I have blogged about this topic before but it seems to come around often and rather than brush it under the rug or check it off of the proverbial "to-do" list, I am going to hit it head on.
Again.
Has common sense left our minds? Is character something we are no longer concerned with?
When did it become okay to act like a fool in public? Or, in today's world, social networking?
As a kid I remember my parents expecting me to be on my best behavior at all times but especially when we walked out of our front door and into the community. Poor behavior and choices were not tolerated. Oh, that word. Don't even get me started on tolerance. My Dad read a quote before (I have no idea where it came from), "A man of tolerance is a man without convictions." But, I digress, that is an entirely different subject altogether.
Back to the point! I am not perfect and neither are my kids. Do they always behave the way I would like them to? Absolutely not. But I love them enough to tell them when they are out of line and then direct them in the right way. And as a youth pastor, I feel a certain responsibility to my students to do the same.
So that's what this is about.
Social Networking is not a tool for us to use to bash or tear down others or ourselves. If anything, for those of us who profess Jesus as Lord, it is another tool to be His hands extended! It's another way for us to get The Word out!
So many people I know who say they are followers of Christ go on Facebook or Twitter and fill their pages with garbage. In this case, the saying of "Garbage In-Garbage Out" is visible. What we fill our lives with, comes out in one way or another.
You may say you love God and you follow Him but your actions and words must back that up. And let's face it, so many times, that is not the case.
Matthew 7:16-20 says, "You will recognize them(A) by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17So,(B) every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19(C) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will recognize them(D) by their fruits." (from biblegateway.com, ESV)
We cannot expect to impact the world around us for Jesus if our words are hurtful, angry, bitter, filled with jealousy or malice. And this is most relevant when looking at how we behave online.
People will know us by the fruit we bear.
What kind of fruit are you bearing? A nice, juicy Honeycrisp apple or a bitter Crab apple? Are you sweet grapes from the vine or a stickerburr from the thistle? Do you bring life and hope or death and despair?
Does everything thing we say need to be a scripture verse? No. But shouldn't those around us know that we are different because we refuse to gossip and belittle those around us? Absolutely! Shouldn't our words and conversation be seasoned with salt in order to preserve life? Of course!
Is the fruit you are bearing from the tree of life or a rotten tree that will be torn down and cast in to the fire?
Proverbs 11:30 English Standard Version (ESV) 30The fruit of the righteous is(A) a tree of life, and whoever(B) captures souls is wise.
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