There is so much going on in the world right now. The news is coming to us from all sides.
Commentators are no longer limited to communications networks. People who once used social media to post funnies, recipes, encouragement or family pictures are now sparring with each other over various topics.
Stuck in a world of prolonged social isolation, ongoing media updates and way too much time to think, people are being drawn into other ways to ventilate.
Regretfully some have given up social media all together. I miss them. Some who were friends have unfriended each other after expressing different opinions. And some are still at it, commenting in ever increasing hostile tones.
What should we do? Well, here I am, commenting. So I believe we should continue our connections.
I believe we can have radically different views and still be friends. When someone expresses a different opinion to mine, after my initial reaction (sometimes disgust or horror), I try to step back, and try to understand where they are coming from.
I pray that God will wipe the slate clean of bias and show me what He has to say about the issue.
Sometimes God adjusts my thinking, and I come around to the other side.
Sometimes He shows me that some of what was spoken was truth and some was not. He helps me separate out the sheep from the wolves.
And sometimes He affirms that what I believed initially was true, and I need to stand firm in my beliefs.
If we are led to comment, we should use the same principles Jesus used. We should only speak what God tells us to speak when He tells us to speak it.
Here are Jesus’ Words. We should make them our own guidelines.
“Do you not believe that I am in The Father and The Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My Own. Instead, it is The Father dwelling in Me, performing His Works.”
John 14:10
“I do exactly what The Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love The Father.”
John 14:31
“For I have never spoken on My own initiative or authority, but The Father Himself Who sent Me has given Me a commandment regarding what to say and what to speak.”
John 12:49
If we do this, we will find joy for ourselves and give joy to others.
“A person finds joy in giving an apt reply– and how good is a timely word!”
Proverbs 15:23
