Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

It has become commonly accepted today for when we have an opinion, a bone to pick, or even just a careless thought we should post it to social media for all to see. The vast majority of these go unnoticed but occasionally they go viral and create a firestorm of controversy. Sometimes, we actually choose to pick a fight publicly so that at best, we gain allies in our fight, but far more often, our motivation is to selfishly gain fame. In the Bible, when it comes to fighting or disagreements, Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” Jesus didn’t say to rollover and not call out sin when you see it, however he did not say to call it out publicly as a means to embarrass someone or falsely elevate ourselves. If you disagree with someone, speak to them privately. A public argument only stirs up emotions on both sides. When emotions are high, solutions are few. Today, if you are struggling with someone else’s actions or words towards you, speak to them privately and offer compassion and understanding.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” — Matthew 18:15 ESV