There are a lot of posts on social media about the shape the world is in and how to fix it. Many of these posts and related comments consist of meaningless noise, rather than productive discussion. Many people throw out their opinion, with little to back it up, and then aggressively deride others who do not share their opinion. Too often, professing Christians take part in producing this noise and then we wonder why the world doesn’t listen to us. That, right there, is a big part of the problem. We must remember that it is not us that people should be listening to in the first place.
Mark 9
2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.
3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—
6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
During the transfiguration, Peter, James, and John stood watching as Jesus was transformed. Peter, afraid and not knowing what to do, started throwing out ideas. We sometimes do that. We feel fear and other emotions and start relying on those emotions and just start talking or typing. Often, our intentions truly are good. I’m sure Peter meant well too but God is looking for more than just good intentions. In verse 7, they heard the voice of God saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”. That is what I would say to the Christian church. Hear Him. In the various ministries that our churches conduct, we should not hear each other. We should hear Him. On social media, those who see our posts should not hear us. They should hear Him. If others are going to hear Him through us, we must first hear Him ourselves.
Psalm 46
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
I think this is one of the simplest and yet one of the most important verses in Scripture and it is too often overlooked. If we want God to shine in our lives and shine through us into the lives of others, we have to get to know Him. However, many of us lead such busy lives that we don’t make the time to spend with Him and listen to His voice. If we don’t make the effort to listen to His voice, we will, by default, listen to the voice of our own intellect and emotions and that is what we will then convey to the world. Don’t misunderstand what God is saying here, when he says to be still. This is not a timid suggestion. It is a command, and it is vital that we obey it. If we don’t want to just add to the noise, we have to take time to shut out the noise, so that we can hear Him, so that we can truly know Him. We have to hush and listen.
As we truly get to know Him, we find that there are many things about which God feels differently from the world and we should certainly convey His Truth to the world concerning these things. However, we must be careful how we do that. We must not do as Peter did and just start spouting our own ideas. We must do it in His way, not our way.
2 Timothy 2
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Galatians 6
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
The above passages speak of correction but they also speak of humility and gentleness. Are your social media posts characterized by humility and gentleness? You see, we are commanded to convey God’s truth but we are commanded to do that in love, so that we may abide in His love.
John 15
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Verse 10 says “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love”. We have to show Christ-like love in order to keep His commandments. This is not optional. It is a necessary part of the Christian life. In fact, it is absolutely foundational.
Verse 11 says “that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full”. Christ-like love is necessary to experience joy. This is because the elements of the fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23, build on each other. The first one is love and the second one is joy. To have joy and then the other elements of the fruit of the Spirit, you first must have love. Do your posts reflect the love and joy of Christ in your life?
Verse 12 says “love one another as I have loved you”. We are to show exactly the same love toward others that Christ showed to us. We can’t though, at least not consistently. So we have to let Him love through us.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says that, as we behold God’s glory, we are to be transformed into the same image. So, when people look at us, they should see His image. 1 John 4:16 tells us that God is love. So, how do we show people His image? We show them His love. Let’s show His love to each other as we serve Him in the Christian church, to those who see our social media posts, and to everyone in our lives, so that we draw them to Him. Let us seek to truly make a difference and not just add to the noise. Let us help others to truly hear Him.
