Social Media Flavor

This morning I read in Acts 16 about how Paul and Silas experienced extreme injustice in Philippi. Despite being Roman citizens, they're condemned, beaten, and jailed without trial - their rights were completely trampled. For many of us, once thrown in jail, we'd likely be complaining about the injustice and likely scheming about how to get the corrupt officials who had done this removed permanently.

Imagine what Paul and Silas could have tweeted in that moment:

"HELP! Falsely accused and jailed! Hate this town and its officials!" #miscarriageofjustice #firethephilippianjailer

Or they could have gone on a Facebook rant to decry the unreasonable and completely unjustified treatment they received. They had rights and should be granted the protections afforded by those precious rights. Nobody would have blamed them for truthfully posting their frustration with the situation and the people responsible.

Obviously they had no smartphones, but note how they responded in verse 25. It recounts that Paul and Silas are found praying and singing praises to God. This is powerful, but it was the final phrase of the verse that arrested my thoughts this morning.

"and the prisoners were listening to them...."

Do we feel the implication of that today? Yes, we have all been and will be trampled on in a myriad of ways (e.g. politically, emotionally, vocationally, spiritually, relationally, physically, mentally), but have we forgotten that our responses are being heard by listening ears of the "prisoners" all around us?

Does my presence on social media (which I recently heard aptly described as "that swamp of indiscretion") reflect a heart of prayer and worship? Am I, in any way, using facebook, twitter, instagram, snapchat or whatever my preferred platform to talk past others? I may be convinced I am speaking the truth, but I can be right and be wrong at the top of my voice or with my pejorative and condescending tone.

Jesus was so wonderful because he perfectly blended grace and truth (John 1:14). Would people say that describes my public reaction when things irritate me, when others trample on me, when my world is being threatened unfairly? What's the flavor of my social media presence - especially in this political season?

The story continues with an earthquake that destroys the jail and releases Paul and Silas with all the other prisoners. The jailer arrives on the scene ready to kill himself because he fears the prisoners have escaped and nothing short of his own death will suffice as payment for the escape of even one prisoner. Before he can harm himself, however, Paul cries out that ALL of the prisoners are there.

Now I get why Paul and Silas stuck around, but why would all the other prisoners forego personal freedom in this situation? I can only imagine because they had listened to Paul and Silas and knew they were the real deal who served a real and living God. The things they heard from Paul and Silas (both words and our tone) impacted them greatly. And it holds true today.

When you go to tweet or post today, please remember this: plenty of prisoners are listening.

What will they hear?