Within the last few months, a number of new national and political leaders have stepped onto the world stage. Media networks have been bombarded with information, and consumers are having a hard time digesting it all. We all know there are believers on both sides of many political debates, maybe even within the same local church. There are differing views on bearing arms, whether healthcare is a right, which country we should back in their present conflict, and the list goes on. But there is enormous potential for division within a local assembly when I make my views known in a public setting. Many assemblies, thankfully, have managed to keep politics away from our public platforms. This is a wise practice to maintain in assemblies everywhere. But there is another public platform with a larger potential audience – social media.
Many of us live in nations where we have freedom of speech. We can be thankful for such a right, for there are fellow believers in other lands where this freedom is absent and speaking for God and for Christ will invite legal penalties. But we have an even greater freedom than freedom of speech. In Christ, we have the freedom not to speak. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the fruit of peace and self-control can bring blessing to the local church.
How do you feel when you see another Christian like something or post something you disagree with politically? Some feel anger and immediately wish to retaliate with an opposing view. Others feel superior, having been “more educated” or more “in the know” regarding the subject at hand. Still others feel tremendous sadness and disappointment over the lack of wisdom or discretion exercised. But no one is blessed by my political post or comment – absolutely no one. The one thing almost guaranteed for exercising this freedom of speech is division.
There may be times when elders need to step in and encourage believers to desist, if the behavior is affecting relationships within the assembly or the testimony of the assembly. If the debates or arguments that occur online were occurring audibly during assembly meetings or get-togethers, action would be taken. The sad reality is that even more people are able to witness online arguments, and the damage done can be devastating to assembly testimony.
Whatever our feelings about presidents, prime ministers or political party leaders, the Church has one Head and only one – Christ. Our loyalty and faithfulness are to Him alone, not to a political leader, political party or political cause. When it comes to Christ, that’s where we ought to exercise our freedom of speech and post or comment to our heart’s content, for this has the potential to bring blessing to everyone who reads it.
“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psa 141:3 ESV). “Be filled with the Spirit … Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph 5:18,21 KJV).
