Just Kamping

I’ll start with a public confession. Twice in the past month I have shared content on Facebook that was unloving and ungenerous toward current politicians (on both sides of the aisle). Considering how to love my online neighbor well is helping me to tread social media carefully, recognize my past sinful tendencies, and repent. This is an on-going thing, and I share this blog in hope that it can help others as we pursue Jesus together.  

This post is about loving our neighbors well as we connect on social media. In such trying times as these, failing to love our online neighbor is sadly common. And it’s very public. Besides my confessed bad behavior over the past month, I will also confess that I have historically posted, shared, and commented on various platforms with no real consideration of whether or not I was walking in obedience to the Bible’s second greatest command. I don’t think I’m alone. Therefore, I took a look at Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Chapters 3-4, and have created 8 questions to help Christians (including myself) love their online neighbors well. I ask that all of us consider these questions and our answers before engaging on social media platforms. Asking such questions and answering honestly could save our public witness, and it may save us from portraying Jesus falsely to a world that desperately needs him.

1. What clothes am I wearing?

That may sound like an odd question to ask as you ponder whether or not to correct someone on social media, or whether or not you should post that controversial article. But it’s a serious question. In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes that Christians are to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. The attributes you wear will show themselves in whatever you post. Failing to wear the right clothes will inevitably result in failure to love our online neighbors well. Check that you’re wearing the right clothes. On Social Media, where context and tone are already difficult to manage, Christians should make extra effort in this area.

2. Am I prepared to bear with my neighbor?

In Colossians 3:13, Paul calls Christians to bear with one another and forgive the complaints we have against each other. Specifically, we’re to carry and support one another. I understand that the person on the other end of your screen rant may not be a fellow believer, but can you not bear with them for the sake of Christ? Or at least seek ways to support them in the name of Christ? If they are a believer, Paul specifically calls us to bear with them, even forgive them. This includes when their opinions are different than ours. We do this for the sake of the body, even in spite of our feelings. We may further ask, “am I ready to endure with a brother or sister, or even an unbeliever for the sake of truth and fellowship, or am I seeking to shut them down to win an argument?”

3. What is reigning in my heart?

Colossians 3:15, Paul says to let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. If I’m honest, many of my posts have not come from a posture of peace. And why not? I can only guess it’s because social media confrontation can still produce the same physical response as that of in-person conflict. That response is not often peaceful. When I’m anxious or amped up, peace ruling in my heart is not on my mind. It should be. We need to ask ourselves what is ruling in our hearts as we engage on social media. If it’s not the peace of Christ, it’s clear we must stop.

4. Am I filled with scripture?

In Colossians 3:16, Paul says to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and correct each other in wisdom. He’s talking about scripture, the words of the Bible. I’m going to make a shameless plug for personal Bible reading and memorization. If we’re not actively doing these two things, I would question whether the word of Christ is really “dwelling in us richly”. And if it’s not the word of Christ that’s dwelling in us, whose word is it? Am I being filled with the words of MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, my favorite celebrity pastor, or a PhD expert on a topic? Am I listening to my opinion with no consideration of God’s word, or consideration of the words of those he’s put in spiritual authority over me? If we’re to love our neighbor, we must start with being filled with the words of Christ. From there, we can engage others in a loving, Christ glorifying way.

5. Could Jesus sign the bottom of this?

In Colossians 3:17, Paul says that whatever we do, in word or deed, we’re to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. That includes our social media interactions and the content we post and share. This may seem restrictive. And it should be. Christians are called to union with Christ. That means every word, every post, and every share is to be done in his name, as though he himself were posting it. We’re his body in this world and we testify to the reality of who he is by the words we speak and our actions. Could Jesus sign the bottom of your next comment on Facebook?

6. Am I making the most of this public opportunity?

In Colossians 4:5, Paul tells believers to walk in wisdom toward outsiders. If you’re on social media, there are outsiders EVERYWHERE. And we’re to make the most of every opportunity. We need to be taking the opportunity to share true things, yet also helpful things. We must choose comments that edify or correct in love, not show intellectual superiority. Our public responses must exemplify the public responses of Jesus. And guess what, that was sometimes controversial! Jesus said some hard things in public. But he is also perfect. We’re not. We need to check our hearts before we choose to do the same. 

7. What is filling my conversation?

Connected to making the most of opportunities, Paul says that our conversations are to be filled with grace. Our posture in social media connections should always be one of grace. What is grace? Think undeserved good treatment. We’re to seek opportunities to treat people well, even if they don’t deserve it. We’re even to look past bad logic and things we dislike, if it means we can get to a better relationship that will allow us to actually talk through our disagreements in a healthy and helpful way. Christians receive grace from God and they are to show it, especially when engaging on social media.

8. Am I giving thanks?

Scattered throughout Colossians Chapters 3-4 are the commands to “be thankful” or “give thanks”. Jesus’ people are thankful people. We’re to acknowledge the wonderful gifts God has given us in this world, all of which are undeserved, and we’re to praise God publicly and privately. He is a good Father who has generously given us all things in Jesus. A heart filled with thanksgiving is a heart tender toward others. Our current media system profits from our outrage, it has an incentive to keep us angry, to keep us posting, and to keep us scrolling. What would it look like if the body of Christ filled the ears (or eyes) of their neighbors with praises of thanksgiving to our God and King, instead of social critiques and rant-filled audio?

Well that’s 8 Quick Questions to help you (and me) engage with others in a Christ glorifying way. May our online witness be such that others take notice and see an accurate representation of the love Jesus has commanded us to display. Lastly, may our change (if warranted) be ushered in by his grace toward us and not by pride-filled behavior modification. It’s only by his grace that we’ll be able to love our online neighbors well.