Too Slow and Too Quick

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20 NIV)

My wife decided shortly after being on Facebook Wednesday to go “off the grid” because she didn’t want to read all the nasty things that were being written—nasty things about Donald Trump, about Democrats, about Republicans, and about America.  I don’t blame her.  It’s a very caustic world in social media and it has been for a long time.  

I have witnessed things being written by people I know which I am fairly confident would never be said in the same rude and hostile manner if the other person were sitting on the other side of the table.  Social media seems to have made us comfortable to say things in ways we would unlikely say them if we were face to face with people.  

It has been clear for years that people are angry about many things and social media has served as an outlet for that anger, but at a tremendous cost, particularly for the Church.  Too many Christians have joined the social media fray and used it to voice their anger at the culture, whether they think it is unjust and marginalizing or casting aside long-observed biblical truths.  Sometimes it seems Christians on social media are like a circling firing squad.

Reading this command clearly demonstrates how many of us have turned it on its head.  We are too slow to listen, but very quick to speak and become angry. This, of course, is not new.  If it were, James would have had no reason to give the command.  However, social media has had a steroidal impact on our bent to let our tongue and emotions lead us.  

This is the way of the culture, but following Jesus has always been and always will be counter-cultural.  Once again, Jesus is the anchor that keeps us moored and from being carried away by the currents of any society, and Scripture reveals the particulars of what that looks like.  It is amazing to me how practical the Scriptures really are and this directive in James is just one example.  Following Jesus is not just about what we believe; it is also about how we conduct ourselves on a daily basis in all types of situations.  And this includes how we interact on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.  

Today, consider how you can live out this command in James.  What does it mean for your interaction with people, particularly on social media?  It is a question we all should be asking, especially this week.

© Jim Musser 2016