The Terrible Trap of the Tongue

Nothing makes me so angry, hurt, and confused as when I see people getting hurt by the Church. And yet it happens over and over again, several times a day. I see leaders in the Church, who hold prominent positions of influence, saying damaging and hurtful things, and I also see people who I know personally, and who I once respected, also, saying and posting such things. Sometimes it is a call to fear the other, or a call to arms, or a crazy jump from the Ontario sex ed curriculum to the legalization of pedophilia. But I also see the other side. On the one end, I know people who are Christian, but experience serious social anxiety at the thought of going to church. On the other end, I know people who have been convinced by their experiences that all religions are evil, who struggle to hold themselves together even when just sitting at the sidelines of a conversation about faith. Meanwhile, LGBTQ youth are disproportionately homeless or suicidal, Muslim men and women are fleeing 'Christian' nations in fear, and abortion clinics are getting targeted by terrorist attacks committed by 'Christians.'

Jesus told us to be a light to the world. But how can we possibly be a light if the world is running away from us in pain and fear?

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

The Bible warns again and again about the dangers of the tongue. But in the modern world of social media, these dangers have grown exponentially. If you say something stupid while talking to one or two friends, you may hurt those people you were talking to. Perhaps they will tell people what you said, and the story will spread, but that is still nothing compared to the power of social media. In ten seconds, I can get a message out to hundreds of Facebook friends. You do not see the reaction of most of those friends when they first see your post, so if you hurt someone thoughtlessly, you may never know. Many of those Facebook friends are only acquaintances, and you may have no idea what they are struggling through in their personal lives. 

Now wait a minute! you may be thinking, I will not compromise my beliefs to spare others' feelings! Well, I believe in a God of both love and justice, a God who was unwilling to compromise on either of those principles, who, in order to fulfill them both, sacrificed Himself. 

Next time you are about to post on social media, think first. Why do you feel the need to say these things? Will it build people up or tear people down?

• If you want to distance yourself from people who you feel are doing wrong, remember: "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’" (Matthew 11:19 NIV) 

• If you are afraid, remember: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV)

• If you are angry, remember: "'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." (Eph 4:26-27 NIV)

• If you want to feel morally superior, remember: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5 NIV)

This is something I struggle with myself. I have written long rants and then deleted them because I knew I wrote them for the wrong reasons. Keeping control of our tongues is so, so hard, but it is also so, so important. Perhaps James said it best: "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless." (James 1:26 NIV)