My Response to Internet Trolls Who Viciously Attack
I shouldn’t, but I live in perpetual state of fear.
Fear of the unknown; fear of discovering the truth; fear of misunderstanding a situation and consequently misreporting a situation.
As a Christian, I’m told I walk in grace. But on days like today, I don’t feel the grace, especially when interacting with other believers.
Romans 12 tells us we’re to be of the same mind, but American church society is functioning along a fracture that grows deeper by the day, with those of us wrestling to move forward in our faith in danger of plummeting off the precipice as denominational lines and deeply held ideals clash.
Within the faith community, there is a definite black and white: What is clearly laid out in the Bible and came from the mouth of God. But there’s also a gray—the cloudy matter that hovers between cultural expectations of morality and what the truth may be.
With all my heart, I want to do what is right, what is pleasing to God. Nothing jacks up my heart rate like the idea I have displeased someone.
And even if I do my absolute best, pour my heart into an idea and pray through research and writing, someone will find fault with it. I’m not bold enough to declare God Himself dictates my every word, but I truly believe He inspires my writing.
My heart’s deepest desire is that men and women who say they love God to prove it by keeping His commandments. That they would eschew temptation for a life of service.
But every one of us will fall victim at some point, whether it’s a pinprick of sin in the world’s eyes or horrors that make everyone gasp.
It is so easy for many of us as Christians to sit back and judge with social media at our finger tips. We can declare something unholy, something unfit for a believer to see, do or act.
The reality, however, is that every moment we spend trolling the Internet is a minute we could use to improve our communities for the glory of God.
Yes, there’s a time and a place for honest, open-minded discussion where growing closer to God is the desired outcome. Take out the politics; take out the preconceived notions about religious tradition and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal new meaning to passages you’ve wondered about.
But most of what I see in my online “faith” communities are attacks and condemnation. Perhaps we should amend the verse that says that man looks at the outward appearance to say man looks at the Twitter biography, but I digress.
My heart’s deepest desire is to know God deeply and truly, and to communicate this to the world in whatever way He allows me to. Your goal should be the same. If it isn’t, why are you here?
The faith community—believers, churches, small groups—should be aware of what is going on in the world so they can press toward the finish line of Christ’s return. We are to use His resources to minister to those around us.
Believers have made abominable messes of their lives before, and they won’t stop now. However, we can each be inspired by the faith of those around us and say, “If you can make it through that, so too can I.” {bio}
