing the same inside of the Church. I choose to not engage in negative rhetoric in the social media realm, because I have many non-Christian friends whose only exposure to the Gospel is through me. I may be the only model of love and the beauty of Christ's church that they interact with. I lovingly sow truth if I get an appropriate opportunity. If it will compromise the unity of the church publicly, take it to a coffee shop, send a private message, give a phone call. I'm not asking you to have no convictions. I'm asking you to love one another.
As a Christian, I do believe that the Gospel is very clear on many issues, but I also believe that God, in all his great knowledge, did leave some large grey areas that are not bound. I am not taking a stance on any of the recent heated issues in this post, because I and others could go round and round on why we believe what we do. What I do know is that I have seen many Christians take hold of their convictions at a great cost: their witness, and as a byproduct, the witness of the church as a whole. No matter what you think on these divisive issues, there is a truth that was said by Christ himself that I have seen largely ignored:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13: 34-35 (ESV)
No matter which side of the issues you find yourself on, the truth of Jesus' commandment remains the same: they WILL know we are Christians by our love for each other.
This is not grey; this is black and white.
Christians who are choosing to slander one another and the church on social media are showing disunity inside of Christ's body. I am not saying you cannot share your point of view. I am not telling you to have no convictions. But what I am asking of you is to consider the way you are presenting yourself. Are you weakening the witness of the church?
I liken it to my marriage. Erik and I do, in fact, disagree. We argue. We wrestle with difficult issues; we even sometimes disagree on the issues I mentioned above. We do not, however, put these things in the social media realm. We don't publicize our arguments. We don't name call. Why? Because to do so would present us as a disunited front. We leave these things for face-to-face meetings out of respect, love, and a commitment to be united.
I implore you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to consider doing the same inside of the Church. I choose to not engage in negative rhetoric in the social media realm, because I have many non-Christian friends whose only exposure to the Gospel is through me. I may be the only model of love and the beauty of Christ's church that they interact with. I lovingly sow truth if I get an appropriate opportunity. If it will compromise the unity of the church publicly, take it to a coffee shop, send a private message, give a phone call. I'm not asking you to have no convictions. I'm asking you to love one another.