The Fools on Social Media

Last night, near where I live, there was a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a man the President named to his cabinet.  What a happy day!  Now I can once again watch TV, free from an absolute barrage of political commercials from both "sides of the aisle".  Pundits claim that more money was spent on this special election than on any other in American history!  If you don't live near me, just try to imagine how many ads there were....

A local TV news station did a running Facebook Live broadcast last night, which I was watching on my iPad. As is the case with those Facebook Live events, people watching were able to comment throughout. Oh my goodness, the lack of civility and even hate that came through in some of those comments!  In continuing my mini-study of fools from scripture, I realized that this uncivil discourse is a perfect illustration of the behavior of fools.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I am very involved in social media.  I use it to promote this blog and other aspects of my ministry as well as my business interests.  Social media is not inherently bad.  What's harmful and destructive is using it like a fool.  Let's take a look at some relevant scriptures.

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 29:11 (ESV)

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Proverbs 12:16 (ESV)

Unfortunately, the "anonymity" of social media makes it possible for people to give full vent to their spirits!  The unregenerate man, the person who does not believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, has no Holy Spirit living inside him, to temper that type of verbal vitriol (or to counteract any other sinful action, for that matter).  And, as a result, this is what we often see on social media - - people "venting their spleens" with abandon!  But, you know, it's not altogether unexpected behavior from non-Christians.

Ok, you know what's coming, don't you?

Sadly, the same is often seen from those who claim the name of Jesus Christ.  You can say, "Oh, there are trolls out there - - people claiming to be Christians who are masquerading in order to defame the cause of Christ."  Well, that is certainly true, but that does NOT explain away all of the dastardly, foolish behavior actual Christians display on social media.

As those who carry the name of Jesus wherever we go, we should be ashamed if we have engaged in such.  It should trouble us greatly, whether we are "anonymous" or not, because He (God) sees and knows who is speaking condescension, vitriol and even hate.  That should convict and shame us more than anything.  He sees and He knows.

This type of unholy speech is born from anger in the heart of the speaker, always.  Fools are described in scripture as angry people.

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (ESV)

There are fools, to be sure, but there are also Christians who act like fools with their unloving words. Don't let anger reside in your heart.  God is in control of all things.  DO contend for the faith in Jesus Christ and for what is right!  But remember this - - - It is possible to stand for Truth firmly, even loudly, and still do it in a respectful, loving manner.  That is what Jesus did, after all.  If we are going to ask folks to "follow" us on social media, we had better be following the One we are supposed to be following!

Lies Like a Rug

I am so blessed to still have my mother in my life, and not just for this morning.  But, in getting ready to do this blog post, I was pondering whether or not rugs "lie" on the floor or "lay" on the floor. (There is a hen somewhere, which I should recall...)  Anyway, too lazy to contemplate the hen, I texted mother, the consummate grammar professional!  She has informed/reminded me that rugs "lie".

I'm sure that your day is blessed to know that.  Moving ON!

Today's text is Colossians 3:5-11, with particular emphasis on verses 8-10 (NET).

5So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.8But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 11Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

Now, yesterday, we examined the first verses of this passage.  Paul is telling the Colossians about "the old, fleshly nature" of man.  He focuses on two types of behaviors which best typify it.  We looked at the first group in yesterday's post.  Today, we are honing in on the second set.  Whereas yesterday's behaviors were centered around lustful actions and greed, today's have to do with the attitudes we have toward our fellowmen and, then, how we speak to and interact verbally with them.  Let's examine each of these, briefly.

Anger and Rage and Malice
It is not wrong to become angry with how our fellow humans behave, speak, etc.  How nice it would be if everything were roses and sunshine and unicorn breath here in this fallen world!  Alas, that is not reality here on good, old planet Earth.  People commit injustice, behave selfishly; basically, we SIN. And, our righteous indignation flares up!  (Note that we typically don't get as disturbed about our OWN sins; but, that's another blog post...)  So, righteous anger is not what is being described here. Since Paul pairs "anger" with rage and malice, he is referring to an extreme, sinful anger which, instead of leading to righteous correction, leads instead to malice (returning evil for evil), that is, sinful "retribution", which we have no right to dole out.  Such is God's prerogative, not ours.
"But, they deserve it!"  Nope.  Nope.  Don't "go there".  Not your job, much as you might want it to be.
So often we mess things up by circumventing the law, good policy, human decency, by giving into our own rage and malice.  Orderly, Christian societies have God-given, lawful remedies to correct injustices and to punish wrongdoers.  When we ignore and/or run around those, we are committing sin.  It is never right to do a wrong thing, in order to get a chance to do a right thing.

Lying and Slander
The unholy triumvirate of lying, slander and abusive language is a key weapon in the arsenal of those who seek to circumvent established policy or law.  Here's how it goes.  An injustice (or perceived injustice) occurs.  Our anger becomes ungodly rage.  We take matters into our own hands.  We know we'll be punished if we physically harm our target; so, we kill them with our words.  BOOM!
Ever seen close-up a loved one's life or career practically destroyed by vicious slander?  I have.  And, it was done by (so-called) Christians.
We need to remember that, when we lie, we are emulating Satan, whom Jesus gave the title "Father of Lies" (John 8:44).  That is high praise, isn't it?  That's whom we want to have as our model, right? No.  Certainly not!
Lying is tempting, particularly if it is a "lie of no consequence", or a "tiny, white lie".  Lying is used by habitual liars to control people or situations.  The more a situation spins out of their control, the more they lie, to rein it back in.
Don't be a person who is defined by the lies in which they have been caught.  Don't be that person whom people describe as "She lies like a rug."  (I'm Southern, you know!)

Abusive Language
To get a better idea what is meant here, I looked at this verse in several translations.  Here are some of the other words/phrases translators used:  filthy language, foul language, obscene talk, shameful speaking.  It is a kind of "catch-all" phrase which it seems Paul is using to say "use your speech for good and not for evil".
If you have ever been the recipient of abusive words, you know that their impact can wound for a lifetime.  The sing-song "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" is a lie from the pit of Hell.
People who are gifted verbally are especially susceptible to this sin.  In other words, (pardon the pun), the more words that come out of your mouth, the more likely some of them are to be evil ones. If you are one of my brothers or sisters who, in addition to being verbally gifted, have a vibrant, passionate spirit ... watch out!  You are probably (like yours truly) having to be constantly vigilant about misusing your words, when your intense nature overflows the Holy Spirit.
 
So put to death ... (vs. 5a)
Let's get out our spiritual weapons of war and KILL these manifestations of the old, sinful nature. We must do it every day, so that these sins won't draw us away from the Savior or besmirch our testimonies. When we find ourselves having been ensnared by one or more of them (because they are related and often flock together), let's confess our sins to the Lord and to one another, so as to make things right in the world, and most especially in the Body of Christ.

Father, you know that justice does not justify sin to achieve it, no matter how seductive taking things into our own hands seems.  Please guard our hearts from the evils mentioned by Paul in this passage, so that we may be "examples of the believer" in all we do.  In Jesus' name, amen.