Social networking is a wonderful tool in the hands of every Believer, if it’s used in the right way. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace can all be used as tools for spreading the word about the love of Christ, or it can be a tool used to tear down, ridicule and embarrass.
Over the past few weeks I’ve become more and more aware of how supposed Christians, supposed ministers are using the social networking media to wage war against fellow Believers or, in the case of a recent minister who fell from grace, to mock and ridicule. This isn’t right and, in fact, it is SIN! Nowhere in the Bible can you find a passage that gives anyone the right to mock, ridicule, tear down or make fun of anyone. This isn’t what God calls love, not at all.
Let me ask you a question, a serious question. Let’s suppose that, in a moment of weakness, you go out one night and get intoxicated. You’re a Christian minister and you know better, but for whatever reason, you did it. On the way home you get pulled over by a state trooper; you’re given a field sobriety test and fail it. You’re handcuffed and taken to the county jail where you are book for suspicion of driving under the influence.
I’ve never been arrested like this, but I was a police officer for many years and have taken numerous people to jail. I can tell you that many of the people I took to jail never dreamed they would ever find themselves in this embarrassing situation. This is a very humbling experience.
Before the end of the day, some of your “Christian” brethren find out that you’ve been arrested for DUI and they start plastering all over Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking sites. These people who should be expressing sorrow, grief and love, rather than express disbelief or words stating that they’re praying for you, they opening relish in the fact that you’ve been arrested and begin calling you everything in the book; these people who are commanded in the Scriptures to bare one another’s burdens, to restore one who falls are joining in with the world and making a mockery of you. How would you feel if this happened to you?
Earlier this week I watched as a noted minister was torn apart by people who claim to be Christians, who claim to be ministers and who should know better. Rather than express words of love, concern and prayer: these people spoke with words of disdain and self-righteousness. They mocked and made fun of this minister and seemed to imply that he was a fake preacher, though there was no evidence to support such a claim.
The Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren and that he delights in making accusations against the saints. When someone who claims to be Christian begins making accusations against a fellow Believer, you cease to become a Believer and you become a sinner! When you point your self-righteous finger at someone who has fallen, rather than offer prayers, forgiveness and love, you have become no better than Satan and he is soon to be in Hell forever.
Our job isn’t to spread such news; it isn’t to call attention to someone who, in a moment of weakness, fell from God’s grace. Social networking isn’t for us to use as a means of pushing a brother or sister father down than they already are. How would you feel if every time you made a mistake, every time you sin or fall from God’s grace, you found the sorted story being played out on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube, not by the liberal and sinful world media: but by those who claim to be your family?
We need to use our social networking sites not to put others down or to point out when one of our relatives fails or falls; we should be using them to show love, forgiveness and to tell the story of Jesus. We should be using them to motivate people to come to Christ, motivate people with words of encouragement and put Scriptures out that could lead someone to our Lord and Savior.
Rather than use your social networking sites as a tool to embarrass, ridicule or put down a Believer… remember that to do so is sin. When you point a finger at someone to point out their sin, especially if you do it in any form of self-righteousness – there are three fingers pointing at you quoting Jesus. “Ye who are without sin may cast the first stone.”
Father, forgive us for being accusers of our brethren rather than loving them, praying for them and doing all we can to restore them. Help us Lord to not allow this great sin to ever be found on our doorstep because it isn’t right and brings a bad light on Your precious name, Amen.
