The Ugly Side Of Social Media

​Excerpt from the book; The Bible And Business

I am not an advocate of drinking alcohol, wine or beer. However there was an old adage that when a person had some liquid courage in them, they would say whatever they wanted without fear. Getting little tipsy would lend a person to say things they wouldn’t say if they were sober. People said that with this liquid courage you would cast off all restraint and act a fool. You would then regret the next day, due to a hangover, maybe a regretful night, and some hurt feelings.




I don’t drink, I have never gotten drunk in my life.  I do have some people who have been addicted to drugs and alcohol in my family and needless to say it is not a pretty sight.




Ephesians 5:18 (KJV)




18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;




Proverbs 23:20-21 (KJV)




20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:




21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.




God clearly is telling us according to His word we are not to get drunk or be filled with wine. I know this chapter is taking a weird turn but as always go with me, believe it or not we are going somewhere.




My point is there was a time that the only people who said what they wanted, how they wanted, to whom they wanted to, without restraint were people drunk with wine, or people who had anger management problems. Neither of that is a positive.




Now we have blood washed, bible believing Christians who believe that can say whatever they want, disrespect leaders, presidents, and officials in authority without regard or a care. All due to the invent of social media.




Now you don’t need liquid courage, to be arrogant, prideful, or just plain rude and extremely disrespectful, all you need is an open lap top an unrestrained mouth and typing hands that devises evil.




Yep this chapter in case you haven’t already guest it, will hit hard but it will save your life, your business, your relationship, and your ministry. God will still hold us accountable for what we say and what we type. And yes this has very much to do with doing business God’s way.




Matthew 12:37 (KJV)




37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.


 


 Matthew 12:36 (KJV)


36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.




This will make sense in a minute. I want you to understand that when you are in business, you sit in a position of authority. There is certain respect that we must have for anyone who sits in this seat of authority whether you agree with them or not. It doesn’t mean you compromise or don’t speak up, there is a way to speak to authority as found in scripture.




I want you to understand every act, word, deed that you do against someone seated in this position of authority is a reflection on you. What that means is every arrow you sling towards someone else, will release that same curse back to you ten times greater. When you make yourself a weapon against someone’s seat of authority, God then releases that same curse back to you?




What you reap to others, you will reap yourself. This is important because as a business leader you must handle other people correctly. Many people get it when it comes to handling people correctly that they lead, what they don’t get is how you treat people who are in positions of authority over them, will be a reflection of you and whether or not you succeed or fail. It will either contribute to your blessing or your demise, whether you know them or not. It really doesn’t matter whether or not you agree with them. No they are not unapproachable or without reproach.




Remember scripture says whatever idle world spoken you will give account. Idle means empty, void, worthless. 




When you disrespect another leader, God will in turn make sure you are disrespected to a greater degree,  it also shows that you have a wrong spirit that needs deliverance. I can prove it by scripture.




2 Peter 2:10-11 (TLB)




10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own evil, lustful thoughts, and those who are proud and willful, daring even to scoff at the Glorious Ones[a] without so much as trembling,




11 although the angels in heaven who stand in the very presence of the Lord, and are far greater in power and strength than these false teachers, never speak out disrespectfully against these evil Mighty Ones.


 


To clarify I am going to put this scripture in a different translation.




2 Peter 2:10-11 (KJV)




10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.




11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.




2 Peter 2:10-14 (MSG)




10-11 God is especially incensed against these “teachers” who live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence. They despise interference from true authority, preferring to indulge in self-rule. Insolent egotists, they don’t hesitate to speak evil against the most splendid of creatures. Even angels, their superiors in every way, wouldn’t think of throwing their weight around like that, trying to slander others before God.


 


12-14 These people are nothing but brute beasts, born in the wild, predators on the prowl. In the very act of bringing down others with their ignorant blasphemies, they themselves will be brought down, losers in the end. Their evil will boomerang on them.




Presumptuous means full of, characterized by, or showing presumption or readiness to presume in conduct or thought, as by saying or doing something without right or permission. It also means unwarrantedly or impertinently bold; forward. Impertinent means not showing proper respect; rude. Mean they are without restraint rude, disrespectful and bold, directly at dignitaries. Dignitaries are people put in positions of authority, a high rank of office, or important position.




Let us go back to the scripture.




The word is telling us that ungodly people will walk in the flesh, meaning they say whatever their flesh tells them to. They are unclean, they despise the government, are self-willed (doing whatever they want to do and say) and they are not afraid to speak negatively about someone with boldness.




We are going someone where. Dishonor is setting yourself up for a curse. Verse 11 tells that that angels who have higher might and power know the wisdom against not making accusations or rude statements against someone in authority.




The bible calls people like this false teachers. Scripture calls out the people bragging, talking against officials. When they don’t understand something they speak against it.




2 Peter 2:12 (KJV)




12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;




2 Peter 3:3 (KJV)




3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,




Scoff means speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.




