Using the Bible in debates on social media

I’m part of a few youth worker Facebook groups and I’m so encouraged by how many people online genuinely love their Bibles. It’s fab to know there’s a whole generation of youth workers who are immensely passionate about the Word of God. Its inspiring! That’s not meant sarcastically or condescendingly; it genuinely cheers my soul.

I’ve noticed some pretty fierce debates on these pages of late. I guess we’re all adults though, and if we’re going to fight over anything, at least it’s over what God said, right?

I worry sometimes, however, about the heated rhetoric and tribalism that sometimes follows our passions. I often warn students against First year at Accredited Theology college Syndrome (or FARTS), where we first become very certain over debatable issues, then very offensive against those who don’t share them, then finally very aggressive in how we defend them.

Please hold your views, love the Word, and be spirited in debate! We need iron-sharpening-iron conversation, and we don’t want these pages to dissolve into a places that can only handle trivialities. We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. However, I feel like we could all do a little better in how we hold ourselves.

I also know that page admins have an immensely hard job refereeing all of this. So maybe we could all do more to help?

I’m a 90s kid – so I came up with an acronym! Wonderfully, it spells Bible (:D, see what I did there?). So here we go, how to use the B.I.B.L.E. in online debate.

Benefit of the doubt

When you read something you disagree with, err on the side of grace. Ask a clarifying question or two first. Listen and make every effort to understand nuances that might not have been present in the first place.

Individual

Remember that you’re talking to another human being; someone who is likely a sister or brother in Jesus that you’ll know in Heaven. You might end up being neighbours for eternity! They have a life, a family, a home, and experiences – all of which bear upon who they are. They probably love young people and Jesus at least as much as you too. They probably know a joke you’d laugh at, or a story you’d empathise with.

Basics

Jesus came, lived, died, rose, ascended and is coming back. These are the main things – the majors on which we should major. These form the mountain we would die on. Pick your battles outside of the gospel very carefully, and pitch them gently. Have conversation and gracious disagreement, but don’t weaponise the Bible for issues that orbit the gospel, but which aren’t the gospel.

Love

Before you respond to something that you take issue with, pray. Pray for the person. Ask God to give you compassion for them, not just to rebuke/correct/challenge them, but to truly walk with, journey alongside, and support as a fellow worker of the gospel. Stay cheerful and be playful. You might need to mourn with them one day. If you think your only job is to correct brothers and sisters without this type of love, then are sure this is the religion you think it is?

Exploration

Don’t speak in broad absolutes or sweeping abstracts. Use real texts and actual exegesis. Talk particulars, ask authentic questions, be open to new ideas, and let the community guide and shape your ideas. Ask more questions than you give answers. Know that the world won’t fall apart if you don’t happen to square every circle.

Let’s do better! Let’s lead with love, act like our young people are in the room, set the example, pursue holiness in our interactions, and – even better – give our awesome admins much less to do!

Love God, Love People, Don’t be a Jerk.

Thanks 🙂