Filters PLEASE

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." 

Social media has put quite a spin on our ability to fulfill Mr. Twain's fear for humanity. While many of us keep our mouth's fully closed while typing away - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. has a way of us proving we are fools beyond all doubt without us ever uttering a word. Don't get me wrong,. I am old enough to remember my elders sitting around the dinner table (yes people really used to do that) and argue over Thanksgiving turkey whether or not we should still be in Viet Nam. As little as I was I remember both sides sounded fairly convincing in their facts and talking points. Most of the debates ended with someone muttering, "stupid idiot" or "commie loving hippie" under their breath. You young readers go ask someone over the age of 50 what that means if you are lost.

So the phenomenon of thinking we have cornered the market on all the brilliant, enlightened brain cells and have the ability with our velvet tongue we will sway the masses to tune their hearts to reason is not a new one.

What has evolved, thanks to the ability to type what we want in the privacy of our own home with no one shouting back over the green bean casserole is our desire to say what we want to say, however we choose to articulate it without the burden of facts, information or God-forbid, an ear to hear the other side. Another key component to discourse is what I call "THE FILTER." You know that body part that is somewhere in our heads. It keeps us from saying whatever pops in our heads and also keeps stupidity from invading our mind. 

Whether you believe in evolution or not, it is clear that over time humans, as well as some animals, have evolved and no longer use some of their factory installed parts. Over time those parts begin to just hang in our bodies, much like the appendix and the uvula waiting to cause trouble due to infection or some such nonsense. 

People this is the fate awaiting your filter, medically known as the "Primum non nocereillium." The first do no harm organ. Soon, and very soon, we will lose the ability to think before we speak or type and we will just talk like slowly erupting lava in a volcano not caring who gets burned to a crisp.

John Welsey, the founder of the Methodist Movement struggled with how humans live their lives in respect to other humans causing him to pen the some general rules. (find them in their entirety here The General Rules) but in cliff note version they are:

First, do no harm

Second, do as much good as you can

And most importantly, stay in love with God.

Yesterday, may "day off" was spent doing a lot of research online for book, sermon and bible study writing along with those periodic and habitual clicks on Facebook and Twitter. The social media-o-sphere was lit up with all kinds of nastiness about Hobby Lobby, Elton John, babies in hot cars and other salacious "news." 

Personally I don't care if the little Kylie Jenner photo shopped her Instragam selfie but someone apparently does. and henceforth quite a few people had opinions to such. I have an opinion on the HL verdict as well as Elton John's recent comment about Jesus. But because I am not Elton's pastor (although, how cool would that be, it could certainly step up your music program) I don't feel I have enough information to post homophobic rants on Facebook denouncing his right to have a theological opinion. And I haven't read the Supreme Court ruling regarding Hobby Lobby so until I do I won't be posting about that, either. 

However, based on my request to be removed from a closed discussion group for clergy only, i will say this: People, maybe we should adopt JW's rules for internet posting. Before you post, ask yourself, could this harm anyone? Could me posting, "Anyone who leaves a baby in a hot, locked car in the Summer  should die and rot in hell" really help the someone that is living in their own personal hell because they have done this very thing? Would it make a difference if we posted the following picture urging people to avail themselves of some sort of device to help us be sage with our kids? Would it be doing good?

Andrew, Pelhem, Nashville, TN
The E-Z Baby Saver

The third rule to stay in love with God was originally encouraging Christians to avail themselves of holy practices that keep one connected to God. But even if you don't believe in God, you can follow this third rule by loving God's people. Love them enough to not hurt them, to be kind and do good. That's is almost enough. Because it is at least the second half of the Great Commandment.