“And the high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer to make? What is it these men testify against you?’ But Jesus remained silent.” ~Matthew 26:62-63
Someone said something kind of ugly about my eBook the other day and it hurt my feelings.
Actually, to be more accurate, reading it kind of sucked the breath right out of me. And I wondered, “why?” Why would someone take the time to say something negative about my book in a way that the whole world could see. It wasn’t something negative about the content or heart of my book, just a cruel statement I’m guessing was deliberately meant to take my breath away.
I immediately went to Twitter and started typing but I knew I couldn’t publish my first response. I deleted and tried again. And deleted and tried again. And again and again and again. I did end up tweeting something about what had just happened…but the actual words that went out to the general public were nothing like those first ones I really wanted to tweet.
Why?
Because I had a realization…a Holy Spirit moment of restraint. Consider this:
As Christian bloggers, we are held to a different standard than those who don’t share our faith. Freedom of speech, brutal honesty in the name of #JustSaying, and feeling the need to share our opinions about everything just do not apply to the Christian blogger, no matter what our niche.
We are ambassadors for Christ. So perhaps it would help to take a look at how Jesus responded when he was mocked, spit on, and hurt just for the sake of hurting.
“And the high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer to make? What is it these men testify against you?’ But Jesus remained silent.” ~Matthew 26:62-63
Friends, as Christian bloggers, the most important thing we can do is represent Christ and His Word well. When we’re feeling the desperate need to share “our side of the story” let’s ask ourselves why. Is it because we want to avenge ourselves? Is it because we want the other party to feel the same pain we are and hold them publicly accountable for their sin? Kingdom blogging demands something different.
“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” ~Exodus 14:13-14
I beg you Christian friends in the blogging community. Apply the Word of God and it’s instructions for life to your blog. Shake off the feeling of freedom that blogging brings. Freedom to say what you want, how you want. Freedom to hurt others and criticize them publicly instead of following the guidelines of Matthew 18. Freedom to say whatever is on your mind at the moment without first submitting it to the lens of Scripture.
Freedom to sin?
Today’s techno world makes it very easy to be accountable to a large number of co-laborers who share your vision and heart. But it also makes it easy to feel like you have the right and the perfect place to shout out your opinions because you have a “right” to your own feelings.
We don’t. We’ve been bought. Paid for. Loved with an everlasting love and set upon a rock.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ~Philippians 2:1-11
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AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!!!!
stephanie@bowmania recently posted..March 3 in 30
Well said and well done Brooke. I think this applies to reacting to the ugly comment, but also criticizing Christian authors, speakers, etc. A private remark said in grace may be necessary, but not a public one.
Twitter: michellebygrace
says:
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as online friends are getting blasted by other Christians. How does that adorn the Gospel? The word “ambassadors” has been in the forefront of my mind for the past few days. Christ doesn’t need favors in the form of thinly veiled, mean-spirited comments.
Thanks
michelle recently posted..Green Eggs and Ham
Exactly Michelle. In fact, the reason I wrote this was less about me and more to illustrate a point in response to what’s been going on lately.
I can’t tell you how many times I have done the type, delete, type, delete dance just as you described. Sometimes it feels better to at least get the words off of my finger-tips but I have to allow it to go no further. Allowing the Holy Spirit to be our editor is of such great importance. I’m so sorry for you having to feel the full force of someone’s “blech” that got spewed your way. Thank you for your post and how you handled it.
Donna
Donna recently posted..Kitchen face-lift part eleven – Counter tops
This is excellent! You spoke the truth Brooke.
It can be really difficult to restrain ourselves…but so important!
Thanks for the awesome reminder.
Stacy @ Delighting in the Days recently posted..Homemade Soft Scrub and Non-Toxic Bathroom Cleaning Tips
I used to own an online business. I made a rule, after seeing what some business owners would post on forums, to never post anything on the internet I wouldn’t say in front of a store full of customers and never email anything privately I wouldn’t say to a customers face. I think it’s a good rule. And even if you don’t sell any products or services on your blog-I think it’s still a good rule to follow.
It’s easy for many to see a computer screen an not realize there are real people on the other side of what you type.
Though I will say, I’m not perfect and have had some slip ups-but I’ve had them in real life too, we are human and do all make mistakes.
Great post!
Sonita Lewis recently posted..Review and Giveaway- Teach Me Joy Preschool & Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum
Very insightful and very true! God wants us to be “humble” servants….when someone says hurtful things especially when they are not true I think of my Savior who said nothing in return. I am reminded daily that there is Spiritual warfare going on ….and we will be held accountable one day for all our words and actions ….God calls us as well to pray for our enemies and we should be praying for those who attack us with words or actions and forgive them as Christ as forgiven us. We don’t know what God is doing in their hearts and lives ….God knows are hearts and intentions and He knows them and we need to trust that He is in it for His Glory and not ours. We shouldn’t be surprised when we get attacked by putting out God’s truth to a dark world but we always are. Praying for you sista and for them.
Twitter: ShoutLaughLove
says:
this is such a good word, brooke. we are called to a higher standard. there is a time to be silent. (there is also a time to tell the truth, but always in love and with humility.)
we can all use this encouragement to be better examples of grace.
suzannah {so much shouting, so much laughter} recently posted..raise a glass to turnings of the season
You’re a wise woman.
I’m often quick to spout off at the mouth (or blog or Twitter or Facebook) I need to restrain myself…
michelle pendergrass recently posted..Popinjay-Hollow
I wish more people understood this. Especially my non-Christian blogging friends who don’t understand the need to self-censor at all. Sure we may have the freedom to write whatever we want about whomever we want, but we have to know that words can wound people. We also have to know that we represent Christ, even if we aren’t writing about faith, and our words give people ideas about us and therefore ideas about Christ.
