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!

7 and 7

We are nearing the end of Ephesians 4 (verses 25-32), where Paul lists 7 things that are central to living a Spirit-filled life ("the new self"), which he referenced in verses 20-24.

I'm going to use the New English Translation to present Ephesians 4:25-32, as well as Proverbs 6:16-19.  We are going to contrast these two passages today.  Let's start by looking at both of them.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”^d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

¹⁶ There are six things that the Lord hates,
even seven things that are an abomination to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that are swift to run to evil,
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies,
and a person who spreads discord among family members.

In the Proverbs passage, we see 7 things that the LORD considers an "abomination".

By contrast....

In the Ephesians passage, the opposite of some of those 7 are presented by Paul as being attributes of a Christ-filled life. 

Let's look at them in lists, side by side.

           Proverbs                                                                  Ephesians

Lying (Prov. 6:17,19)                                           Speak Truth (Eph. 4:25)

False Witness (Prov. 6:19)                                   Get Rid of Slander (Eph. 4:31)

Murdering (6:17)                                                 Handle Anger Righteously (4:26-27)

Haughtiness (6:17)                                             Work Hard; Don't Steal; Be Generous (4:28)

Scheming and Craving Wickedness (6:18)         Speak Wholesome Words that Heal (4:29)

Spreading Disunity/Discord (6:19)                     Practice Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness  (4:32) 

                                                                             Avoid grieving the Holy Spirit (4:30)

So, when you compare these two lists, what jumps out at you?  Here are some things that are obvious to me.

1.  Lying is a "biggie" with God.  You may recall that Jesus called Satan "the Father of Lies" (John 8:44).  Lying (or slander, which is "lying to destroy someone's reputation") is mentioned TWICE in the "God hates" list!  Because he is a deceiver, Satan wants to make us believe that "little, white lies" do not matter.  Oh....but they do!  By contrast, Christians are commanded to control our words and to speak only words that are wholesome, that benefit others and that heal wounds.

2.  Anger and Murder are merely matters of differing degree.  Murder is anger, taken to an extreme.  Anger always precedes murder.  Christians are told to keep their anger short-lived and to not let Satan get his "toe in the door" of our lives, through our anger.

3.  Haughtiness has to do with thinking you are superior to someone else, that you deserve more, that you are a better person because of your circumstances.  Haughty people have a disdain for those who have more than they do; so, they think it's okay to steal what others have.  Haughty people are hard-hearted, selfish people, who would not stoop to help someone less fortunate.

4.  Instead of fostering disunity and spreading discord, we are to exhibit kindness and compassion, forgiving others for the ways they have hurt us.   Almost always, disunity and discord get whipped up because someone has had their feelings hurt.

5.  When we plot evil towards others and/or go lusting after wickedness or sin, this most assuredly grieves the Holy Spirit.  It is one thing to sin unintentionally.  But, when Christians embrace favorite sins or go running after evil, the Holy Spirit is "grieved". (In a related verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, the word is "quenched".)  The Holy Spirit is a Person, one of the three Persons in the Godhead, the Holy Trinity.  Only a person can be made sorrowful or can be grieved.  The Holy Spirit is often represented by a dove, (at Jesus' baptism) or as a flame of fire, (at Pentecost), which is most likely why Paul used the "quenched" reference in 1 Thessalonians.  Regardless, we refuse to follow His leading when we "act out" in a sinful manner.  All those heinous sins mentioned in Proverbs 6, and, in deed all sin, grieve the Holy Spirit who lives in the heart of every Christ-follower.

As you review today's content, does anything on the lists above prick your heart?  Is the Holy Spirit nudging you about one of these?  If so, go to Him in prayer today, in order to confess, repent and "make it right".

Father, you know which of these on the list are trouble-spots for me.  I'm so sorry for how I have grieved the Holy Spirit in these areas, and pray for strength to allow His full leading in my life today.  In Jesus' name, amen.