A Big Head
Have you ever read through social media platforms and asked yourself, "Who is this person talking to?" Maybe it is just me, but some of the stuff I see on social media is CRAZY! Facebook is confident I need a new bra, even though I keep hiding their ads and telling them I don't! Some of my religious friends are constantly looking for theological debates. Some of my liberal friends want to convince their readers of Trump's guilt and republicans' corruption. I have quite a few family and friends who post or comment on really inappropriate sexual public posts which ultimately end up on my news feed. And I just wonder to myself, is this all meant for me?
Between Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, everyone has a message they want to get out. (And honestly, I do too, which is why I write these blogs.) But the key to interacting with social media wisely is to understand what to absorb, what to ignore, and what to block. Nearly everything you read on the internet has bias. Most articles, blogs, posts, and tweets are meant to move you in some way. Sometimes they are posted to draw attention to themselves, sometimes people post to draw attention to a cause, and sometimes people post simply because they enjoy hearing themselves speak. Not only is it important to figure out who the intended audience is, it is also important to discern whether or not you're reading the truth.
My oldest daughter, who is very petite, has a head size similar to that of a two year old. But one day she came running upstairs crying to me. I asked her what was wrong. As I expected, her big brother was picking on her. "He said I have a big head, " she wailed. I suppose most mothers would wipe away tears and hug their children, but I said, "Seriously?" I was dumbfounded that such a silly (and untrue) remark would wound my extremely logical daughter.
"Why do you think he told you that?" I asked.
"Because he was trying to bother me," she correctly responded.
"And do you have a big head?"
"Well, no."
I went on to explain to her that the devil will lie to us in a myriad of different ways. He may even use our brothers (or social media) to help his cause. But we should always give truth preference. A lie should never carry more weight than the truth. If we know someone is lying, that is a reflection of them not us. I don't really like it when people lie either, and sometimes I will call them out. However, we should never allow lies to sit deeply. They are meaningless and should not have permission to touch our souls.
So, how should we respond to the thousands of messages that come our way each and every day?
First - Determine if the message is for you. If it isn't, let it go. I'm pretty sure that the gay porn which shows up on my feed was not intended for me. So, I hide it or block it.
Second - Determine if the message is true. If it is a lie, determine if a response is even warranted. If someone is constantly posting lies, and they bother you, block them.
Third - Consider whether or not your response will honor God before you write anything. Posting without thinking is never wise. As my grandpa would say, "Better to look like a fool and keep your mouth shut, than to open it and remove all doubt."
As we consider the last days as described in the Bible, we know that times are not going to get better, but worse. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 teaches us "that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (NLT)
We don't have to look far to find examples of all of this on social media. But our Christian response is crucial. We can stand for the truth while caring for people. We do not have to compromise our faith in order to reach a lost world. And while it is tempting to act like the world, we would be dishonoring God if we did. Matthew 5:16 tells us to "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Remember, no one was ever brought to Christ because they were shouted down. If we cannot handle social media in a godly way, we shouldn't use it.
Between Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, everyone has a message they want to get out. (And honestly, I do too, which is why I write these blogs.) But the key to interacting with social media wisely is to understand what to absorb, what to ignore, and what to block. Nearly everything you read on the internet has bias. Most articles, blogs, posts, and tweets are meant to move you in some way. Sometimes they are posted to draw attention to themselves, sometimes people post to draw attention to a cause, and sometimes people post simply because they enjoy hearing themselves speak. Not only is it important to figure out who the intended audience is, it is also important to discern whether or not you're reading the truth.
"Why do you think he told you that?" I asked.
"Because he was trying to bother me," she correctly responded.
"And do you have a big head?"
"Well, no."
I went on to explain to her that the devil will lie to us in a myriad of different ways. He may even use our brothers (or social media) to help his cause. But we should always give truth preference. A lie should never carry more weight than the truth. If we know someone is lying, that is a reflection of them not us. I don't really like it when people lie either, and sometimes I will call them out. However, we should never allow lies to sit deeply. They are meaningless and should not have permission to touch our souls.
So, how should we respond to the thousands of messages that come our way each and every day?
First - Determine if the message is for you. If it isn't, let it go. I'm pretty sure that the gay porn which shows up on my feed was not intended for me. So, I hide it or block it.
Second - Determine if the message is true. If it is a lie, determine if a response is even warranted. If someone is constantly posting lies, and they bother you, block them.
Third - Consider whether or not your response will honor God before you write anything. Posting without thinking is never wise. As my grandpa would say, "Better to look like a fool and keep your mouth shut, than to open it and remove all doubt."
As we consider the last days as described in the Bible, we know that times are not going to get better, but worse. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 teaches us "that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (NLT)
We don't have to look far to find examples of all of this on social media. But our Christian response is crucial. We can stand for the truth while caring for people. We do not have to compromise our faith in order to reach a lost world. And while it is tempting to act like the world, we would be dishonoring God if we did. Matthew 5:16 tells us to "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Remember, no one was ever brought to Christ because they were shouted down. If we cannot handle social media in a godly way, we shouldn't use it.
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