MainlineMom recently posted..The Adjustment Bureau- Sci-Fi Thriller or Chick Flick
Twitter: carrien_laughs
says:
When you let grace reign in your own heart, no matter what else happens, you win, because you are growing the character of Christ.
Well done friend.
Well spoken, Brooke. I have yet to receive a critical comment (I guess I’m still flying low under the radar), but I know it is only a matter of time. Hearing stories like yours reminds me to prepare myself to respond with grace and truth. One of my favorite verses that I apply to my blogging (including commenting), tweeting & facebooking is Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Thank you for modeling the a fitting response.
Well said and a great reminder for all of us Christian Bloggers as well as a reminder for our daily lives as well.
Cassie recently posted..Top Ten Tips for Moving
Ouch! I am so sorry that happened to you.
I take a fair share of nasty comments and getting “smacked around” online. I do get my feelings hurt but I try hard to keep my responses in check.
Great Post and SO true! Tweeted and am linking this on my blog. Thank you…and I’m sorry you were hurt by someones carelessness!
Twitter: katieorr22
says:
Amen. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Katie @ DoNotDepart recently posted..Why Subscribe
Twitter: Butterfly_Genes
says:
Oh, Brooke, I’m so very sorry you were hurt. I can’t imagine someone saying anything against the book, or you. You most definitely are a wonderful example of how Jesus wants us to blog! There have been many times that I’ve had to edit, edit, edit because I knew what I was saying was NOT what Jesus would want me to say. As much as I’ve been hurt, it doesn’t give me the right to turn around and hurt someone else…which in turn might cause someone else to think it was okay to lambast people in their social media circles.
As someone who has the spiritual gift of mercy, one of the ways I misuse my gift is taking up offenses…the first thing I wanted to do when I read your post was to find out who it was and give them a piece of my mind! I don’t guess that wouldn’t show them the love of Jesus either, huh?
Praying for you, my friend!
Heathahlee recently posted..Warrior Prayers Giveaway Winner!
You make me laugh Heather! It’s good to be loved
Thanks for this. This was the one blog post I pondered yesterday. I loved the passage you quoted in Matthew. I have never paused so much on Jesus’ silence. Be blessed today.
thefarmerfiles recently posted..Story Telling
oh I love this!! very well put!!
Sometimes our first response isn’t God’s. Thank for sharing how my pausing for a moment you were let to His.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..A Quiet Quit Hand Signal
This is the first time I’ve ever been to your blog, but now I am eager to look around after this post and seeing the book about prayers for boys.
Thank you for sharing this. We as believers are called to a higher standard: CHRIST!
Kristen recently posted..one can hope
Whether in blogworld or everyday life, your comment still hold. We represent Christ to the world. Isn’t it interesting that in I john, he said that the world will know us by our LOVE for each other?
I am always saddened to hear people criticize “the church” (which is flawed for sure) in places where all can hear/read. This is family! I don’t like hearing them attacked. (There are specific issues we need to deal with, true, but we need to be wise how and where we deal with them.) Meanwhile, the challenge is to love one another well. As we do that, God changes us. I don’t completely understand it. I just know it happens. In the process, we learn to show His grace to others.
I haven’t gotten any haters on my blog yet. I’m sure they’re out there! I just do my best to be transparent and honest, and I also emphasize the importance of loving people who don’t believe like I do. I hope you don’t get any more naysayers! If God put this work on your heart, then you’re doing what he asked you to do.
Rachel @ The Lazy Christian recently posted..Faith-Belief
Oh my – I know why I was led here. Thank you for reminding me that I represent Jesus in all that I do. Going to delete a response I made earlier today to a situation. It is too late – it has been released, but I will take it captive and pray that in the future I am able to guard my thoughts.
This is my first time here – I cant wait to read more!!
Twitter: educatinglayton
says:
oh goodness, what a great post! I have 6 verses that all touch on “humility”, “bear with one another” and “forgiveness”, right above my monitor as I have bit my tongue (ignored tweets) far too often from those “christian bloggers” whom have the disrespect to publicly bash others. One friend and I share our disappointment on skype – which is a huge help not to tweet it out, but still be able to get it off our chest and hold each other accountable. We usually end up making jokes and laughing later about “what we would have said”.
but I believe hiding behind a monitor or phrases like #justsaying do not excuse bad motives. Thankfully God sees straight to the heart – MY HEART – and knows why I’m tweeting what I am – and will be held accountable for it!
I love you. You are precious to me and even more so to the One who made you. That’ all
Sweet girl
And equally so what they say behind the emails to masses of people to slander people in an attempt to gain themselves a following in their fake pity party. It happens and it’s awful for the innocent ones who simply stand up for themselves against a bully and a gossip.
Kinda like this video, Brooke.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfwwHa-7Ux8
Good for you for holding your tongue and not tweeting your first (or THIRD!) response to the ugly comment. You are absolutely right. We are ambassadors of Christ and we ARE held to a higher standard, no matter what medium we use to present ourselves to the world.
Blessings,
Sandy
Twitter: every_blessing
says:
Amen. It’s hard to get past that first instinct, but good for you for taking the narrow road. And on the topic of #JustSaying, to me that’s the equivalent of the friend who says cutting things to you and about you and then uses “just kidding” to make it seem like you are silly for being upset. Thank you for standing strong and speaking the truth today.
Amen. Very well said.