Build Up

 

This week there was another social media post where one Christian tore down another Christian. He may be right in his accusations but this kind of online “court” is concerning. It brings to mind 1 Corinthians 6:4-6, “So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?”

In the court of social media, surely many people who have no doctrinal understanding are observing one Christian’s complaint against another. If it is just doctrine we are arguing, those who have no knowledge may learn something. When it is an accusation, it seems that the scriptures would have us do this is a more private setting. Consider Matthew 18:15 – 18.

The repetition of this kind of interaction on social media raises the question, “Has social media made us more likely to tear down than to build up?” Are we teaching that the scripture encourages us to build up: build up our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Ephesians 4:29), to build our own faith (Jude 1:20) and to build up the Church of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 14:26)?

If, by example, we are teaching others how to tear down, how will they learn to build up? Please understand, the scriptures are equally clear that we are to point out sin and to correct those who are in sin as a form of love for them. If we fail to do this, we leave them in sin before God and ripe for judgment.

Within the household of faith it should be easy to set a living example and speak the truth about how to live in a way that God is glorified and other people are built up, blessed, or edified. In a recent conversation a woman reported that each week as she dismisses her Sunday School class she says to them, “Go build something this week!”

This is a good admonition. At relatively young ages these students are being taught that building something up is a godly expectation. Obviously, we want them to be taught the difference between what is good and right and what is evil and unpleasing before the Lord. Understanding now that there is an expectation that we will build in this life is a head start for them.

God worked to build the world and all that is in it. Then, God rested on the seventh day. He had worked six days and set an expectation that we would do the same; work six days and allow one day for rest. He blessed that day and sanctified it (Genesis 2:2-3).

It seems that many Christians understand the rest but we are weak on teaching the work end of it. Our culture these days does not seem to be helping. How many jobs were deemed “nonessential” just a couple of years ago? People and jobs were torn down. It is time to rebuild.

There are many forms of work and several forms of building. We can build up a brother or sister in the Lord (Ephesians 4:29), build a family, build a fence or a building, build a ministry or business, or we can build an empire, etc.  We can build for good or we can build for evil.

If one of the things we want to build is a social media platform and a place to share what we know about the Lord with others, then we need to examine each post before publishing it. If someone has sinned publicly, they made need to be rebuked publicly (Paul did this to Peter in Galatians 2:14). However, if it is not publicly done, when a brother or sister is in error, should we not first approach them one on one? There may be an understanding that we need or they need that is not seen or accomplished in a heated discussion for the world to see.