I lost a friend on social media during Holy Week due to all of the political infighting going on. Oh, I never met him in person but we talked on numerous occasions, in fact we participated on a few blogtalkradio shows where our views were quite similar. But with the unusual candidate situation faced this year in Republican circles, he just couldn't respect my wishes regarding my candidate endorsement and repeatedly told me I was wrong openly on Facebook, going so far as to accuse me of drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid and supporting someone who could not be acceptable to God. I merely asked that he "cool it" for Holy Week but he even turned that into snark in his return remarks.
I drew the line at that point, saying that he was of course entitled to his views as was I but he just kept pushing until I said I was done. Now I know he is highly passionate about his candidate, but each of us can reach our own conclusions and it doesn't mean that one of us is wrong or evil, it just means we disagree on who would be better in these trying days for America. And I am sorry that he felt that way, for I have always felt that all politicians have significant faults and are sinners, both the one I support and his favorite, yet somehow we followers need to draw the line as to how far we take things. And I know that some are more outspoken while others might be more reserved, some might say almost pioused in their egotism, but I think there is room for all and, after all, again they are also all sinners. None of them is anywhere near approaching the level of Jesus Christ and I think it's important for us to always remember that. When we substitute mortal man's judgement for the Holy One's we are always headed for trouble.
But on this Holy Week this minor situation made me take time to review what I see on the sites about politics, particularly Facebook and Twitter which I am most familiar with, and it made me realize that I want to divorce myself from the sarcasm and the downright nastiness that so many of us are exhibiting toward others. Frankly, I can't exclude myself from that but I want to end it. And even more sadly, much of it is directed at those with whom we share many common values, we just happen to disagree over a specific candidate. I think when we do this we serve to divide ourselves in situations which might often lead to our own detriment come election time. Snark, sarcasm and just downright ugliness can sometimes drive those people away from you that you are trying to bring to the cause and, candidly, it seems that many good candidates might be losing potential supporters due to the behavior of their own support team. Not only that, but when you project a very narrow view in politics, you're very likely to get a very narrow support base. There are many people looking for the right candidate and we should help them decide in a supportive way not by driving them off.
So from here on out on social media I will try and limit my remarks to my views based upon what I believe, not snark and gossip being spread so rapidly throughout the sites. I will still write my blogs about God, country and politics, but my short bits will be less sarcastic and more just a simple statement of what I believe. It's much more appropriate to say "I don't think your premise is correct" than to say "I think you are an idiot". And besides, if the Holy Week means to me as a Christian what I profess to say it does, then I, like so many others, need to live accordingly.
There, I've gotten that off my chest and now will strive to do things better and I hope each of you will have a wonderful day and week ahead. Remember to put the Spirit of Christ that was ever so present over the last few days first and foremost in your life always. He lives and it is now paramount that we live for Him. God bless you all.
I drew the line at that point, saying that he was of course entitled to his views as was I but he just kept pushing until I said I was done. Now I know he is highly passionate about his candidate, but each of us can reach our own conclusions and it doesn't mean that one of us is wrong or evil, it just means we disagree on who would be better in these trying days for America. And I am sorry that he felt that way, for I have always felt that all politicians have significant faults and are sinners, both the one I support and his favorite, yet somehow we followers need to draw the line as to how far we take things. And I know that some are more outspoken while others might be more reserved, some might say almost pioused in their egotism, but I think there is room for all and, after all, again they are also all sinners. None of them is anywhere near approaching the level of Jesus Christ and I think it's important for us to always remember that. When we substitute mortal man's judgement for the Holy One's we are always headed for trouble.
But on this Holy Week this minor situation made me take time to review what I see on the sites about politics, particularly Facebook and Twitter which I am most familiar with, and it made me realize that I want to divorce myself from the sarcasm and the downright nastiness that so many of us are exhibiting toward others. Frankly, I can't exclude myself from that but I want to end it. And even more sadly, much of it is directed at those with whom we share many common values, we just happen to disagree over a specific candidate. I think when we do this we serve to divide ourselves in situations which might often lead to our own detriment come election time. Snark, sarcasm and just downright ugliness can sometimes drive those people away from you that you are trying to bring to the cause and, candidly, it seems that many good candidates might be losing potential supporters due to the behavior of their own support team. Not only that, but when you project a very narrow view in politics, you're very likely to get a very narrow support base. There are many people looking for the right candidate and we should help them decide in a supportive way not by driving them off.
So from here on out on social media I will try and limit my remarks to my views based upon what I believe, not snark and gossip being spread so rapidly throughout the sites. I will still write my blogs about God, country and politics, but my short bits will be less sarcastic and more just a simple statement of what I believe. It's much more appropriate to say "I don't think your premise is correct" than to say "I think you are an idiot". And besides, if the Holy Week means to me as a Christian what I profess to say it does, then I, like so many others, need to live accordingly.
There, I've gotten that off my chest and now will strive to do things better and I hope each of you will have a wonderful day and week ahead. Remember to put the Spirit of Christ that was ever so present over the last few days first and foremost in your life always. He lives and it is now paramount that we live for Him. God bless you all.
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