Social Media; either everyone loves it (And many of those obsessively) or some people see it as a tool of the devil. My personal belief is that Social Media is, quite simply, a tool. It is neither good, nor bad, and however one chooses to use it makes its use good or bad. I can take a hammer, and build something, or I can take a hammer and throw it through a window (I won't, and don't suggest anyone else do it either, but I hope you see the point!)
Much of what I see on Social media, however, is the airing of one's dirty laundry. What I mean by that is the amount of griping, complaining, and (gasp) gossip/slander/libel being done on it. I don't care how much my kids frustrate me, I won't go airing our business to everyone, and I most certainly would not bring my wife, or even my worst enemies down on it! The tongue (and, in this day and age, our fingertips) is a wildfire, according to James 3, and can burn whole forests down!
We need to learn to take a leaf (pun definitely intended) out of Thumper's book: If you can't say anything nice, don't speak at all! Does this mean we don't go to an ailing brother or sister and try and correct them? By no means! We need to care enough about people to speak the truth, but we need to care enough to speak the truth in love! We are so afraid of offending people, that we won't go up to them and say something, but then we go behind their backs (or before their eyes on Facebook, twitter, and instagram, et all), and speak to any who will hear us! It's time to tame our tongues, and follow what Ephesians 4 says (See the whole section below):
"29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Are you speaking corruptly, or building up? Christians, let us build one another up, and profit one another, even if it hurts, so that we may all get to the Master together!
From Ephesians 4:
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
