I Corinthians 13 – Love, Evil & Truth
Ron continues his love series from I Corinthians 13 with a post entitled, “Love, Evil & Truth.” This time, a couple discuss social media, specifically the types of posts their friends are making.
In this series, Ron breaks down I Corinthians 13:4-7 into easily segments by using a selection of “love” themed short stories.
Negative Posts
The stormy afternoon had kept Andy and Beth indoors. At around three o’clock, they both found themselves in the kitchen looking for a cup of coffee.
“Are you on social media with Bob and Nora?” Andy asked.
“I’m friends with Nora,” replied Beth. “Andy’s never sent me a friend request and I never sent him one, but there’s no particular reason we aren’t.”
“I’m not sure that’s true,” said Andy. “To tell the truth, I am thinking of unfriending him.”
Beth poured a cup of hot black coffee for each of them.
“What’s Bob done to offend you? You’re one of the most laid-back people I know.”
“It’s not that he’s done anything specific, but I find his posts to be disturbingly negative. If there is something bad, ugly, horrible happening anywhere in the world he seems to find it, then shares it.”
“What kind of things do you mean?” asked Beth.
“Really anything nasty: police violence, graphic descriptions of grisly crimes (especially sexual ones), politicians embarrassing themselves by saying or doing something stupid, situations where new research demonstrates that earlier scientists were mistaken. He particularly seems to like seeing respected people brought down, especially if there’s shame involved.
Today he was commenting on the engineering flaw that shut down the new light rail system for a week. He didn’t focus on the fact that no one was hurt, or that thousands of people were inconvenienced. No! His comment was ‘I just love it when these bigshot experts get shown to be no better than the rest of us.’”
Positive Posts
Beth scowled. “That sounds miserable, and so unlike Nora. Nora is a sweetie. Her posts are all about kittens, and puppies, and people being kind to the homeless, and refugee children making new friends, and medical breakthroughs, and things like these. I can hardly believe that Bob is so miserable when she’s so sweet.”
“I’m not friends with Nora, but it sounds like I’d rather be seeing her posts than having to look at the stuff Bob passes around,” said Andy. “I sometimes wonder what their conversations around the table must be like.”
“We know from the time we’ve spent with them that Bob’s a pretty brittle guy — doesn’t have much room for anybody else’s opinion but his own. And those opinions are consistently expressed in harsh terms.”
Andy nodded. “Oh yeah! And even when he talks to Nora, he does so with the kind of edge that I
suspect she finds hurtful.”
Theologically Skewed
Beth agreed, “I sure wouldn’t want you treating me the way he treats her. I hate the way he comments about her appearance. What he says is true, but it sure doesn’t need to have attention drawn to it. Especially by her husband!
“What bothers me,” said Andy, “is that they pass themselves off as Christians. They go to church as often as Bob feels like it. But nonetheless He often drags Christianity into some of his most hateful comments. He seems to take pleasure in things that will ultimately be judged by God. God doesn’t even take pleasure in his own judgment! He says plainly that He doesn’t take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Bob is one of those guys who seems to think that God is just looking for opportunities to pour out his anger on people.”
“But that’s theologically skewed,” said Beth. “Are you going to call him on it. God experiences anger but it is always expressed as part of his justice. Bob makes God sound nasty and hateful. Sin has to be dealt with because God is just, but He’s not angry in the same sense that He is holy or that He is love.
Error Mixed With Truth
Andy responded, “I’m really in a quandary about this. I’m not afraid of Bob, but I hate to hurt Nora. You know, sometimes I think that maybe Bob has mixed error with truth to such a degree that his understanding of God and the things of the Spirit are seriously twisted.
That might be why he seems to take such pleasure in the ugliest things he can find on the web. He’s rejoicing in iniquity and not rejoicing with the truth.”
“And that,” said Beth emphatically, “is one of the aspects of God’s definition of love.”
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Ron Hughes
Ron Hughes is the former President of FBH International He developed his interest in technology and mass communications during his high school years in Peterborough, Ontario.
He received a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson University where he graduated as the program’s “outstanding graduate.” He gained experience working in both commercial and cultural radio stations in Southern Ontario as well as engaging in freelance production.
In 1983, he and his wife, Debbie, moved to Ecuador where they served as missionaries for 10 years. There, Ron produced radio specials and numerous music albums as well as several videos. Some of these videos were the first ever produced in Ecuador’s major indigenous languages. In 1993, the Hughes family returned to Canada at the invitation of FBH International (then Family Bible Hour) and oversaw the ministry for many years.
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Love – Alfonso Diaz
Storm – Solivan C Szupka
Sarcastic – Girinath – Gopinath
Love Does Not Delight – Keramark Solutions
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