I used to joke that it is hard to find a good Evangelical math teacher because the only thing they completely understand is division. I am not sure I think that is humorous anymore as I watch the heartbreaking division in the body of believers that I love and call family. My head explodes when I allow myself to wade into the discourse between followers of Jesus Christ on Twitter and other social media. I will stipulate that often the topic being discussed is valuable and important. I get frustrated that the threads that gain traction are rarely the most important message we should be proclaiming as ambassadors of Christ. For example, a dust-up between author/speaker Beth Moore and pastor John MacArthur exploded on social media last fall and continues to be contentious. Beth Moore and many other women that I deeply respect have advocated for the increased role of women in church leadership and as expositors in the pulpit.
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This was a culturally depressing week for most of us. The events in Washington led to heart wrenching rounds of name calling and hate. My thoughts today are focused on how a follower of Jesus should represent His amazing grace in the often graceless medium of social media. We have a higher calling that should be taken seriously and prayerfully. Inflammatory rhetoric has debate in America on life support. I wish I could be more optimistic about its recovery. Guests on television news shows yell over one another. Hosts interrupt. Debaters mug with condescending smirks in the other TV box while a guest makes his or her case. Heaven forbid that we listen to those we disagree with to understand their point of view. Social media makes cowards courageous and the anonymity of cyberspace can make the mean spirited downright evil. I have watched with sadness as Twitter tyrants have destroyed or severely damaged people and institutions. Sometimes the venom is
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