Things I Think
1.“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8–9 ESV)
I think social media is a hard place to be these days if you’re a Christian.
I’ve never seen such open mockery of (and animosity toward) the church in my lifetime.
How we respond to this is going to show the measure of our faith.
It is very difficult not to return reviling for reviling, but the ability to do so will also be proof of our obedience and faithfulness to Christ.
Some of us may be called to leave social media completely if we are unable to bless those who curse us…
2. “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.” (1 Peter 4:14–15 ESV)
Let me give you the paraphrase of this verse. Don’t suffer because you are doing things that you really should suffer for. Don’t do things that give fuel to the scorn the world has for Christians.
Too many of us deserve exactly what we’re getting…
3. It’s getting harder to watch pro football knowing that you’re actually watching men give themselves brain disease for sport. Sadly, it’s not hard enough for me to stop watching yet…
4. If you’re angrier than you are broken, you’re in rebellion against the heart of God.
5. Revival would change the church far more than the culture the church lives in…
6. God always works through a remnant…yet, nothing scares us more than being just a remnant…
7. Leaders who are unwilling to repent create followers who won’t either…and God leaves the building without anyone noticing.
8. Now that either liberals or conservatives are the enemy of our souls, the devil enjoys open season on all of us.
9. It’s very hard to teach your young people to respect their elders and authority when you are reviling your elders and authorities on Facebook…
10. I’m not even going to touch on the fact that this is Columbus Day…
Thank you, as always.
“If you’re angrier than you are broken, you’re in rebellion against the heart of God”
That is awesomely true.
I so completely agree about the vitriol on social media. I’ve thought this weekend how, long ago, Miss Manners, Emily Post, Ann Landers and other spokewomen for social graces always said “Do not talk about religion or politics”.
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver”
“Even a fool seems wise when he keeps silent” “When words are many, transgression is unavoidable”….
Thanks, Paige!
It’s getting tougher to deal with the social media stuff…what should foster community is ruining it.
4. If you’re angrier than you are broken, you’re in rebellion against the heart of God.
The older I get the more I am convinced that humility and kindness heal and transforms lives, not arguments and debate, because you know you are right.
Soooo much to chew on here Michael…
Re 1: I didn’t feel called to leave social media (I was on Facebook only), but I saw how arrogant and overly opinionated I was, and decided I was sick of myself doing that. Just wish more people would come to the same realization.
Re 3: I still loves me some pro football too.
Re 4: This is where I put on my former Facebook identity and say that I wish people who watch Fox News and read Drudge would realize this. However, I see anger on both sides (see your number 8).
Re 5: Amen. Someone please tell our “culture warriors” this (you know who they are).
Re 6: Because as a remnant, we have no political or other power, and maybe that is how God wants it?
Re 8: See my response to your number 4.
Re 10: Not sure where you went with this one, but I saw on Drudge (yes, I do visit that site once in a while to see what conservatives are supposed to be angry at..including me), that more cities are celebrating indigenous people’s, rather than Columbus Day. To which I say: So what!?! That is supposed to make me mad Matt Drudge? Sorry, you lost me on that one Drudge.
Nonnie,
You are right on…but humility and media are oil and water.
Dan,
Social media is tough…I like to debate and I like the exchange of ideas…but I have no desire to hate half my friends list because they see things differently.
The anger and animosity is on both sides…just read the comments on any article from either perspective.
When you are the remnant the only power you have is the power of the Spirit…and most of us are really agnostics at that point.
Indigenous peoples day is good with me…
Since I quit social media over the summer and then came back, I’m having a ball. 1. I dumped about 200 friends. Some on purpose, some accidental, some at random. At any rate, the number (150 or so) is much more manageable. PS – If anyone here was dumped, you fit into the accidental, or random category. If you want to refriend me, send a request and I’ll accept.
I’m having big debates about religion and politics, and the mixture of both. I’ve got people chiming in from every side of the spectrum, but for some reason, this time around it is fun.
The best conversations have been silly music debates. They go on forever, and the same people commenting on the religion / politics debates are sparring back and forth about who is the worst band ever. These threads seem to build a little bit of relationship between us, and maybe that is why the “more serious” topics are working better, too.
That is where I believed you were going with number 10! Couldn’t agree more, Michael!
we have plenty of evidence that vicious evil lurks in the human race – it seems to crop up against any serious identity with God, even within the ranks of the redeemed – the world is allergic to a holy God – allergic and blind – good is evil and evil looks right
just sayin … and agreeing …
just came in from yard clean-up, my grandmother told me that weeds are a part of THE fall (not as in autumn)… since i’m redeemed, i wonder why i still have to pull weeds?
Michael
Re#7 and unrepentant leaders. If we think for a moment the members of a local congregation for better or for worse are a reflection of the local lead pastor. This said as undershepherds we need to ask ourselves periodically “are the members of the local body that has given us a reflection of me or of Christ?” We can also say that if Christ is Lord………. then we don’t have the freedom to remain unrepentant in our sins if we are His bride’s undershepherds. Doing so a denial of both the Grace of God and of the calling of pastor as defined by Christ in John 10:11-15. The term unrepentant pastor is an oxymoron.
Francisco…that was gold.
is it simply cynicism on my part that ministry-wise, I’m only willing to reenter youth ministry?
I think the animosity toward the church has always been there, but now we have a forum for people to express their feelings. Seems to me people of faith are doing a fairly bad job on social media as well.
Fil-
I often think how much more fun it was, and how much more effective I felt doing youth ministry. Adults are ridick!
I had no idea Columbus Day was even slightly controversial until I found it in the news today.
filbertz, IMHO – good for you! i can’t imagine a higher calling today than youth ministry – it is such a dangerous time to be young
agreeing with Michael regarding Pastor Francisco’s words
Columbus Day is pretty controversial here… my guess is that we won’t recognize it at in in a few years.
It’s Indigenous Peoples day in the schools and at my house.
These neo-fundamentalists are exactly like the preachers they lampoon. And I will guarantee you they will punish you just as publicly and just as painfully. They will not do it with a rod but with money. They will not be satisfied until you feel the lash and conform to the norms of secularism. This fresh fascism would cheer the monsters of the 20th century.
BD,
I’m assuming that you’re referring to those I mentioned in #1.
I keep going back to what the scriptures say about such persecution…why are we pounding our fists instead of teaching the Word?
No that was for #10
I can respond to #1 in the affirmative as well and again the purveyors of this hatred against the church are much worse than what they lampoon.
I will not likely leave any time soon. I like to answer… I think Paul was one who answered like he did in I Cor 6 when he quoted his critics.
BD,
#10 is simply acknowledging the evil that accompanied Columbus conquests along with whatever value we think it had.
Once again, this is a situation where we are so bound to divide that we can’t even have a balanced conversation on the matter.
Taking one side or the other explicitly is simply foolish and half a lie by omission.
For that matter, people have done this with Calvin for 500 years as well.
I’m getting pretty weary of always having half assed conversations.
I don’t recall getting Columbus Day off when I was a student many years ago, nor have I ever had it as a holiday in the workforce. Today was no different; I got home a little while ago from my evening shift job.
I had to work today
Number 7. 100% true.