It’s been said before, but social media is a funny thing. Especially in an overly divisive and politically charged climate. Prior to the internet, we got our news from the paper and our local television stations. It was mostly local, but we knew what was going on in the world at large, generally speaking. We would talk with family, friends, co-workers, etc, about our agreements and complaints with the world. This isn’t to say divisiveness did not exist back then, but I doubt anyone could argue it was a widespread as we see it today. The advent of the internet, particularly social media, and a 24-hour news cycle allowed us to be inundated with everything that was going on everywhere at all times. Suddenly, it wasn’t just local issues with a smattering of national and international headlines. Now it was everyone’s business about every single issue.

It is not an issue we can escape either. Unless one divorces his or herself from the world wide web completely, you will see and be impacted by news every time you pick up your phone. Even if you do not go to the news sites and manage to avoid the click-bait headlines, your friends and online acquaintances will most certainly be discussing the topic de jour. Along with the applicable social media links, they will be sharing their thoughts and commentary about those news events. Social media has made us all experts, if only in our own minds, about everything being carried along our news streams. Since we have the ability to post and comment at any given moment, most of us cannot resist sharing our perceived brilliance on whatever topic is the hot-button issue. We no longer need commentary from the experts to help us understand an issue. We are the experts because we have an opinion and a keyboard.

This has resulted in more division and arguments then I believe most of us have seen in our lifetimes. It is one thing to have a heated discussion with a loved one or co-worker over a current political decision in the news. But when that discussion is broadcast to where untold thousands, even millions can see, hear, and participate in kind, well, the ensuing storm is sure to bring casualties.

Perhaps one of the more interesting side effects of online social interaction is that we have reduced our arguments to mere bullet point thinking. Sites like Twitter and Facebook thrive in short, to the point statements. If you are too long winded, those reading your posts are likely to move on very quickly. Social media is a fast moving communications medium. It is instant, no need to wait, gratification. It takes little to no time for us to know what is generally going on in the lives of our friends, loved ones, and acquaintances. We can like, comment, and share, without having to really invest a lot of energy and time into their lives. This gives us the feeling of actually being involved in their lives while actually doing very little.

One such example of this is the “showing of solidarity” by changing our profile pictures with cute frames during times of crisis. We can say that we feel bad about what has happened by simply changing the decoration on our page. However, nothing is actually accomplished to help those affected. We can feel good about our lack of effort and defend what little was done by saying we cared enough to show that solidarity. Likewise, hashtag campaigns are touted as a means of “raising awareness” of a particular issue or concern. People will share links and posts with a pre-determined hashtag in order to make the post easier to find. Certainly, it allows us to see what people are saying about an issue, yet, precious few do little more than get made aware. It may be desirable to increase the public’s knowledge about an issue. But, if the knowledge does not result in action, then all we did is make ourselves feel better by talking about it.

Additionally, the fast pace of social media has helped us to be self-professed experts without doing much to actually gain a greater understanding of the issues at hand. When the news announces a policy enacted by the current political administration, you will always have those that agree and disagree with the decision. The truth is that no one will ever say, think, or do something that everyone agrees with. That is the nature of the world we live in. You cannot please all of the people all of the time. Anyone that believes such a fairy tale needs to have their mental capacities examined. Therefore, it ought to be a given that we will encounter those who disagree with a matter despite the fact that we might support it wholeheartedly.

Yet, in our lightspeed world of the internet, little consideration seems to be given to those who disagree with us. There is an expectation, it seems, that once we have posted our opinion on a matter, it should be accepted as gospel without argument. If someone dares to suggest our position is faulty, then the gauntlet has been cast down and the invitation to fight has been accepted. It is with rare exception that I have seen online debates which took serious consideration of the opposing person’s facts and statements. Rather, most debates seem to devolve into virtual versions of playground arguments:

Person 1: “Is not!”
Person 2: “Is too!”
Person 1: “Nuh-uh!”
Person 2: “Uh-huh!!”
Person 1: “Well, you’re a big dummy head!”
Person 2: “Well you’re stupider!!”

In the meantime, the masses have gathered and not merely content to stand by and be entertained by the brawl. They now engage en masse. Persons who have never met one another now engage in a virtual barroom brawl. Assertions of motivations are made, questions of mental acuity are lobbed, everyone screams at each other, but no one is listening.

The sad truth of this matter is that few, if any of these brawlers, has likely studied up on the actual matter at hand. They know the headlines and the talking points because their favorite blogger, newscaster, YouTube personality (does anyone watch YouTube anymore, just asking), celebrity, etc, told them this is what they ought to think about it. Before you accuse me of insulting your intelligence, ask yourself this: when was the last time you went out of your way to actually research an issue before you got into that debate? Seriously. When did you go to a library, read books and articles written by serious authors on the matter, and get fully informed? Kind of makes you get a hitch in your step to ask that, doesn’t it? It should because it is likely that the vast majority of us are simply regurgitating arguments found in popular culture. Where we are not informed, we are not really debating, we are simply parroting.

Now, do not misunderstand me to say that you cannot debate your opinions on a given issue without becoming a scholar. In no way am I claiming this. However, when one takes the time to study out an issue, to learn not only what they believe, but why they believe, one stands ready to make an articulate case that might just convince others. Likewise, when you can rightly understand the arguments of an opponent and make their argument without building up straw men that can easily be knocked down, you gain a greater understanding of the issue overall. And, you gain the respect of those with whom you are engaging in discourse. If you don’t want their respect, then consider how you react when you are told what you believe, and find it a complete mischaracterization of the truth. Are you willing to hear that person in any way at all? Or are you more likely to dismiss them altogether? Not an easy pill to swallow when you actually think about it.

This should be our motivation anytime we enter into the social media world to discuss an important topic, especially for the Christian. The world, which is dead in its trespasses and sins, already hates God. Therefore, it is a given that those who interact with us and disagree with us, are merely looking for more reasons to blaspheme our Savior. Our walk compliments the gospel we proclaim. We ought not to walk, talk, and act like the heathen masses who are simply spoiling for a fight. We should endure slander and insult with grace while giving a reason for the hope that lies within us.

When we choose to engage the culture at large, something we must do, then we need to do so being informed of why they believe what they believe. Be it politics, religion, sports, or entertainment, every topic is an opportunity for the Christian to display the truth and grace of God to the world. We will demonstrate that our God is gracious and longsuffering if we ourselves are gracious and longsuffering. We demonstrate our God is full of truth and wisdom when we ourselves speak with truth and wisdom. Therefore, I urge my brethren (and anyone else who takes time to read this) slow down, learn, develop a sound understanding of the issue, then consider how to respond, if you feel the need to do so at all. All will benefit if we admit that we do not know everything, but are certainly willing to learn.