I've noticed something new happening on my Facebook wall: the collision of my friends, their faith, and their politics. This is not the first national election since the advent of Facebook. This is, however, the first election since Facebook has gone mainstream. Four years ago my Facebook friends were either tech-oriented or youth-oriented. Now many of my Facebook friends couldn't tell me the first thing about their IP addresses and, like me, are getting to the age where they have to think a moment to even remember their street addresses.
Four years ago I knew that many of my congregants possessed widely different political viewpoints. But unless these same church members were part of the same small group or family, they didn't know one another's political leanings. Fast forward to 2012. Now a majority of us are connected to one another via social networks like Facebook. I maintain a special friend list just of Church Requel members and check it every day. Many of them do the same. I LOVE being connected to one another this way...
Except when it comes to politics. A wise man once said that politics and religion, like oil and water, don't mix. What I'm witnessing is probably the same thing you are seeing. Many of my friends' walls are filled with reposted snarky and one-sided photos, which are considered funny to one side while hurtful to the other side.
In short, these quick and easy Facebook reposts are divisive. Our country has been accustomed to these quad annual arguments, but not so much our churches. I fear that long after this election is over, hurt feelings and resentment may linger between people, who should be brothers and sisters to one another.
You may say to me, "Brothers and sisters? Mark, you should see my family. We argue politics all the time. There's a reason why we don't like to show up for family reunions." And that's exactly my point. Consider this: in church we have family reunions every week!
There are two things I don't want to see happen. I don't want our faithful friends to be divided by their politics. And I don't want church to become a gathering of like-minded folks of either political persuasion. Church should be where rich gather with poor, employer with employee, men with women, Republican and Democrat with Independent to praise and worship Father God and His Son with a pure and sincere heart.
Here's the problem. I don't think most of my friends on either side of the political aisle have a clue that they are being offensive now OR that there could be a relationship fallout later. We have become so accustomed to watching our own one-sided media and hanging out with our own one-sided friends that we assume that everyone on my Facebook account and in my church think the same way I do. We think all our Facebook friends would find this snarky saying or picture as hilarious as we find it. Not so much.
Here are 3 tests I want you to consider the next time you come across something political you want to repost.
Repost Test #1: Does this meet the test of truth? Is it one-sided, half-truthful or even flat out wrong? If I came face-to-face with the spouse or children of the candidate I just skewered, would I be ashamed? If so, don't post it.
Repost Test #2: Does this meet the test of encouragement? Does this elevate the discussion or lower it? If the tables were reversed and I saw the opposite political cartoon on my friends' wall, would I think negative thoughts? If so, don't post it.
Repost Test #3: Does this meet the test of authenticity? Is this what I really think? Would I go this far on my own? Does this really represent me? Or does this throw me into the extreme end of the political swimming pool? If so, don't post it.
I am not suggesting that we stop engaging in the political discussion on Facebook. America faces a crossroads of two vastly different political directions. Thoughtful, well-meaning, prayful, faithful people will disagree on their visions of our country's preferred future. My challenge to you and me is this: Can we disagree in such a way that still honors our commitment to Christ and to one another? Long after this political debate is over, will I still feel good about everything I have posted on Facebook?