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Does social media bring out the worst in people? Scroll through and you might think the Gospel’s central message was, “Be right at all costs.” Even Christians are trading their Christian witness for political rants, firing off insults like bullets, and acting as if anyone who disagrees is not just mistaken—but evil. How can we change this?
Is it possible that the internet has caused us to stop leading with love and start leading with labels?
Maybe we have forgotten which hat we’re supposed to be wearing. It’s been said “You can’t wear two hats at once and claim both are your primary identity.” In today’s divided world, we sometimes forget which hat we’re supposed to be wearing first.
We live in a time when social media platforms have become modern pulpits, not for proclaiming the Gospel, but for broadcasting political outrage. Sadly, and too often, Christians are leading the charge. It’s not uncommon to see Christians unleashing harsh attacks on others, not just on strangers or celebrities, but even on other Christians, simply because they hold different political views.
Somewhere along the line, we stopped seeing one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and started seeing each other as political enemies. And that’s a tragedy.
Scripture doesn’t tell us to be known by our political alignment. Jesus didn’t say, “By this all will know you are my disciples—by your party affiliation.” No, He said: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Love, not ideology, is the Christian’s true badge of honor.
Let’s be honest. The internet has made it far too easy to lash out. With a keyboard and a few taps, we can post a clever insult, a sarcastic meme, or a fiery comment that feels righteous in the moment but leaves behind wounds that can last a lifetime.
Worse, we often justify this behavior by telling ourselves we’re “standing up for truth” or “fighting evil.” But are we doing it as Christians, or as political warriors? And more importantly: Are we doing it in the Spirit of Christ?
Let’s remember that righteousness without humility becomes self-righteousness. Zeal without love becomes noise. And defending truth without charity is no defense of the Gospel at all.
Let’s be honest neither political party has the inside track on morality. Republicans accuse Democrats as promoting abortions and Democrats accuse Republicans of being uncaring towards immigrants. And the list of grievances against the other side goes on and on and on. We basically have a two party system, and both sides have flaws…. but that does not make someone who voted differently than we did evil and/or stupid.
The Apostle Paul put it this way:
“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal… and if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” Corinthians 13:1–2
If our “defense of truth” sounds like a clashing cymbal that drowns out love, we should ask ourselves whether we’re still wearing our Christian hat—or whether we’ve swapped it for something else.
Jesus didn’t avoid speaking truth, but He did it in ways that reached the heart. He didn’t win arguments. He won souls.
Yes, we can and should be engaged in our world, including in politics. But we must never forget who we are first: disciples of Jesus Christ. Citizens of heaven. Ambassadors of reconciliation and not division.
In Matthew 5:9 Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” And in Matthew 5:43 He states, “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.”
If someone scrolls through our posts, do they see a peacemaker or a powder keg? Do they see Christ, or just our political convictions?
Scathing political posts can cause us to lose friends. We should all ask ourselves this question. Do we fight as hard to keep our friendship as we do to win political debates?
Perhaps it is time for a course correction. We must be careful not to weaponize our faith but rather strive to embody it.
We must always remember that the person on the other side of the political aisle, or the other side of the comment section, is someone made in the image and likeness of God. Maybe they don’t see things our way. Maybe they never will. But they’re still someone Jesus died for.
So today, I challenge you, and I challenge myself to pause before we post. To think before we share. To ask: Is what I’m about to say clothed in Christ, or just cloaked in pride?
If we’re going to wear a hat in public, let it be the one marked by mercy, humility, grace, and truth. Let it be the hat of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, help me to always speak, act, and post, with love so that through my deeds, actions, and words others may clearly recognize me as a true disciple of Jesus. Help me to be a peacemaker in a divided world. Grant me compassion and a willingness to always pray for those I perceive as my enemy, even if that simply means they are on the other side of the political aisle. Amen!
AMDG
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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.
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I agree-social media has become very unsociable. I don’t have a social media account & don’t want to see comments from other people. Thanks, Gayden.
Amen. Thank you 🙏🏻
Right on Brian! Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful and much needed post today. Thank you for all your posts, God Bless.
Beautiful and timely message, Brian. Thank you so much