Just Keep Scrolling

“Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call “Knowledge.” For some have claimed to possess it, and as a result they have lost the way of faith. God’s grace be with you all.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭

One of the downfalls of social media to me, is that it becomes a place where profane talk and foolish arguments occur. People tried to defend their perspectives on something that they know or feel. I’m sure over the years I’ve engaged in this but whether we realize it or not it causes us to lose our way. Attacks become personal when beliefs are held deeply. When we are defending something our words and actions may not line up with Christ.

When was the last time you saw personal attack on social media? For me it was this morning. It was a “professional group”. Someone asked for a specific resource. The very first response was an attack of the person’s professional ethics for the way the question was asked. I have not seen a platform yet where this didn’t happen. The person who asked the initial question hadn’t responded; but often these types of responses end up in a banter back and forth with others jumping in on either side.

When have you seen a response of prayer for the one who started the personal persecution? When is the response been met with love and compassion? I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen it happen. People on both sides of the answer engage in this foolish argument. This happens despite the instructions by Jesus.

““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭48‬

When we defend, we step away from our faith. We lose our witness. I believe that we’re also held to a higher standard, Matthew 5 is full of commands that were given in the Old Testament that Jesus raised the bar on what it meant to keep. Even when I don’t respond to the post, I may step away from my faith as I argue in my mind with the person. This is true if I don’t immediately take the thought captive and bring it into obedience of God’s word. We don’t have to defend what God has placed inside of us. We are told to keep safe what He has entrusted to us. We are also told not to cast our pearls before swine.

““Do not give what is holy to dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭‬

We can share our faith, share the gospel with others without engaging in foolish debates. When we feel like there is a discussion to be had, it’s likely best to be done in a private space. Deep conversations rarely happen in a public forum where others will see and add to the foolish talk. Sometimes it is better to just keep scrolling.

Prayer – Lord, forgive me for the times I have engaged in or thrown fire on the profane talk and foolish arguments about what I know. Time and again you have warned against this. Guard my heart when these occasions arise. Help me to keep my thoughts on Your ways and not try to defend myself. I do not want to end up stepping away from my faith. Let me take every thought captive and bring it to the obedience of Your word. I am responsible for me and my actions and reaction; You don’t need me to defend Your truth. You don’t need me to defend the knowledge I have learned to someone who may not be ready for it. Let me begin to pray instead for eyes to be opened, even if it is my eyes that need to be opened. In Jesus name Amen