”A true Christian would never vote for that party.”

”If you still listen to secular music, you aren’t saved,”

”You aren’t a good witness if you drink alcohol.”

“If you knew the Bible, you wouldn’t get tattoos.”

Have you come across posts like these, or worse, been the recipient of them? Today’s social media platforms have provided a platform for some in the Christian community to become modern day Pharisees with their pious and legalistic judgment. On one of the newer platforms that allow interactive posts from people around the world, it is truly disheartening to witness professed Christians attacking each other over gross misinterpretation of scripture to the point of questioning the validity of each other’s faith. In an attempt to strut their own righteousness, they are showing a lost world what a divided Christ looks like, and in the process, losing all credibility with those who are watching.

We are guilty of wasting an opportunity to reach a global audience with the message of God’s grace, mercy and salvation. However, for some bizarre reason, a few Christians are more compelled to sow public discord with each other over inconsequential theological arguments that become heated, than to instead, post about the goodness of God and the free gift of forgiveness. Jesus told us that the world would hate us because it hated him. But shame on us for giving the world more reasons to be cynical towards us because of our fragmented presentation on media platforms.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1, “…to all agree and have no divisions among you, but be united in the same mind and judgment.”
And in Proverbs 6, we are told that there are seven things the Lord hates, the last being “anyone who sows discord among his brothers.” It’s challenging enough that there are over 40,000 denominational approaches to following One true and sovereign Lord. But when we throw shade at Christian siblings over differing practices or rituals, we are wasting keystrokes that should be used to provide hope and light to a dark and desperate world that needs to see the glory of Christ.

Just because something is wrong for you, doesn’t make it wrong for others. The Holy Spirit convicts each of us individually based on our personal weaknesses. Don’t allow our enemy to make us apply our personal convictions to all others in a divisive way that turns seekers away. Instead, let our words and posts be unified in accurately reflecting the hope found in Christ, and in bringing glory to God our Father.