Measure Your Words With Care
Do 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. – Ephesians 4:29
I live in a football crazy state. Friends joke that
the first question they were asked when they moved here was “Which church do
you belong to?” The second was “Which team do you cheer for?”
There is at times a bitter divide, causing some to get
carried away with their allegiance. The hatred can seem so real at times.
One friend, a dear man whom I’ve known for years,
supports “his” team with a vengeance. I have grown increasingly appalled at the
comments he makes about the opposing team. It’s not enough to support “his”
team. He must constantly bash the other team and speak awful things about that
team’s supporters.
And when he is done, he turns around and posts things
like “God is good!” Excuse me? I’m sure he has no idea how he trashes his own
witness for Jesus by the hatred he shares in other posts.
Isn’t that the case for all of us? We’ve become so accustomed
to simply saying whatever we think or feel in the moment. Facebook provides a
wonderful outlet for bashing without any of the face-to-face consequences we
might get if we spoke those words in an actual conversation.
It’s my opinion you might be saying right now.
Absolutely. You have the right to express your opinion in any nonviolent way
you choose. But it’s important to realize that your words have consequences,
whether you feel them or not.
The same is true of the political comments made by so
many. I have come so close to unfriending people because of their nastiness. I
don’t care if someone disagrees with my views. So what? It’s the ugliness and
hatred that bothers me, especially when that person is also claiming to follow
Jesus.
Jesus talked so much about love. Why do we so easily
forget that? Why don’t we care that words can never be recovered, never be
erased, never be forgotten?
I’ve tried to measure my Facebook words with care. I
share scripture and biblical commentary. And I share a great many lost and
found dog posts. What I intentionally try not to share is hatred. Don’t we have
enough of that in our world?
I know some of my friends would claim to be promoting
God’s agenda. They view themselves as followers standing up to those who would
oppose “our” values. Except “our” values rarely line up with the Bible. Why are
we so blind to that?
We have become a know-it-all people who rarely seek
God’s wisdom. We pray for His blessings on our own agendas. We spew hatred in
His name, rather than loving people and promoting what is good and right.
The next time you decide to share something, whether
it’s your own words or another post, think about how it will be received by
nonbelievers or those struggling with their faith. Does it build people up?
Will it benefit God’s kingdom? Are the words spoken in love? If the answer is
no, then don’t post it.
When in doubt, remember this: “Be careful how you
live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.” Well said, William J.
Toms. Well said.
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