“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Over the years, social media has become a large part of Christian culture. Churches are using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more to reach their communities with the gospel. But it’s not just churches; more and more Christians are using social media to share their personal thoughts and beliefs.
Some posts are inspirational and encouraging, but sadly some are anything but Christ-like. Brothers and sisters, what we say on social media displays not only the content of our hearts; it also demonstrates to the watching world what we believe about our Savior.
To this end, James gives us some guidelines for Spirit-led social media. Christians should be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Why? Because human anger does not produce the righteousness of God. It is no coincidence that God gave us two ears and one mouth; let us be mindful to listen twice as much as we speak.
Let us ask God for wisdom before we speak, then submit our words to the Holy Spirit.
Before you hit “send” on that next post, ask the Lord if the words you have written glorify him. Do they promote the Kingdom of God? And are they a reflection of the person and work of Jesus Christ? This will help us ensure that our lips and our lives line up with our Lord. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).
PRAYER PROMPT: Father, as your ambassadors, we represent you with our words and our deeds. Because of this, we need your Holy Spirit to sanctify our hearts and to govern our thoughts. Help us to align our words with your will, that they may glorify you, edify the saints, and evangelize the lost. Amen.
Adron Robinson is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills and president of the Illinois Baptist State Association.