We live in an age of strongly expressed opinions. Perhaps because the airwaves are filled with everyone’s viewpoints, people feel the need to express them loudly. I get that. Everyone wants to be heard. But many people have mistakenly assumed that if they feel strongly about an issue, they have the right not only to be loud but also to be ugly. This unfortunate tendency concerns me.
It is one thing to enter into an energetic debate, which can be as invigorating as it is enlightening. Fervently holding beliefs isn’t sinful. In fact, we ought to be passionate about the truth. But at what point does passion cross over the line into sin?
It has become increasingly common these days not only to argue the merits of a viewpoint but to denigrate opponents’ character. It is perfectly appropriate to argue the pros and cons of each view. But castigating opponents’ character, smearing their reputation, and spreading falsehood and unsubstantiated rumors does not strengthen one’s case.
Christians shouldn’t be surprised when secular society operates this way. After all, the world promotes an “us versus them” and “all’s fair in love and war” mentality. But Jesus’ followers ought to interact with people at a higher standard. After all, Jesus was always “Christ-like,” even when he suffered the grossest of injustices. While dying on a cross as the result of lies and abuse of power, Jesus forgave his murderers and showed kindness to those around him. Even as a thief on the cross next to him blasphemed and cursed him, Jesus was prepared to invite him into paradise. Jesus would have been justified in angrily denouncing his persecutors and writing angry posts on social media condemning the falsehood perpetrated against him. Instead, Jesus recognized what the source of evil was and, to the very end, sought to rescue people from it.
I find it disconcerting that every time I cite Jesus as an example of kindness and grace, someone always mentions his cleansing of the temple. I have no idea how much anger has been “justified” using that one example! Yet it is clear that Jesus cleansed the temple not out of anger but as a prophetic condemnation. Nowhere in the accounts does the Bible say Jesus was angry. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus arrived at the temple at the end of the day, looked around, and then went to Bethany to spend the night (Mark 11:11). Surely the exchange tables and market were there when Jesus first visited the temple. Had the sight angered him, he would have cleared the temple upon his arrival. For that matter, if the sight of moneychangers in the temple angered Jesus, he would have cleared them out every time he came to worship. Nevertheless, Jesus returned the next day, and that is when he cleared the temple. He cited the condemnation of the prophet Jeremiah, that God’s house had been transformed into a den of thieves (Jer. 7:11). Just as Jeremiah had foretold that the temple would be abandoned by God to judgment by the Babylonians, Jesus declared that it would be abandoned again, this time to the Romans.
Likewise, Paul and Silas were falsely accused in Philippi and then stripped, beaten, and imprisoned. Thrown into the innermost prison, they had every right to be angry at the man guarding them. Yet they showed him kindness instead, ultimately saving his life and leading him and his family to be converted and baptized (Acts 16). Paul never compromised the truth, but he never set aside his Christ-like behavior either. As a result, a hardened jailor and his family were added to the church. Both Jesus and Paul demonstrated that it is possible to interact with opponents and ungodly people without forfeiting your Christian witness.
It is disappointing when Christians stoop to trolling their opponents on social media, spreading rumors, or arrogantly mocking those with whom they disagree. It is unbecoming to assume that anyone who disagrees with our viewpoint must be an evil person who doesn’t believe the Bible or love Jesus. It might just be that they don’t interpret the Bible the same way we do.
We shouldn’t forfeit our beliefs or lower our standards so we don’t offend people. We should strive to be as faithful to Scripture as we possibly can be. But recognize that the people with whom we disagree have an eternity stretching out before them. They, too, may be honestly striving to understand and apply truth as they understand it. Mocking and deriding them probably won’t convince them of our viewpoint, but humbly engaging with them and treating them with dignity and respect might.
It is unfortunate when people have the confession of Christ but not his character. Or when they have purity of theology but not of heart. If you stand for truth, then you can afford to be gracious.
