Over the years I have been involved with professing Christians across a few boards. One thing that I have noticed is that there are a few people who exhibit a spirit of ungodliness. Many of us, myself included, have responded inappropriately and with insults. I think that we all recognize this is not proper conduct. But things get heated (and this is no excuse). I think that this is normal as we are human beings discussing diverse beliefs that we hold as foundational towards our faith.
But there are some people who are known troublemakers on more than one board. This is a different issue as it shows, IMHO, a spiritual problem.
God has taught and commanded how believers are to interact with one another. I think it is fair to say that we all can stumble in our interactions. But what if this is the mark of the professing Christian?
Is the sin of disobeying God’s commands regarding how Christians are to act any less a sin against God than any other sin?
Is the sin of being abusive to another person any less a sin against God than any other sin?
Is the sin of being unkind any less a sin against God than any other sin?
Is the sin of holding a grudge against another person any less a sin against God than any other sin?
One thing to consider is that those who are unkind on these boards are not only sinning, but they are sinning “with a high hand”. It is willful and indulging the flesh.
I often see prideful people screaming about what they believe is a splinter in the eye of a brother while walking around with a log protruding from their own. Sometimes that prideful person is me. We contend with sin in our own lives. We contend with the flesh. We do not contend with the sins of other people.
But I have noticed a few people for whom this behavior is the mark of their online presence. I have considered the explosion of pornography due to the internet. I wonder if this does not also apply to other sins. It is too easy to indulge the flesh when a ready made "enemy" is only a few clicks away.
We talk about online issues like gossip, bullying, infidelity, and pornography. But I think that sometimes the influence of digital interactions may be a significant snare as some take it as an opportunity to sin.
But there are some people who are known troublemakers on more than one board. This is a different issue as it shows, IMHO, a spiritual problem.
God has taught and commanded how believers are to interact with one another. I think it is fair to say that we all can stumble in our interactions. But what if this is the mark of the professing Christian?
Is the sin of disobeying God’s commands regarding how Christians are to act any less a sin against God than any other sin?
Is the sin of being abusive to another person any less a sin against God than any other sin?
Is the sin of being unkind any less a sin against God than any other sin?
Is the sin of holding a grudge against another person any less a sin against God than any other sin?
One thing to consider is that those who are unkind on these boards are not only sinning, but they are sinning “with a high hand”. It is willful and indulging the flesh.
I often see prideful people screaming about what they believe is a splinter in the eye of a brother while walking around with a log protruding from their own. Sometimes that prideful person is me. We contend with sin in our own lives. We contend with the flesh. We do not contend with the sins of other people.
But I have noticed a few people for whom this behavior is the mark of their online presence. I have considered the explosion of pornography due to the internet. I wonder if this does not also apply to other sins. It is too easy to indulge the flesh when a ready made "enemy" is only a few clicks away.
We talk about online issues like gossip, bullying, infidelity, and pornography. But I think that sometimes the influence of digital interactions may be a significant snare as some take it as an opportunity to sin.
