Social Media—Never Meant To Be A Warzone  

Editorial Note:
First, let me say—this heart-felt reflection is not meant as an admonishment or a lecture. Rather, it is a loving invitation—a call to us all, as family—the Bride, to rise together in her beauty.

Today, we live in an age where the world fits in our palms—yet empathy seems to be slipping through our fingers.
Though social media promises connection, it has too often become a place where the sacredness of others is dishonored and dialogue reduced to divisive sound bites and barbs that only further divides and disconnects.

Scroll through any feed and you’ll see it: sharp opinions, quick dismissals, cutting comments, and that strangely dehumanizing action—”unfriending,” essentially cancelling another human being at the stroke of our fingers. I get it, on-line environments aren’t demanding we stay “friends” with unhealthy connections of people we don’t know. The greater picture for me, is about the downward spiral into dissension and dismissiveness of human beings, that is taking its toll on many.

Politics. Religion. Academia. Hollywood. Medicine. News. You name it, we seem to be gravitating more and more to what divides, than what [or Who] holds us together.
Everyone has something to say—and loudly. All too often, that “something” becomes the greater thing, void of patience and kindness and truly listening.

Here’s the truth many of us I believe are aware of deep down:
Most of us would never speak to each other this way if we were face to face.

There’s something about a screen separating us, a shield of protection so to speak, that is leading to the severing from basic human kindness.
We type things in all CAPS that we’d never dream of saying aloud. We label, dismiss, and reduce people to mere caricatures—forgetting that behind every post is a real person who is worthy of love—with eternal value, a heart worth caring about, and beloved identity.

It’s as if social media has become a digital battlefield—where locational disconnection makes it too easy to use our words as weapons.
Environments that present open invitation into thoughtful dialogue are now often peppered with drive-by comments and little thought for the precious soul on the other side of that screen.

Engaging With Empathy and Honor

Could we be falling for the lie of separation—one to another? Where we’ve become tribal and reactive, bypassing curiosity and relational connection?
Here is what I have been contemplating—the greater truth. The greater truth is this: much of why this hurts so much is that we were created in God’s image to love one another [despite our differences] and not to treat each other this way. It’s not who we are! 

We are intrinsically wired for connection, dignity, and honor.
We are not designed to cut each other down—but designed to edify and lift each other up.

God created us as image-bearers—Imago Dei.

In truth, Christ marked us as sold out lovers, not judges and accusers. Peacemakers, not opinion machines.
People intrinsically designed with the power of life on our lips and deeply wired compassion in our DNA. It can go off the rails at time, especially in these online environments. As the Scriptures remind us, “The power of life and death is in the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21 

Even the Apostle James warned us of how careless speech can contradict our calling:

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.”
— James 3:9 (ESV)

On social media, that tongue can become a wildfire through the keyboard, but that tongue is designed in wholeness to speak life.
And in the smoke screens of all our needing to be right, someone’s humanity gets lost, and the contrary happens.

So what if we paused and remembered who we truly are for a moment, BEFORE we posted?
What if we counted to ten, drawing reason and wisdom from the One, before hitting “send”?
How much heartache could we prevent—on both sides?

It’s not that we can’t disagree—it’s how we handle that disagreement. Everyone has passions stemming from their own God-given conscience that is worth valuing. Even in that disagreement. Even a simple emoji can carry passive-aggressive weight when we’ve forgotten such things and our shared humanity.

Reacting impulsively, when we are called instead to be slow to speak and quick to listen, is dehumanizing people.
Rather than recalling that on the other side of the screen is someone else made in God’s image—someone who behind the mask of social media may even be hurting, in need of hope, and definitely deserving of dignity.

The late Dallas Willard once said:

“The first act of love is always the giving of attention.” (Source)

But how much attention are we giving when we scroll, react, and move on in seconds?

Ironically, these platforms built to connect us are eroding the very thing we long for most: genuine, soul-to-soul connection.

We confuse commentary for courage—forgetting that real courage looks someone in the eye [or through the screen] and still chooses love.

Jesus said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Not peacekeepers. Not avoiders.
Peacemakers.
Paul called us reconcilers—people who respond to tension by making space for love to bring us closer together, despite the screen between us.

So the next time we feel the impulse to shoot back, correct, or condemn in interaction on line, let’s remember who we are! Let’s pause and ask:

• Would I say this if they were sitting right here?
• Is this love speaking—or being expressed from my own fear or pain?
• Am I fighting to be right—or seeing an opportunity to be curious and stay kind?
• Am I projecting wounds of judgment—or reflecting the love of Christ that removes all dividing lines?

This isn’t about becoming robots who all think alike—it is about handling on-line communication with compassion.
It’s about elevating human dignity over our opinions.
Because behind every screen… is a living, breathing, human soul.

Let’s Bring It Back to What Matters Most

In a world that’s quick to tear down, may we be the ones who build up.—
Let’s rediscover the strength of gentleness, the boldness of empathy, and the beauty of being truly present—even in digital spaces.

Let’s see each other again—beyond the arguments, beyond the filters, beyond the noise.

May we choose to speak life in this digital age.
To seek ways to reconcile with others, especially those we’ve done harm to—leaning in with true hearts of forgiveness and connection.
To restore on-line community as peacemakers—expressions of dignity, healing, and reconciliation, especially in disagreement.

Because love is still the better way.
And when all is said and done, we won’t be remembered for how well we defended our opinions—
as Jesus said, all will know we belong to Him by our love for one another.

The Apostle Paul taught us what love is like:

Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, it is not boastful, it is not puffed up. It does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek the things of its own, it is not easily provoked, it keeps no account of wrongs. It does not delight at unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (BLB)

Help us Holy Spirit to remember who we are, and help us restore dignity and honor, one to another in this digital age. 

We were all made for this!

Recommended to Watch

If this message resonates with you and you’d like to explore practical ways to navigate online interactions with honor and wisdom, check out this inspiring video:

🎥 “10 Rules of Engagement for Social Media”
by Jason Clark — GAN TV co-host of Across All Worlds and host of Rethinking God with Tacos.

Jason offers powerful, grace-filled insight on how to engage others with empathy, dignity, and spiritual presence—even in a digital world.

Let this be a reminder that even online, love can still lead the conversation.

📺 Recommended GAN TV Episode to Watch

The Sound of Your Blood: Interview with Bill Vanderbush | Catherine Toon – Part 1 (EP066)
Discover a powerful conversation about identity, union, and the transforming sound of Love that speaks louder than shame.
Watch now on GAN TV

🧭 Further Reading

A Christian’s 5 Rules of Online Engagement – by Greg Stier
This insightful blog offers practical and grace-filled guidance for navigating digital conversations as followers of Christ.
Read here: https://gregstier.org/a-christians-5-rules-of-online-engagement