In Response To The SCOTUS Decision On Same-Sex Marriage

Stretch.  This is what I’ve been doing lately.

I told Leanne on Friday night that I might be done with Facebook for a while.

After Friday’s Supreme Court decision regarding same-sex marriage, Facebook blew up.  I have friends and family on both sides of the issue.  Some of the comments and headlines I read were well thought out and constructive, but generally speaking the tone seemed disrespectful and hopeless.  The name calling nearly put me over the edge.  In one of the comment threads someone referred to someone as a “F@#$ing Idiot.”

Many comments were made by people who would call themselves Christians.  This is what pains me.

I think it can be healthy to have conversations about a variety of topics including the conversations regarding around topics like racism, sexual identity, and marriage equality.  I think it’s important to dialogue to answer questions like these:

• What is sin?
• What is truth?
• What is grace?
• What is love?
• How would Christ respond?
• And how should we respond?

One of my daily prayers is this:  “Help me to represent Christ well in what I do, what I think, and what I say.”

When I signed up for Facebook, I certainly never imagined the kind of conversations and the mudslinging that happens on this and other social media platforms.

While I’m not saying we should forever remain silent on these questions and issues, I think it would be valuable to step back and think before we talk or type.  James says in James 1:19:

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

All of the comments on social media haven’t been destructive.  Here are a few I found over the past few days along with a few quotes that give me hope:

• “Don’t write off America or put your hope in her.  Anchor your life in the eternal Word and Kingdom of Christ.” (@JohnGMcGowan via Twitter)
• “Christians verbally attacking each other on social media is the best way to spread a message of grace.” #ThingsJesusNeverSaid (@JonAcuff)
• “Any time you have an opportunity to make yourself seem impressive, be quiet.” (Isaac Hunter quote shared on the latest Relevant Podcast episode)
• “Hey Christians, calm down. Our faith and our God is the same tomorrow as he was yesterday. Love God and love others. Nothing has changed at all.”  (Nate Riedy via Facebook)
• “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”  (Abraham Lincoln)
• “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  (Martin Luther King Jr.)
• “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.“  (Paul in I Thessalonians 5:10-11)

This is my challenge (and hopefully yours as well) – Build each other up.  Show love.  Teach truth.  Point people to Christ in everything we do.

Feel free to leave your comments below.