To all of my fellow Facebook saints, prophets and teachers who are expounding on the Syria Bombing by the US, lean in.
No one is helped by unintelligible, misdirected homemade rhetoric. No one is helped by commentary that stems from a partisan political point of view that is diametrically opposed to the teachings of the word of God. No one is helped with a volatile, reckless display of anarchical and mutinous foolishness that only divides us further as citizens of this professing united nation. No one is helped with insensitive narration that appears intended to draw attention to your particular page or personality.
There is a responsibility that we have as the people of God to speak not just truth to power, but we are also commanded to speak the truth in love. It is our job to bring hope and clarity to the times in which we live. God is not dead. He’s alive. We should let those who will listen for God to speak, speak. We need to learn to control our tongues.
Listen to James:
James 1:19-20
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Being able to control our speech is a sign of a strong relationship with God.
James 1:26
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
Listen to this quote:
Thomas Erskine the 19th century lawyer and scholar said this:
There ought to be a solemn pause before a rush to judgment.
The word of God is not silent concerning those who try and speak to the people of God or who want to share information to masses. The word has a strong warning for those saints who’s teachings are heard by other saints. (In and out of the church setting with the advent of social media).
Listen to the word and James again:
James 3:1
3 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
I’m trying to find a palatable way of saying that your opinion is not needed at this hour. Your emotional tirades only muddy the waters of the promise that God has given to His people. He has given us the promise of a hope and a future. If God has not told you to explain what’s happening in Syria or if God has not told you to go publicly on Facebook and bash your governmental leaders, I have a sobering word of advice for you. Actually, I have a great way that you can appear to be wise enough to speak on matters this serious. You take this advice and I promise you that it will result in you being made worthy to be listened to.
Listen to the wisest man that ever lived outside of Jesus Himself.
Prov 17:28
28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Please, some of the things that are being spoken display a massive lack of intelligence. It’s hurtful for those of us who are listening for God and are thinking about what we will say to the people of God when we stand before them this weekend in particular. If everyone on Facebook speaks to them before those who are assigned to do so, it’s makes their jobs that much harder.
Remember:
THERE OUGHT TO BE A SOLEMN PAUSE BEFORE THERE IS A RUSH TO JUDGMENT.
Thomas Erskine
I’d like to let Jesus close this simple commentary. This is just my attempt to bring a little order to the panic being cause by a vast number of illegitimate pundits who are panicking instead of trusting in the true and the living God.
Listen to Jesus:
Matt 12:36
36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Pray for our nation, it’s leaders, and for all men that they might be saved. Stop being careless with your words. Also, get busy sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as you can before Jesus returns. I gotta go, I’ve got a city bus to catch. There are some people who don’t have fancy cars and live in big houses and are unemployed on the bus who need to see Jesus on the bus. There are people who are homeless, no phones, no Facebook and no news who need the good news. There are billions of people who haven’t even heard about the bombing in Syria and don’t know who 45′ is.
So, what should we tell them first. The good news or the bad news? Share the good news. John 3:16 is till true.
Charis and Shalom.
—Vaughn McLaughlin