"...the eyes of the Lord [may] range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him..." (2 Chronicles 16:9), "...but the eyes of humans range throughout the interwebs, searching for something to be offended at." (2 Opinions 2:18)
Every so often, a terrible outrage makes itself known on the interwebs, and people get offended. These outrages go viral, typically summed up in a pithy remark, to dehumanize the "other side", the "them" to our "us".
Because our communication through the interweb is digital, not face-to-face, we have an implicit understanding, that we can be rude, we can be critical, we can say anything we want, because we are interacting with a thing, an object, not a real person. Yet we are interacting with real people. The comments we write on youtube are read by those who post the video. Our comments build up or tear down these people. We have seen them, at least electronically, but we say things we would never (I hope!!) say in person.
The other side is made up of real people. They feel real emotions including fear and hope. They have priorities and beliefs that may be different than ours, but are important to them.
Would our comments on the internet be different if we recite, meditate on, and live out Ephesians 4:29 (Liz edition) before we go online:"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths [or be typed by your fingers], but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
God, may our spoken and written words be pleasing to You. Amen.
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