Theme of the Week: Making People Mad

So this week I want to tackle a topic that a lot of people struggle with on Facebook, Twitter, and...well...life in general.

One of the biggest problems with the internet is that everyone gets to talk, and a lot of people are stupid.

Maybe that was harsh, but honestly, we've all thought it from time to time. We see what other people say or post or tweet or comment or whatever, and it makes us mad. We can't believe that people would think, let alone SAY, the things they say on the internet.

Take some time to read the comments section on a local newspaper. Or Huffington Post. It's enough to make you want to claw your eyes out with a rusty fork. Or at the very least, you assume that God has to be about done with humanity and they shall be smited from the face of the earth shortly.

Here's the thing: in real life, we encounter these same people every single day. And while there are certain people we may not get along with or agree with, we can be cordial to one another. We can somehow live on the same planet...even the same internet...as they do.

Online, all filters are gone and we just say with absolute bluntness the things we want to say. If you don't like it, stay off the internet.

And that's what many choose to do. We log off, block users, shut down Facebook accounts. And maybe that's not a bad thing. From time to time, it probably needs to happen.

For me though, the internet is a mission field. People are there, Jesus loves people, I love Jesus, so I'd better love people, even internet people, even if they are saying stupid things.

So this week I want to look at how to deal with making people mad on the internet. This is for everyone, but especially for pastors, who are really good at inciting angry mobs carrying virtual pitchforks. In the meantime, keep your eye out for internet anger, lack of a filter in what people are saying, and all that is divisive and hurtful. Ask yourself this question: what if the internet were a third world country that God was sending me to as a missionary? Where would you start? What are the issues that need confronted? How does the gospel need preached? What land mines do you need to avoid?