Seasoned with Salt

Imagine this setting. You are sitting in your living room with your family watching a favorite Thursday night sitcom. You have had a long day and are excited to relax and chill for a bit. Everything is going great when all of a sudden someone comes on screen looking/acting _______ (this could be silly, crazy, ugly, a numerous amount of different potential looks) and you just can't stand it. Immediately you proclaim to the rest of the family (kids included) just how ______ you believe this person looks/acts.

Here is another scene. You are scrolling through Facebook and see a meme or picture of someone that you think looks ridiculous (or some other adjective). You comment on it about how stupid that person looks and then share it on your own page to get a good laugh about it. You pull your husband or even kids over and show them just how crazy this picture is and how you can't believe someone would pose for that.

Let's be honest. I have done this. You have most likely either done this or laughed along/liked/commented on someone's picture at someone else's expense. Most of the time these pictures/movies/commercials/whatever are of people we will never actually meet. I guess we believe that makes it okay. My challenge today is to think this through a bit and ask God to open our eyes to sin that may be hiding in our heart.

What makes us believe it is okay to make fun of someone? Even if we truly believe we are jesting in fun. What are we teaching our children as we laugh at and ridicule someone else? I truly believe this subtle action on our part has greatly contributed to the raising of a generation of bullies. Whether they are in person or behind a screen the coming generation (and some older ones) are quick to be hateful and demeaning to those around them or even those across the world. With technology the impact is endless that someone has.

This is not how as Christians we are to live. Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." You might be thinking, Sara, that is talking about thoughts. True. But what comes out of our mouth normally starts in our heads. Colossians 4:6 also says "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." :)

I am not saying we shouldn't stand up for what is wrong if someone is behaving poorly. I believe we have freedom of speech and should be able to voice our opinions. But nowhere does it state that our "freedom speech" should be rude, disrespectful, or ugly. In fact, God commands that it not be that way. We can disagree and make that known without being sinful. But that really isn't the point of this post. My focus here is in our daily conversations, social media postings, and the like.

I believe these things, while some may see them as little with no meaning, actually mean a lot. If my children watch me make fun of others (even though we don't and won't ever know them) it is still teaching them it is okay to do so. Once they believe that is okay, what will stop them from becoming that bully at school or work who constantly picks on the kid/coworker who is different? We are role models whether we like it or not. We need to act that way and remember Romans 12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all".

My question for you is not "What are you gaining from putting someone down, even if they might not ever see it or meet you? Rather "What are you losing when you do those things?" or "Who is watching you when you say/post those things?" Think about it. Let's be a good example and honor God with our words. May they be seasoned with salt. Love you all! Till next time.