Proverbs 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
I’m borrowing a saying from my friend Jasmine, who calls people who post hearsay and nonsense on social media platforms, “Promiscuous posters.” I could not have said it better. Prov. 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.
I have been a little embarrassed and amazed at what some of our Christian brothers and sisters have posted and reposted on social media platforms. Some of the material they believe to be sound information has turned out to be nothing more than rehashed memes, debunked nonsense, and mindless drivel. No wonder we Christians are laughed at and seen as people with no integrity or spiritual sense. There is a difference between faith, foolishness, and presumption.
Just because we have an opinion on a subject does not mean we are truly informed on the matter, or, actually have all the information to make a worldwide declaration of validity of so-called importance. Now, I know, this might be hard for some to believe, but true nonetheless. The world does not want to know everything you think you know. In a lot of cases, our opinions are just that, a particular bias we have turned into a personal belief that some will defend regardless of whether it is true or not.
Most promiscuous posters are always against something. Rarely are they for anything of worth or lasting value. They just seem to vent what they are all against with no answers for fixing what they protest. The problem escalates when someone who is informed on the subject tries to reason with them, and they get shut down as a promoter of fake news. Then, a whole new bunch of regurgitated gibberish hits the social media platforms. Prov. 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
In the book of Nehemiah, we have a couple of promiscuous posters. Sanballat and Tobiah were against the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. A smear campaign was organized against the people who actually had the right information and the mandate to fix the problem. Neh. 4:1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews. Sanballat posted some rubbish and started attracting other promiscuous posters. Neh. 4:3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!” They started exaggerating misleading information that got traction amongst some of the disgruntled populists.
Anyone can curse the darkness and point at what is wrong. However, if that is your only response to what irks you in life, then at least have the fortitude to bring a solution to fix the mess. As the saying goes, “When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail.” To continually hammer away at something you only have bits and pieces of factual information on is ludicrous. Then, to put your whole trust in the half-truths you have picked up here and there, can leave you in a precarious situation.
Don’t become the tool of the worst promiscuous poster of all. Satan, the enemy of our soul, is belly-laughing at the rubbish he has got people promoting. The Lord gives us a simple instruction. He says to come out from among them who are walking according to the spirit of this world. 2Cor. 6:17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. If you want to post something, then post within the context of what God has sown in your heart from His Word, and bring that solution to the worldliness that is all around you. Be God’s hand of grace that is extended to bring people into the truth of God’s salvation. Amen!
What a great job. Well said Sir Norm!