Or at least, that is what we should do.
Far more often, we read the headline of an article & may glance at a part of it, then we jump into reaction mode. We write a scathing condemnation that questions the salvation of those who disagree with us. We sit angrily on our high horses as we await responses, preferably in the form of praise for our moral uprightness.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, knee-jerk reactions do not glorify God nor further the dialogue with others. In fact, I humbly submit that when we give into a knee-jerk reaction, we run the risk of being a jerk.
What should we do instead of reacting in a knee-jerk fashion?
1. Read the article fully. From multiple news sources to gain a fuller picture of everything that happened. Make sure it is a news piece and not an opinion piece.
2. Pray. Journal out your thoughts if writing in a journal helps. Pour out all your emotions to God. Tell Him what you are feeling. Ask yourself why you feel angry, scared, sad, or threatened. Ask God for clarity to reveal what you feel, why you feel it, what your response should be, and what is truly the heart of the matter.
3. Be still and listen. Quiet yourself and listen to God. What is the Spirit telling you?
4. Turn to the Bible for an eternity perspective and for guidance in responding. Is this something that will matter in 5 years? In 50 years? In 500 years?
5. Ask God if you need to write a response. Prayerfully weigh each word. Be courageous enough to write from a place of vulnerability, where sadness, not anger, colors your tone.
6. Write from your perspective, telling how this news impacts you. Leave off judgment, condemnation, and sweeping statements that lump people together. Write in humble love.
7. Read what you wrote and pray about it. Is the Spirit prompting you to post it on social media, online, or tell it in person?
8. Run what you've written through the following two tests:
A. The T.H.I.N.K. Test
Is what I'm about the post TRUE?Is it HELPFUL?
Is it INSPIRATIONAL?
Is it NECESSARY?
Is it KIND?
B. The Philippians 4:8 Test
Is what I'm about to post TRUE?Is it NOBLE?
Is it RIGHT?
Is it PURE?
Is it LOVELY?
Is it ADMIRABLE?
Is it EXCELLENT?
Is it PRAISEWORTHY?
9. Pray for the people who are impacted by the story and pray for those who are reacting to it.
10. If you have been so prompted by the Spirit, post your comment.
*Repeat each and every time that you feel tempted to have a knee-jerk reaction*
I know that this is a long checklist to do EVERY time you read or hear something and are tempted to react immediately, but the Bible has a LOT to say about when to speak and when to remain silent.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 tells us that there is a time and a season for every activity, including "a time to be silent and a time to speak". Do we ask God if this is a time to speak or if this is a time to be silent, before we sent our posts out into the world of social media?
Matthew 12:36 tells us that everyone will be giving an account on the day of judgment for every EMPTY WORD they have spoken. We will also give an account of empty words that we have typed. I don't think that God will only hold us accountable for words that we speak and ignore the words that we type.
Ephesians 4:29 challenges us to avoid unwholesome talk, but to only speak what will help build others up as they need encouragement, so that those who listen will be benefited. Do the words I type benefit people? Do they build others up?
James 1:19-20 tells us that we should be quick to LISTEN, slow to SPEAK, and slow to become ANGRY, because our human anger doesn't produce the righteousness that God desires. Are we being quick to listen to what is going on? Are we being slow to speak? Are we slow to become angry?
And then there's Proverbs. It has so much to say about words and speaking and silence, that I don't know where to start. Below is a sampling of verses from Proverbs related to this topic:
"Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues." Prov. 10:19"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value." Prov. 10:20
"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense." Prov. 10:21
"A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them." Prov. 14:3
"Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips." Prov. 14:7
"The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception."Prov. 14:8
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Prov. 18:21
"Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin." Prov. 13:3
"Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues." Prov. 17:28
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Prov. 31:8
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1
"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Prov. 18:2
"Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them." Prov. 29:20
There is a lot of noise in social media, which is why we, as Christians, need to weigh our words carefully. This checklist is not the easy way, but it guides us to God first as we sort through our emotions and what a godly response should be.
As Christians, shouldn't we take the time to figure out how God would have us to respond to events?
We will post less online if we follow these guidelines, but I believe that what we do post will have been refined and more valuable because of its refinement.
New International Version (NIV)
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