I have a Twitter account handle. But if you've looked me up you'll know I rarely tweet.
It's not because I don't have anything to say. I will admit it's difficult for me to keep to 250 words and articulate what I mean but that's not the main reason for much of my silence on that platform.
I find the platform often depressing. I don't follow a huge list of people - some Christian authors, sports teams, various royal families - and I'm saddened at how often it's the Christian accounts that burden my heart.
It all comes down to loyalties. Pastors will retort back and forth, setting up camps. Others will join in to defend this point or that. Every controversial topic must be addressed, everyone must know who thinks what about everything. But in 250 characters, it doesn't always come across well. And many times it seems like people are defending ‘their person’ more than addressing the actual issue from a biblical standpoint.
I think of Twitter as social media sarcasm. People try to say the wittest thing in the fewest words. But sarcasm is hard to read when you can’t see the person’s body language. I’ve seen many a comment where someone said, “Are you serious?” and completely blew up because he thought the author was taking a certain a position. And the author replied, “No, I was being sarcastic.” How is that helpful? Who does that benefit? And why must we always seek to outdo the comment before us?
And then on Sunday Twitter, all the Christians come out with their favorite Bible verse, praise song, some uplifting sentiment. Monday is business as usual, flinging verbal mud at whoever disagrees about something.
Now I know if someone who claims to be Christian is taking an unbiblical position or sinning, that needs to be confronted. But I rarely see that done on Twitter in love. And usually the statements that draw the most comments have to do with politics, culture, or a certain stand on an issue the author is taking. Immediately, people swoop in, writing things [I hope] they would never say to someone’s face. It’s pure anger and pride.
Let's be clear. No human is perfect. No leader or pastor or theologian has it right 100% of the time. And remember my dad was a pastor/Bible teacher for years, my husband is a pastor, several brothers in law are pastors, my father in law is a pastor…I’m surrounded by many wise, learned men who have studied the Bible for years. But they always encourage me to study the Bible for myself and not just take their word or blindly follow their every opinion. Because they know they are fallible.
We are not called to attack other Christians because they said something bad about our 'favorite Christian personality.' Which begs the question should we even have a favorite Christian personality? There are some well-known authors that I genuinely respect but I don’t always agree with everything they write. I have yet to find someone I would defend as passionately as I would the Bible.
I've seen several times where as soon as something hits the internet - a video or speech - a Christian thought leader will post thoughts or criticism or his/her take on it. Often it corresponds to the Christian leader's platform or favorite topic. Then a few days later when more of the story breaks or a new witness to the video steps forward, everything changes and apologies are issued. Grace and forgiveness are asked for. And I can't help thinking maybe they should have sat on their thoughts a few days before blasting them onto social media.
But in this technology age, everyone wants to be relevant. Everyone wants to be heard. Everyone wants to be the first to issue a statement on things.
This isn't the attitude we read about in the Bible.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil. 2:3-4
We are told as that chapter continues to be humble like Jesus who went to the cross, the most despicable way to die. Not because he was thinking of what it would do to him - to take our sin and have God turn from him - but because he was thinking of us and how we didn't have hope without his sacrifice.
Like I said, I don't tweet often. But I have typed out several, probably more than I've ever published, and then deleted. When I see my own words and imagine people reading them, people who don't know me or my background and me not knowing where they're coming from, it's easy to see how unhelpful my shotgun thoughts can be. I've been misunderstood in social media posts before. Where someone read my comment, framed it in their way, and turned it back in anger. It's incredibly frustrating to have strangers or friends think the worst about you because of hasty words. Misconstrued words.
Let's be better. With God's help and wisdom, let's think before we tweet (or post), considering one another. Arguments are rarely won on the internet but oh the strife created! And doesn't Satan revel and laugh at our folly. Instead let's build one another up unto every good work {I Thess. 5:11}. Christians and unsaved alike are watching and judging and being influenced by how we conduct ourselves in the most public of places: online.
Photo by Julien Pouplard on Unsplash