Jude 9-11The Message (MSG)




9-11 The Archangel Michael, who went to the mat with the Devil as they fought over the body of Moses, wouldn’t have dared level him with a blasphemous curse, but said simply, “No you don’t. God will take care of you!” But these people sneer at anything they can’t understand, and by doing whatever they feel like doing—living by animal instinct only—they participate in their own destruction




Jude 9-11 (KJV)




9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.




10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.




11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.




When someone is in a position of authority there is a level of respect and dignity that comes with the position.




Let me give you an example of how this is important to you.




I remember years ago the church I was attending went through a church split. I felt some kind of way about it and was very hurt at my pastors. I remember a friend from my hometown called me and I ended up venting about what I felt was wrong.




The next thing you know all chaos broke loose in my life. I mean I had a curse released over my head. I remember crying out in anguish asking God what happened. He reminded of that phone call I had with my friend.




Mind you what I said wasn’t wrong, my estimation of how I thought things went and should happen was according to the word of God. I was venting, to her. God didn’t tell me what I said was wrong, He told me speaking against them was wrong, I shouldn’t have done that.




 I had to repent. I am going to show you in scripture  how you can still represent the mouth piece of God and be respectful, yes we are still going to talk about social media.




Another time I had a friend, who is no longer a friend. She had her own ministry. She would often speak against leaders in other churches, what she felt they did wrong, and such, I mean it was an ongoing thing.




The Holy Spirit was offended. Every time I was around her I began to feel very convicted and grieved of Him. I knew the Lord was telling me to disconnect for this reason. I didn’t want to because I am a young person just like everyone else. I wanted friends and enjoyed the fun times, it wasn’t all bad.




I remember being so convicted, I finally decided to just disconnect. I remember after making that decision, I went to church that night, and my then pastor began to speak about this very topic. I knew I had heard from God.




When a person continues to speak against another, they were despising authority, they are ignorant of satan’s devices, they are pretentious, and don’t understand that they are releasing curses into their own lives. They are secretly contentious of someone else’s authority. Meaning they are jealous and envious of someone else’s position of authority.




Psalm 105:15 (TLB)




15 “Touch not these chosen ones of mine,” he warned, “and do not hurt my prophets.”




1 Chronicles 16:22 (KJV)




22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.




There is a way to respond to leaders in positions of authority even when they are wrong. David was a prime example. Saul was coming after him trying to kill David, multiple times. David never responded with disrespect or contentiousness, he honored Saul until his death. Even though Saul was dead wrong and acting outside of the will of God. David had an opportunity multiple times to kill Saul, but he didn’t. Look what David said, to Saul, after he didn’t kill him when he could have.




1 Samuel 24:3-12Living Bible (TLB)




3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to go to the bathroom, but as it happened, David and his men were hiding in the cave!




4 “Now’s your time!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today is the day the Lord was talking about when he said, ‘I will certainly put Saul into your power, to do with as you wish’!” Then David crept forward and quietly slit off the bottom of Saul’s robe! 




5 But then his conscience began bothering him.




6 “I shouldn’t have done it,” he said to his men. “It is a serious sin to attack God’s chosen king in any way.”




7-8 These words of David persuaded his men not to kill Saul.




After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.




9-10 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you have seen it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave, and some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm him—he is the Lord’s chosen king.’




 11 See what I have in my hand? It is the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you! Doesn’t this convince you that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for my life?




12 “The Lord will decide between us. Perhaps he will kill you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.




Again Saul was actively in pursuit of trying to kill David, he basically stops and uses the bathroom. David’s men tell him to go ahead and do it, “this must be God’s will.” David didn’t kill the man that is trying to kill him, but falls down to his feet and apologizes for cutting a piece of his robe off. Hello! Someone is trying to kill you and you repent for cutting a piece of clothes. Now that is nothing but the spirit of God in David.




Look what happens next.




1 Samuel 24:15-22Living Bible (TLB)




15 May the Lord judge as to which of us is right and punish whichever one of us is guilty. He is my lawyer and defender, and he will rescue me from your power!”




16 Saul called back, “Is it really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 




17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 




18 Yes, you have been wonderfully kind to me today, for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you didn’t kill me. 




19 Who else in all the world would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.




 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and Israel shall be yours to rule. 




21 Oh, swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”




22 So David promised, and Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their cave.




By the way Saul didn’t keep his word, he went right back to trying to kill David even after David showed him tremendous mercy. David kept his word and didn't try to kill Saul.




A great example was in the life of Joseph and Daniel. Joseph was accused of rape but never disrespected the authorities of his time.




Daniel was in a time when the king was corrupt. God used Daniel to go to the kings chamber and speak the whole counsel of God. He spoke the truth, in love, interpreted dreams and visions, but was never disrespectful in anyway, even though as stated he was thrown in a lions den, in a fiery furnace, great injustice happened to Daniel, and he never disrespected the man who was responsible for it. Yet he spoke the truth, always giving glory and honor to God first.




Daniel was such a witness of God, that his obedience and humility led the king honor God, before a nation.




So how does this relate to social media?




I am glad you asked, because I am going to show you how Christians are releasing curses onto themselves constantly speaking against each other, government officials, the president, other ministers. You are the initiator of your own demise.




