Dr. Ligon Duncan, reflects on how Christians should engage in public discourse, especially on social media. In a polarized culture that rewards outrage and division, he reminds us to stand firm in the truth while speaking with evident love. We are called not to shock or crush, but to help and build up, showing both conviction and compassion as we point others to the hope of the gospel.
The following is a transcript of the video above.
How should Christians handle public discourse?
I’m often asked how Christians ought to handle public discourse and especially the use of social media. And I’m glad that Christians are thinking about that because we live in a very polarized culture, and some of the media that we use actually encourages that polarization. Over 40 years ago, Neil Postman thought about this in his book Amusing Ourselves to Death. He was thinking mostly of television and broadcast media. But I think with the advent of social media and people being able to use their iPhone or their smartphone and be able to communicate with the world, we need to think even more deeply about the way that we discourse in public, and especially in platforms like social media.
One thing that we need to remember is it is very easy to get attention by saying things that are shocking and divisive. You may do One thing that we need to remember is it is very easy to get attention by saying things that are shocking and divisive. You may do it in the name of being prophetic, but very often you’re prophetic to people who already agree with you, and you’re offensive to people that you really need to be trying to persuade.it in the name of being prophetic, but very often you’re prophetic to people who already agree with you, and you’re offensive to people that you really need to be trying to persuade. One of the important things that we do is that we show conviction and love at the same time, an evident concern for the wellbeing of the people that we’re trying to speak to. Remember, the world is trying to teach people that Christians hate them. It’s very important that we don’t fall into that trap. We don’t hate people. We love people. We want to see their lives better now and for eternity. We want them to be everlastingly joyful in God through Christ Jesus in the gospel. And that means that even when we have to confront the world, we do it with a heart of love for the world, as the Scriptures teach us. We are to speak the truth in love. And so I think that whenever we have a public platform, it is vitally important for Christians both to be firm in the truth, especially when that truth is out of step with the culture around us. Don’t give in to what the culture is teaching. Stand firm on the word of God. But as we speak that truth, …even when we have to confront the world, we do it with a heart of love for the world, as the Scriptures teach us. We are to speak the truth in love.standing firm on the Scriptures, we speak it with an evident and apparent love for the people that we’re speaking to. We don’t want to hurt them. We want to help them. We don’t want to crush them. We want to build them up. We want to present the truth to them in such a way that the Holy Spirit will draw them savingly to Jesus Christ and will make their lives better thereby. And therefore, it’s very important that that attitud comes through in the way that we speak as well as what we speak.
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