To me, that is very interesting. Applying these ideas to our own divided times potentially speaks volumes about our own use of social media. Consider the following ideas:
- The most powerful person on the planet cannot move the needle of public opinion.
- Social media is a significantly weaker instrument in this regard (“I changed my opinion because of a vitriol Facebook post”…SAID NO ONE EVER.)
- Our unbelieving neighbors should primarily know Christians for our love of people and our love for the gospel (not our politics).
If meekness in general is subordinating our passions and rights in order to love another (think: the example of Christ), then I’d argue that meekness on social media during a time of extreme political divisiveness might be subordinating our own political passions and rights (at least on social media) in order to preserve the priority of our witness to Jesus Christ to our unbelieving friends.
If your neighbors and friends primarily see you (in the world of social media or otherwise) through a political lens, you may have un-intentionally lost (or severely diminished) your witness to Christ by engaging in (potentially needless) political debates on social media.
A meek person on social media knows the difference between argumentation and wisdom: “A smart person knows what to say. A wise person knows whether or not to say it.” (Anonymous)
A meek person on social media chooses to subordinate a (political) opinion in order to prioritize a (gospel) witness. Whereas older generations (Baby Boomers and Gen Xers) tend to think of their “real” identity as separate and distinct from their “digital identity”, studies show that there is no such compartmentalization for Millennials and Gen Zers. This means that younger generations tend to see “you” as the sum of your social media (political) posts AND your interpersonal (witnessing) interactions.
Since 1 in 4 young people are reportedly leaving the church for socio-political reasons, the hyper-politicization of the evangelical church seems not to be doing our witness to Christ any favors. Being meek on social media may help preserve the priority of our own interpersonal witness in an increasingly sensitive (and watching) world.
A meek person intentionally embraces a holistic sense of Christian vocation (yes, even on social media). The vocation of the vast majority of pastors that I know causes them to pause before posting about politics. The majority of pastors recognize that their congregations are a “house divided” politically, and many seek to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3) by not becoming embroiled in needless political controversy.
In short, many pastors choose to exhibit meekness on social media (by curbing their opinions) though they may hold strong political convictions. If evangelicals believe in the priesthood of all believers, then lay people may also (wisely) choose to embrace this same ethos: to view your Christian vocation holistically to include your online social media persona.
A Simple Plea for Us to Be Meek
Although I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, and I work for a non-profit organization – to steal a favorite saying of former GCTS President Walter C. Kaiser Jr. – I do not foresee meekness as characterizing any of the presidential candidates running for office in 2020.
Yet, simply because meekness is in short supply from our political leaders does not mean that evangelicals need to mirror the bombastic rhetoric emanating from both sides of the political aisle, either interpersonally or on social media.
In fact, your meekness may speak more loudly than the most earsplitting political post you could share or write on social media during this election year 2020, and Jesus promises you will even inherit the earth.
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[1] See George E. Condon Jr. and National Journal, “The Myth of the Bully Pulpit: Presidents can talk all they want (and they do), but it won’t get results,” The Atlantic, April 4, 2013.
This article about meekness originally appeared here.
