I know there are many people older and much wiser than me, but just lately I feel much older and wiser. I think that’s not because I am so much wiser given that I am, probably, a little older. No. I think there is another reason altogether – and this morning I finally worked out why. I am seeing, of late, a terrifying torrent of abject stupidity from people of all ages, on social media forums in particular.
For instance, many young teenage girls take selfies for their Facebook or Instagram pages which really amount to soft porn. I’m talking young women who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ here. I am seeing supposedly mature Christian adults in angry, even vitriolic and heated, debate with other Christians in displays of rude, obnoxious and even profane behaviour that would humiliate them if their church families could read and see what they are saying. It doesn’t stop there. Just yesterday I saw a well-known American senior pastor’s video presentation on why Billy Graham had taught so much biblical error throughout his ministry years – he tore Graham’s reputation to shreds. Why? My only discernment was that it was some form of self-aggrandisement. Soulishness. I saw another website recently, too, where another pastor’s weekly sermon was over an hour of criticism of other pastors with whom he disagreed and whom he condemned with an overwhelming lack of grace and disrespect – there was nothing biblical or pastorally helpful in the entire “message”. I could go on and on here, but you get my point.
I am seeing so much of this stupidity and rudeness lately … and I am feeling quite a bit older and certainly wiser as I ask myself the Dr Phill question, “What were you thinking?”
Remember Dr Phill? Dr Phill McGraw rose to fame with appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the late 1990s. Then he launched his own program, “Dr. Phil”, in September 2002 which ran for 18 years at the top of the rankings, only second to Oprah Winfrey’s own show. Mid-stream in an on-air session with a “client” he would exclaim incredulously, “What were you thinking?”, as if to say, “Do you realise how absolutely stupid you are?”
What are Christians thinking when, on social media platforms, they engage in behaviour and interactions that are just so un-Christlike, so rude – and so unholy? What is it about social media that induces teenagers to want to parade themselves in near nakedness for the whole world to see? What is it about social media forums that draws supposedly mature men and women of God to say the most ungracious things about others that besmirches and rips the character and reputation of brothers and sisters in Christ they’ve never even met? What are they thinking?
This stuff on social media never goes away! It can be summoned quickly years later to damage a potential employment opportunity, or maybe even turn off a potential marriage partner. By then it may be too late, and the person may well be asking themselves with overwhelming regret, “What was I thinking when I posted that image?” But it cannot be undone! It’s all out there for all to see and judge - forever.
It is difficult to put a wise head on young shoulders and just as hard to teach an old dog new tricks, as the old saying goes. The great trap and appeal of social media platforms is the autonomous instantenousness of it all while thinking, “I’m anonymous”. You’re not! Anyone can post anything, instantaneously – on a whim, in the heat of debate, forgetting how public and permanent their posts are – it is intoxicating to have that much unregulated, unaccountable power.
Parents, please warn your kids. Some of your children, right now, are in the process of trashing their reputations and damaging their futures. This is serious, but are you even aware? You need to be …
We need to think very carefully about the use of instantaneous, autonomous, unregulated power to post and comment. The apostle Peter made this comment, and it is wisdom for today.
1 Peter 4:7
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.”
Of sober mind. Unintoxicated mind. Before any of us posts anything on social media, we need to ask ourselves, “What am I thinking right now, and is this what Christ would have me post?” How will this testify to Jesus? How will this lift up the name of Jesus? How much damage will I do to myself, my family, in this unguarded, undisciplined moment? Is this sober-minded? Am I being seduced, or am I intoxicated of mind in some way such that I feel the need to be relevant by doing this? If we don’t do this, we’re not of sober mind, but are intoxicated by whatever it is that seems to meet some need of feeling important, or relevant, or desire to be beautiful, or accepted that is deep within us – unresolved soulishness.
Be challenged. Recalibrate. Get back on track if need be. Be of sober mind.
You are precious in His sight.
Ps Milton