A reminder, when you’re out and about on Facebook and in your online interactions with people, to remember, the other person is a person with feelings and all. I was reminded today, thru something that was brought to my attention, and which I had chance to observe, how hate, bitterness and the desire for revenge can canker and destroy your soul. I get why Jesus Christ taught us to pray for our enemies, not so much for them, but for ourselves, so we don’t go over the cliff.
We need to do better, and be better in our online interactions. Christ gives us a template in Matthew 18: 15, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Heavenly Father needs us up on top, not down at the bottom of that cliff.
In the end, you don’t have to win all the arguments, you don’t have to save the world with your tweets, but we should all be working face to face with each other when we need to resolve our differences. Commit today to be a better online participant.
In a recent legal situation I found it useful to put the name of the opposing counsel on the prayer roll.
That’s really good Pat. We should all consider doing that if we have issues with other people.
But I don’t have any enemies. I just have beloved friends who don’t see things the way I do.
And when my beloved friends need help, whatever the nature of that help may be, I put their names on the prayer roll.
In this case Meg, it was two people who were actively seeking revenge and seeking to destroy someone’s reputation and livelihood. It was much more than a disagreement — all played out on social media.
Meg, I just put your name on the prayer roll.
Hi Joyce,
Our doctrine is that we have lived an eternity with everyone we will ever meet on earth. And in that prior eternity we loved them.
Obviously, when someone is beating me or threatening to kill a loved one with a semi-automatic rifle or threatening to take my child from me (none of these are hypothetical), it can be challenging.
Dear Michael, thank you for your concern. I’m sure I need the help. As a matter of fact, if you put my name on the rolls and any prayers were said around the time of your comment, I was able to find a document that clarifies a matter worth at least $3M dollars, relative to the estate of the individual I have blogged about (“Riley”). Feel free to add my name to the prayer roll any time… 🙂
I have the url to that cartoon memorized: xkcd.com/386
Warning: if you are mathematically minded, or a tech nerd in any way, that web site is HIGHLY addictive!