THE CHRISTIAN ONLINE: NAVIGATING SOCIAL MEDIA WITH LOVE

Have you ever found yourself caught up in the heat of an online battle or witnessed a fiery disagreement unfold right before your eyes in the past year? It’s truly mind-boggling how swiftly these virtual clashes can escalate, isn’t it? In the blink of an eye, what starts as a simple difference of opinion can spiral into a full-blown war of words, resulting in insults hurled back and forth, friendships severed, and even the dreaded “block” button being pressed. Mind you, it’s not just non-believers who find themselves entangled in this web of online chaos. Oh no, my friends, Christians are not immune to the allure of these digital battlegrounds.

But here’s the thing. As Christians, we are called to handle these situations differently. It’s natural to feel a surge of passion when our beliefs are challenged or when we witness injustice unfolding before our eyes. However, we are called to respond to others, even those we may strongly disagree with, with a spirit of love and respect. The Bible provides clear guidance on this topic.

1. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

– Matthew 5:43-47, MSG

This message is quite simple: love your adversaries, your critics, your challengers, those who speak against you, and even those who irritate you on social media. Yes, even those who hold different beliefs than you.

But let’s pause for a moment and ask ourselves, who really are our “enemies”? Sure, there are people we may not see eye to eye with or particularly like, but do we genuinely harbor enough hatred to label them as “enemies”? It’s a weighty word, one that is even used to describe Satan in the Bible. Yet, Jesus himself uses it. If we are called to love our enemies, then surely it should be even easier to extend love to those who simply rile us up on the internet.

Now, let’s be clear, loving someone doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything they say or do. It’s perfectly acceptable to have disagreements and to stand up for our own beliefs. However, if we truly desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we must take his command to love everyone seriously. So, let’s make a conscious effort to spread kindness and compassion wherever we go, even to those who may not reciprocate it.

2. KEEP THE PEACE

If at all possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone … ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

– Romans 12: 18, 20-21, NIV

Let’s talk about what this passage doesn’t say before we dive into what it means. It’s fascinating how some individuals may misinterpret the phrase “as far as it depends on you” as a free pass to engage in bitter conflicts, as long as they didn’t initiate it. However, that’s not what this passage is all about. The first four words, “if at all possible,” serve as a clear indicator that we should only settle for anything less than peace if it is genuinely unattainable. We’re not talking about mere inconveniences or unlikely scenarios here, but rather situations that are absolutely impossible to resolve peacefully. This places a significant burden on our shoulders, as we are primarily responsible for fostering peace. In fact, we are even instructed to live harmoniously with our enemies. Yes, you heard that right – everyone.

Jesus said that people will know we’re his followers if we love one another (John 13:34-35). If we choose to respond to hostility with love and conquer evil with goodness, we have the incredible opportunity to demonstrate the immense power of Jesus’ love, even in the midst of conflict. It’s a chance to showcase the transformative nature of his love and leave a lasting impact on those around us.

3. LISTEN FIRST

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

— James 1:19-20, NIV

The internet is like a dysfunctional relationship. Nobody really listens, they just wait to talk. If we listened first and talked second, conflicts could be resolved. But the internet doesn’t encourage this behavior. It’s easy to scroll away or unfriend someone we don’t like. There’s no incentive to listen, but plenty to talk. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to a different kind of communication. James instructs us to ask why someone thinks differently instead of dismissing them. Let’s strive to be better communicators online and offline. Listen first, talk second. It can make a difference.

The Bible encourages us to have different opinions and speak up for what we believe in. We’re supposed to love even our enemies and do our best to live peacefully with everyone. It also advises us to avoid pointless arguments and to always be kind. As followers of Jesus, we should take His teachings seriously. When it comes to arguments, whether they’re about politics or anything else, we have two options: either follow the guidance given in the Bible or admit that we only want to follow God’s commands that align with our own preferences.