Social Media and Christian Love

This is part of a post I wrote exactly eight years ago this week. I’m updating it a little but not by much. Most of my original message still stands. A lot has changed in our world, but sadly, my plea for people to shift their actions on social media, although many call for this same change, has not happened.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John  13: 34-35

In 2012, we had an election looming over us, just as we do today. Today, we suffer through the same bombardment of annoying political ads on TV and radio. Back then, I avoided them by using my DVR. Now I use streaming services and avoid most commercials. What’s a little harder to avoid, now as well as then, is the onslaught of personal attacks on social media. That, my friends, is worse, not better. Below is what I said about this:

Part of My 2012 Post

Why do my “friends” think I need to read every little bit of political propaganda that they find?  Some people choose to only post political comments during this time, and not just one a day. The frequency that some of them post these comments begs the questions:  “Do they have a life?  Are they doing anything else?” [2020 note, I know for many, thanks to Covid-19, they don’t.]

I don’t know why they think I want to log on to Facebook and read their political rants.  Granted, I can scroll right on past those messages, but it’s  frustrating when I have to scroll forever to find something friendly and non-political.

These people seem to have forgotten that Facebook and Twitter are forms of social media.  Social, not political.  Usually, when I hear the word social, I think of friendly gatherings, not attacks on people’s belief systems.  Unfortunately, those who seem bent on non-stop political posts often make derogatory comments about the people who disagree with them. In many cases, these are the very friends who turn around and like your baby and animal pictures.  Do they not realize how their negative comments alienate their friends and cancel out any good will from their “likes”?  In some cases, I’ve unfriended “friends” who forced their opinions on me non-stop.

We are a country of free speech.  You have the right to believe what you want to believe, but what happened to good manners?

What’s Changed Since Then?

In 2020, I have a better understanding of what’s happening to people online. I spend a good bit of time researching materials for training topics. A few months ago, while reading a white paper on Emotional Intelligence, I ran across a new term: cyber disinhibition. This phenomena explains why people say cruel and nasty things to each other online. Things they’d never say to a person face-to-face.

What is cyber disinhibition?

People are wired for face-to-face interaction. Communications online do not engage our brains properly. Cyber disinhibition—the situation that occurs when our treatment of others online doesn’t align with how we would treat them in person–is the culprit behind these angry social media attacks.

What causes cyber disinhibition?

When we’re face-to-face with someone, we have emotional centers of the brain that record everything the other person is saying and doing. This happens quickly, and unconsciously, in the brain’s subcortex. The brain processes this information and tells us how to respond. During this process, the prefrontal cortex inhibits any emotional impulse to do or say something that can hurt the other person. Online, without body language or tone, we’re flying blind. We’re not engaging these parts of the brain, so we lash out and say very unkind things.

This knowledge makes me feel better. Why? Because I can observe the text battles online through this lens. I, also, can force myself to think twice before I post. Those who don’t pause and think are, at that moment, behaving without emotional intelligence.

In John 13, Jesus washed the disciples feet and then told them to love one another. He asked them to do this, so people would see their love as an aspect of being one of his disciples. Try to keep this command in your mind when you venture onto social media, and maybe, you’ll avoid posting something you would never say in person.

Be kind. Be compassionate. Be forgiving.

God Is In Control

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Today is an important day in US history. Today Donald Trump becomes President.

Some people are happy. Others are not.

Accusations and rumors abound.

Fake news runs rampant through social media and often appears on major new outlets.

How can we know the truth?

We can’t. Only God knows all of the truths, and that should give us hope as Christians.

So, what are we to do?

Remember the following from Romans 8:31-39:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you skimmed over those verses, then please go back and read the last few, the ones I underlined. We may disagree on what is right and good for this country. We may not know which sources to believe. We definitely do not know the future. BUT, we do know that God is in control.

And remember as you go throughout your days that we live in a very different world than the one when these words of encouragement were first written. Persecution was an every day fact, but even then, Paul reminded them of the power of God.

May you find peace from these words and may it follow you through this day and the year to come. And remember, we are commanded to pray for our leaders. Prayer  can move mountains!

How Should Christians Vote?

Some time back, I encountered some well-meaning people who couldn’t see how faith should impact how Christians vote.  These people had drifted so far from faith–something a large part of this country has done–that they didn’t understand the fundamentals of faith.

They expected me to vote against my faith if the current culture says to do so. They thought the two were not related at all!

Faith is how we live, it’s not just what we believe.

How long has this slippery slope of separating the two been active?

I’m guessing a long time. Satan never backs off.  He never goes on vacation. He’s always looking for a wedge to drive in and divide us.  He’s well on the move in this country.

Now, before you decide to attack me about my political leanings, I’m not vouching EITHER party. I’m heartbroken over the options open to us and the tactics being used.

What does Christian faith look like?

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.  Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  Ephesians 5:1-11

This is what faith looks like and why I must vote based on my faith.

The problem?  Neither party gets this!

The only part they focus on is that last line in the passage above:  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

The previous verses of that passage tell us how to follow that directive. But this appears in many places in the Bible, including this passage from Galatians.

Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted.  Galatians 6:1

There is a lot yelling and anger being broadcast on hatred and violence and fairness and health and money and charity and freedom, but how does the conduct of these arguments measure up against the true faith of God?

There is a correct way to do this:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:4-9

It is not ignorant or blind or prehistoric to follow the truths laid out 2000 years ago.  I just have to figure out how to do this in our current political climate.

Meanwhile, I will pray for this country and its people as we face a political season that seeks to drive us further apart rather than bring us together.