Oh, Be Careful Little Hands What You Type
This statement could not be more true. When I take a gander at the News Feed on my Facebook account, I notice 75% of them are angry, frustrated, or lashing out at others. Now, I’m not saying that social networking isn’t a place to ever process your thoughts or feelings… but at what cost?
Therapy is a two way interaction. It has parameters, goals, and a huge amount of accountability. If done properly, the behaviors that are not appropriate slowly fade away. If they do continue, they are discouraged by the counseling party and the person given the counseling is held accountable for not altering the behavior. This is healthy and Biblical. The ultimate goal is to grow in wisdom and love, and when that occurs- we begin to live life together with others as God intended. It’s a maturity that should be seen by others, as we get older and grow closer to God. Check it out:
“Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” James 3:17-18
Loving takes work. Hard work.
It means keeping things in until you can say it with love.
Not posting things that would bring someone down or tear them apart.
Letting things sit for 24 hours before responding.
Knowing when to respond publicly and when to do it privately (it’s almost always better privately).
Taking the wisdom that God gives us daily and (here’s a shocker) actually putting it into practice.
It’s tough, because social networking is easy… because it’s a cowards way out. To type a few words on your status to passive/aggressively get back at someone- is cowardice and unloving. To think it through and talk with someone in love is Godly and wise. The great part is, the hard work pays off. If you strive to follow a Goldy route, you will not only have an amazing relationship with God, but you will get along with people.
Social networking needs to be done with accountability. Blogs. Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. MySpace. If you are using these online resources (which are great), who is “your web person?” The person who can call you up and say, “Hey I love ya, but what in the world were you thinking posting that?” or “Did you have a bad day, because that update you just posted was pretty hurtful and unloving?”
We all need a person. James gives us some great wisdom and parameters by simply pointing us to draw near to God and get along with others (Love God. Love People). So, who is your person? What kind of accountability do you need so you don’t hurt someone else? Or better yet…
Are you ready to do the hard work and let someone say the hard things to you so you don’t burn any bridges?
It’s time to grow in love and wisdom.
Let’s do this people.
Jason *over and out*
