The human impulse to rush to judgment has always existed, but now it is common to believe whatever we hear and then post outrage using social media. But what if in our use of social media we applied the concepts of innocent until proven guilty, and from the mouth of Jesus, “Do to others as you would have them do to you”?

Though I’m not at all bitter about it, I remember well the harsh judgments from fellow Christians about my civil disobedience at abortion clinics (I don’t feel the pain anymore; I just remember its effects, especially on Nanci). Had there been social media in 1988-1990, trust me, I would have been skewered online not simply by unbelievers, but by many pastors and Christian leaders. 

I was speaking to a group of pastors in 1990 when one of them raised his hand and asked, “Why do you go to abortion clinics and scream at women and spit on them and pull their hair?” When I told him I’d never done such a thing, and never would, I asked him, “Why would you believe the newspapers instead of coming to me as your brother in Christ and asking if it’s true?”

So even in those pre-internet days, there were times I was privately and in small groups discredited by people who had no clue what my motives were—but unless they read the papers, watched TV news, or overheard church people talking about it, my daughters didn’t have to hear it. Were it happening today and they were 10 and 12, it would be inescapable even if they weren’t yet on social media, because everyone would be talking about it.

However, I do remember one day our daughters attended a rescue with their mother and saw all that happened, including my arrest. The next morning, I read the newspaper’s account of the story. I handed it to my daughter Karina, who read every word. Stunned, she started crying. “Dad, this isn’t true. I was there the whole time. That’s not what happened!” Nothing I’d said to my children about the world’s lies and media distortions compared to the firsthand lesson learned from the newspaper that day.

In this age of social media, I’ve seen Bible-believing, Christ-centered people post thoughts online only to receive a string of hypercritical responses from people who wield Scripture verses like pickaxes, swiftly condemning the slightest hint of a viewpoint they consider suspicious. Others quickly join the fray, and soon it appears that no one has bothered to read what the blogger actually said. Responders assume the worst, not giving the benefit of the doubt and engaging in shotgun-style character assassination. If I were an unbeliever reading such responses, I certainly wouldn’t be drawn to the Christian faith.

I wonder why it’s not immediately recognized by those engaging in such behavior that what they’re doing is utterly contrary to the faith they profess and the Bible they believe. How is it that perpetual disdain, suspicion, unkindness, and hostility are seen as taking the spiritual high ground?

God calls us “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men” (Titus 3:2). Here are some verses for us to reflect on as write and share online:

“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).

“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:20).

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (Proverbs 18:2).

“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:3).

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10: 19).