Social Media Distancing

I wonder if there’s a need for us to go on a Facebook Fast, an Instagram Intermission, a digital detox, a Social Media Sabbatical, if you will. I could go on all day with my alliterations, but I digress. I use all of these fancy words to say maybe we all need to social distance from social media for awhile.

The very word social, used in social media, means: marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with friends; of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society; tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others.

Ironically all of the socialization on social media is driving people apart, turning brother against brother. It’s as if your opinion is different than someone else’s you will be criticized and judged. We can’t think freely anymore without someone criticizing. An intellectual conversation or civil debate should be welcome as long as it is done with gentleness and respect. It's called brainstorming. Great ideas come from an open discussion. There’s no reason why two adults can not be mature and talk something out in a kind loving manner.

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Instead, the narrative now is to divide people. We cannot allow that. We need to stay united now more than ever, especially with those of the household of Faith.

"With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." James 3:9-10

Martin Luther King Jr. knew how to be civil, concerning the civil rights movement. He stood up for what he believed in and against what he knew to be wrong with love and Biblical references, in a Godly, loving way.

"Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that," Martin Luther King, Jr.

So many other crisis’ throughout history has brought us all together and we became stronger. 9-11 comes to mind and many other man made and natural disasters. What is it about the Covid crisis that is dividing us so? Something is wrong here, something just doesn’t seem right. We are being conditioned to be divided in our thinking and we’re falling for it. This is not what God wants from us. This is more than a virus. This is a spiritual war. Good against evil, demon against spirit. I know I want to be standing and fighting on the side of truth.

Maybe this calls for a social media fast or maybe this calls for us to learn how to properly socialize and have an open and honest discussion with one another. I guess if that's too hard for some to do without getting angry and heated, then maybe a break from these outlets would be called for. If you are willing to have a mature honest debate with someone, and the other party is willing to do the same, then by the grace of God, speak the truth in love.

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15 Speaking the truth in love allows us to grow and mature as the body of Christ. Let's not lose that out of fear of offending someone. True tolerance is tolerating each other's opinion and loving them still, even if it differs from our own.

This social distancing is causing us to distance from each other on a spiritual level. This should not be. Here's the outcome of speaking the truth in love to one another:

We will "grow more and more in every way to be like Christ, which He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

So, sure we can distance ourselves from social media if it's proving to be frustrating, divisive and a waste of time, but I would urge all the more that if we distance from anything let it be from hate and intolerance of each other. True social interaction does not involve media at all. True socialization has more to do with human contact, fellowship and love for each other, and we need that now more than ever. The Hebrew writer encourages this, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 24-25