Snarky facebook response FTW!

**Anyone is welcome to read this post, but please note that the criticisms herein are directed at the church alone. I Corinthians describes the church as the body of Christ, and it is my desire that we take this imagery to heart.** 

What comes to mind when you see the following two memes?

My guess is that your initial response depends on how you feel about homeschool versus public school. As a general rule, one's background will determine what they find abrasive and what simply rolls off their back. In my opinion, both of these examples are broad generalizations and somewhat rude.

I really don't take this type of thing too seriously, but I often wonder why Christians participate in these petty jabs. We are constantly attacking each other (and the general populace) in public forums. The barbs aren't limited to memes. You can take your pick from status updates, blog posts, tweets, completely unrelated news article comments, and more!

The fact is, this disunity spreads much wider than the realm of schooling options. Christians are unfortunately really fantastic at picking fights and exploiting weaknesses. So fantastic that you can find various memes about that, too. 

We're supposed to be known by our love, or at least that's what Jesus said a long, long time ago. I'd say we're better known for our hypocrisy and bickering.

I am absolutely not inferring that we should turn a blind eye to real problems and sing Kumbaya together. I'm simply saying that the internet is not a proper place for discussion. Maybe private messages, but even those can be easily misinterpreted. 

I think it just boils down to the fact that there is a time and place for everything. A private conversation is the time for calling someone out on a point of contention, not a passive aggressive (or just plain old aggressive) status update. 

If there is a genuine sin problem in a fellow believer's life, the most loving thing you can do for them is to hold them accountable. The wounds of a friend are faithful and beneficial. Snarky comments and pointed remarks? Not so much.  

If you're genuinely concerned about someone, sit down and have a conversation with them. Listen to them. Share Scripture with them. Get them the help they need to put a stop to whatever the problem is. We were meant to bear each other's burdens. We were meant to stir each other up toward love and good works, and we were meant to do so after removing our own beams.

If the issue is just a personal preference, like schooling choices for instance, then try considering the matter from the other person's perspective. Every single day, committed followers of Jesus Christ look at the same Scripture, pray to the same God, and come to different conclusions. Maybe that's because God actually prefers it that way. We are to be the light of the world in every realm, and that means we'll have to be involved in different realms.

Sometimes there will actually be a better choice, and that's why it is so important to not always spend our time with people who agree with us on ever issue. Iron sharpens iron. We have an opportunity to speak respectfully and still debate each other on important issues. On my husband's side of the family, every holiday inevitably results in one such debate (or several!) I must confess that I love it, and I love having friends that are willing to not only disagree but to discuss with me our differences of opinion. Growth only results from challenges. 

I know it's a daunting task, but these sorts of conversations also need to be done in humility. Philippians 2:3 instructs us to think of others as better than ourselves. Something tells me that includes their convictions as well. It's so damaging to our fellow believers when we assume that we've put more thought/prayer/etc. into our course of action than they have. 

James 3 has some good things to say on the topic as well. If we truly have the desire to impart wisdom to others, then we need to check our motives. Wisdom from God is "pure, peacable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." 

My goodness. That list puts me to shame! Especially those willing to yield and without hypocrisy parts. My prayer is that God would continue to shape me into someone who approaches conflict in that way. My prayer is that the body of Christ as a whole would do the same.

I'm not saying don't ever post another meme. There are some pretty great ones out there.

Those are all goofball ones, but I'm not implying that we are forbidden from sharing a meaningful one. I'm not saying to tiptoe around the truth. Really, I'm not even saying not to poke fun at people, as long as you're poking fun at the group that you yourself are a part of. I guess I'm just issuing a plea to all Christians to think about the message you're sending to the rest of the world via the internet. 

I think we could use a lot less internet confrontation, and a lot more one-on-one tough love conversations. The medium of online communication is just desperately lacking in so very many ways.

So let's all use some discernment. Count the cost. Examine our motives. Consider more effective options. Reflect on how this reflects on the unity of one body. The world is watching us, and they will know us by our love.