Go, and whine no more

Stop clicking the “share” button for self-righteous complaints, and start actually spreading some Good News.

John I. Carney

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David Vignoni / ICON KING, LGPL <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html>, via Wikimedia Commons

A few days ago, I made a post on social media about the whole Last Supper Olympics controversy. It was well-received by a lot of people, but not everyone. I made a point in that post that a lot of people have missed. I should let the matter lie, but I feel compelled to come back to it.

Let’s imagine, for purposes of discussion, that in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, something happens that is clearly and unambiguously meant to make fun of some sort of Christian imagery. There can be no argument or debate; it is clearly laughing at some Christian image.

What, as Christians, should our response be?

Clicking the “share” button on nasty little Facebook memes is so, so satisfying. It makes you feel like you are Defending The Faith. You are On The Right Side.

But what good does it do? What purpose does it serve? Will it change anyone’s mind? I doubt anyone on the Paris organizing committee is going to hang their head in shame as a result of some Facebook meme. All it does is make Christians look petty and thin-skinned, and plays right into the hands of the enemy, reinforcing their worst…

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John I. Carney

Author of “Dislike: Faith and Dialogue in the Age of Social Media,” available at http://www.lakeneuron.com/dislike