THEY . . .
If I were a betting woman, (I’m not) I could easily bet that at some point in everyone’s life, they’ve had someone use the pronoun “they” to describe a situation where irrational blame is involved. I could also easily bet that I would win that wager (again, if I were a betting woman). However, I prefer a sure thing. After all, I don’t need to take a chance on the weather report to know if it’s hot or cold out. That can be done by stepping outside; as my dear sweet husband has informed me on various occasions of me asking him whether or not I will be too hot or too cold for whatever event we are attending. He is so thoughtful that way. . .
I certainly don’t need social media to tell me if I’m right, wrong or indifferent about something because I have the Holy Spirit for that. As shocking as this may seem, I do not watch the news, (unless it’s to see the local sports Friday football scores) and trust me, I only watch that because my nephew plays football. Otherwise, I can assure you, I wouldn’t be watching the news.
Facebook, Twitter (as I’ve been corrected for erroneously saying “tweeter”), Snapchat, TikTok, and all those many other media platforms out there are foreign to me. Am I familiar with them, yes (I don’t live under a rock), but uneducated on, certainly. I seriously had to look up social media platforms on Google in order to name the above-mentioned platforms that I just named. I can give you countless reasons why I do not participate in any of those platforms, but I am certain I would ruffle a few feathers, and that isn’t the purpose of this post. I will however say, unapologetically, that I honestly believe that social media is Satan’s playground. Although I am not a (gossiper, rumormonger, gossipmonger, busybody, and quidnunc) “to name a few” as Google uses to describe people on Facebook looking for information about others; I am associated with people who are on social media. . .
Excuse me for a few minutes, I seriously have to look up the definition of quidnunc. . .
Okay, I’m back and Google was very informative. Apparently, a “quidnunc” is an inquisitive or gossipy person. Hold on, but isn’t being inquisitive a good thing, and gossipy a bad thing, so how can those two words describe a “quidnunc”? Just a second, I need to look up those two words to make sure I know what I’m talking about . . .
Okay, I’m back, and apparently the definition of “inquisitive” is someone who seeks knowledge in order to understand or grow and a “gossipy” (seriously, is that a real word) is someone who seeks information for entertaining or malicious purposes. I guess I didn’t need google after all to tell me that. Thank God, that Holy Spirit vibe is still kicking in for me.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
I don’t think I am going out on a limb by saying that if you are gossiping about someone, you have no intention of building them up. More likely to tear them down by spreading their shame and no doubt to make yourself feel less alone in your own pain and hurt. True it is, that misery loves company, and trust me when Jesus said ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35) He wasn’t referring to gossip and He wasn’t referring to tearing others down, in order to lift ourselves up. . .
Which brings me back to “they”. I have been involved in countless conversations with various people (that quite honestly) I can’t believe I have allowed myself to fall victim to. I have found myself being screamed at, isolated, and attacked for refusing to allow others to tell me that “they” are responsible for any one thing. There is no “they” when it comes to God’s judgement of us. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:12)
We have used a person’s skin color, political party and various other means to clump people together as we try to reason why bad things happen or exist. We try to find fault in others for the condition of our lives. When in reality, we are the reason for the condition of our lives. There are people who say they are Christians, but whose actions speak much more clearly than their self-proclamation of being a Christian. You can’t say that you’ve forgiven someone, that you’re not a racist, and that you don’t discriminate, when your actions or words show or say otherwise.
There is no “they” in sin; we do that all on our own. As a child, you may have gotten away with blaming your sibling for the broken vase in the living room, but I assure you, God’s not going to judge anyone, but you (as in a singular person) for your sins. It may have worked for you with your parents to blame your sibling, but when it comes to standing face to face with God, you’ll be on your own, and I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure God’s not going to believe that “they” are responsible for your sins. . .
For anyone wondering what the real actions of a Christian may look like. That would be the person trying to bring people together, not separating them because of skin color, political values or all the many ways we try and blame others for our inability to honor God’s most important commandment.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
It can’t get any clearer than that, “all the law and prophets hang on these two commandments”
So the next time you find someone arguing for the sake of division, remember what scripture says:
2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
Don’t fall victim to Satan’s desire to destroy us one by one, by allowing yourself to get caught up in prejudice, discrimination or someone’s need to be right. Afterall, the only right side to be on, is God’s. . .
You don’t need to open a door to tell you that, you don’t need the news or social media to tell you that, and you certainly don’t need me to tell you that. . . Just pick up a bible and read for yourself what God expects of you. His word is a sure thing, and even though I am not a betting woman, I certainly can bet on that . . .
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10