Let’s say a great leader within the church has been found to have been laundering money at large amounts.  There it is live on CNN, CBC, Fox News you name it. A great pastor taken in hand cuffs, to the local police station. By the way this is a fictional story.




You are so angry. Then you get on social media and begin to talk bad about the church, this pastor, his associates, with the hash tag, money hungry preachers.




Were you wrong to feel angry? No. You still just released a curse into you own life. Why? You are disrespecting someone in a the position of authority. So how should you respond? Prayer. Don’t put your mouth on anyone. Don’t type it on Facebook either.




Proverbs 21:1 (KJV)


21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.




What will happen to you? In your business you will experience the same curse and God will remind you of the idol words you spoke and typed against someone else. It could be an accounting error in your company. It could be that you have someone laundering money from your company and you had no idea.




The point is when you so discord amongst the body of Christ it will come back to you. God will deal with the leader if it is true.




Other examples, your favorite celebrity gains a few pounds, so you use social media to post unflattering pictures about them, making jokes. Well you reap what you sow.




Galatians 6:7 (KJV)


7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.




Let us look at another example; there is controversy regarding your favorite gospel singer, so you take it to social media.




Guess what you are going to reap.




Another example the highest governmental office in the United States, is occupied by someone you think is an absolute disgrace. He appears to be highly unqualified, and pretentious. So you don’t think to remotely pray for him that God would turn his heart towards Him. No what you do is, every chance you get you post something that is  downright derogatory about him.




I am not saying you are wrong to feel how you feel. I am not saying I am a supporter. Nevertheless this person is in a seat of authority. You can either be like Daniel, Joseph, the other prophets in the bible or you can be cursed. You decide.




I know some of you are not going to agree with this chapter, but I promise you I could care less. We Christians need to act like Christians when it is hard, not just when it is convenient and things go our way.




You want to curse yourself that is your business, I am just telling you what the word says.




Another example you think a big time televangelist is an outright fraud. So you go on Facebook live to hold a big teleconference about how wrong you think he or she is.




Just go one ahead and point to yourself, and say,  “cursed.” Because that is what is going to happen. Remember our scripture that we read in the beginning of this chapter.




Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV)


16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:


17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,


18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,


19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.




Why do we love something that God hates?




No you are not in position to question someone else’s position of authority just because you are seated in the same position or similar position of authority. There is no scriptural basis for that. Does that mean God doesn’t send a person to correct or admonish or direct? No.




Luke 17:3 (KJV)


3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.




1 Timothy 5:20 (KJV)


20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.


Still when you read the bible the prophet was always sent to a king, or priest. God would send the prophet. Man didn’t just send himself. The prophet responded in the most tactful way possible.




Matthew 18:15-17 (KJV)


15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.


16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.


17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.




Galatians 6:1-3 (KJV)


6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.


2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.


3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.




2 Thessalonians 3:14(KJV)


14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.




I am not suggesting that you be a passive Christian and never say anything about injustice. I am suggesting that you be led by the Holy Spirit. These people acting as social media bullies are not being led by the spirit, in fact the tone and spirit in which they write breeds, jealously, envious, a spirit of competition, and they are doing what God hates, spreading discord (division) among Christian brethren.




Inevitably if you are a business owner you cannot avoid social media. If it was up to me, I would do away with social media all together, but the problem is I would like to actually sell books. I need my websites, facebooks etc. I need to drive traffic to my private practice




Yet there are still rules to remain in integrity and good character.




The final will be a list of strategies and ethics. We have already talked in detail about principles.




Strategies and Ethics:




They are in no particular order.




1.   Don’t use any social media account to sow discord, sow rumors, gossip, hatred to another organization, minister, persons in authority. Pray.


 


2.   If you cannot tell it to someone’s face with the same level of sarcasm, and tone then you probably shouldn’t say it. You are more than likely not being led by the Holy Spirit


 


3.   Stick to the facts, no false advertisement. Don’t hype yourself up beyond where and who you are. You are not a worldwide singing sensation, just because you can sing, and you have a website that technically can be accessed in different nations.


 


4.   Facebook is not your therapist. If it sounds like something you should be processing through in a private confidential, place, it probably shouldn’t be posted on social media.


 


5.   Remember listen before you speak, or in this case READ, before you type, and hit that post button.


 


6.   There is a such thing as too much sharing. We really don’t want to know what you ate last night, your breakfast, pictures we don’t need to be included when you’re hungry and every little detail about your life.


 


7.   Just like in life we consider a person just plain obnoxious, and annoying when they keep talking about themselves, so it goes with social media.


 


8.   Make it about your business, your product etc.


 


9.   There is a log out, unsubscribe, block button attached to your social media accounts, please feel free to use them.


 


10. Lastly as my pastor says, “when you are great, everyone shouldn’t have access to you.” Just because you are on social media doesn’t mean people have 24 hour access to you.


 


11. Don’t go back and forth with anyone on social media.


 


12. Don’t take it personal, your insecurities will show.


 


13. Remember the sound bite is dangerous. You most likely don’t have all the information about someone you have a sound bite. Don’t fall victim, or prey to the deception of the sound bite.


 


 


Samaria M Colbert © 2017