Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
Some days I want to withdraw from social media altogether. One would think my aversion and distress would be due to worldly influences, and while there is a degree of that, my current frustration with social media lies primarily with Christians using it to attack one another. What’s up with that?
Like most things in life, social media has the potential for both good and evil. On the negative side, it can become a distraction, lead to envy, and often cause people to put on a false sense of bravado when “talking big” with a keyboard. On the positive side, however, it gives us access to our loved ones wherever they are. It provides an outlet to spread the good news of the Gospel and be a shining light to those living in darkness. That being said, social media itself is not the issue. The problem I see is with Christians—or I should say “believers” because the word “Christian” means Christ-like, and many of these people are not acting like Christ.
I’ve seen so many hateful and unloving posts by believers. I’ve seen fights between believers who are so confident they’re right they seem oblivious to the fact that they’re displaying a horrible testimony online for all to see. Recently, I’ve seen a Christian group split because one person posted something that someone else didn’t like, and the entire situation was blown out of proportion.
Now, before someone accuses me of not taking a stand for what’s right, let me assure you I’m not talking about forsaking the Bible and its teachings. The fact of the matter is most of these arguments, disagreements, and downright fights aren’t over doctrine or truth. They’re over preferences and standards, many of which have no Biblical proof. And the biggest issue I have (other than the fact that they’re ruining their testimonies and the testimony of other Christians by association) is that we’re so busy fighting amongst ourselves over preferences that we’re failing to do the job we’re here to do—spreading the Good News of the Bible. While we’re tearing each other to pieces over what we should wear or which version of the Bible is correct, people all around us are dying and going to hell. We’ve forgotten how to keep the main thing the main thing. We’ve become distracted, and it’s costing us big time!
When Nehemiah was leading the effort to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, there came a point where he ordered the people to work with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. (Neh. 4:17) The trowel was to accomplish the work they were there to do. The sword was to defend themselves against the enemy trying to prevent the work.
What would have happened if those people had turned their swords on each other? I’m sure they weren’t all in agreement over the exact method of building the wall. Everyone surely had their own ideas about how the process would take place. They each had their way—their preference. So, what would have happened had the people grown angry with one another because of their different views over how to build the wall? What would have been the result of the mission had the people been so distracted fighting amongst themselves that they failed to do the work or to watch out for the real enemy? I think we can all agree it would have been a disaster. The wall probably never would have been rebuilt.
We need to work like Nehemiah and his workers, with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. The trowel represents all the tools of ministry at our disposal (social media included) to further the work—the Kingdom of God. The sword represents the Word of God, our weapon against the powers of darkness, not each other. We have enough enemies to contend with between the devil and his demons, the world itself, and our own flesh. Let’s be careful not to make enemies of one another. We need each other. We need the fellowship and love of fellow believers. We need to have each others’ backs.
I realize this post has sounded a bit like me slinging mud, but lest you think that, let me say I, too, am guilty. I’ve allowed my frustration at fellow believers to hinder the ministry and tarnish my testimony. I’ve used my weapon of words to attack fellow soldiers for Christ simply because their means or methods didn’t line up with my own. Notice I said they didn’t align with me, not with the Bible. Yes, in my pride, I, too, have forgotten to keep the main thing the main thing.
Unfortunately, it’s so easy to get distracted. But friends, I urge you to remember why we’re here. We’re here to tell others about Christ and encourage those trying to live for Him. Let that be our driving force. Let that be our life’s goal. And let us not be distracted by things that will drive a wedge between us and other believers. For the sake of the Kingdom, let’s focus on Christ!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! - Psalm 133:1