Last year, a Pew poll found that 18 percent of users of social network sites blocked, hid, or removed friends from their account strictly over political differences. A while ago, a heated political debate on a hot-button social issue was at the forefront of the news in the United States, and, like many others in the nation, I had my perspective on it. I noticed on my Facebook homepage that friends were eagerly posting their views on both sides of the issue. I found myself reading so many status updates that I was in a constant mental debate over the issue, trying to justify my viewpoint, yet still wanting to understand the other side.
Soon, I became battle fatigued, so I temporarily shut down my Facebook account and decided to pray. I thought about the beloved account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (see John 13). The chronology of this was interesting to me. He washed the feet of his 12 disciples, even those of Judas, whom he knew would betray him. Then he told them that they must love one another and care for one another, just as he had loved them. If he, their Master, could wash their feet, then they could certainly do the same for each other. After this, he pointed out that one among them was about to betray him. I saw this as Jesus giving his disciples an opportunity to live his command to love one another, including those who oppose us, or simply have different viewpoints. This was the basis of a lesson for me about how to think through this divisive social issue.
Uplift the general discourse and demonstrate compassion, respect, and charity.
