The author points out two reasons, but I’d like to add a third (which I would actually make the first): Anonymity.
When people post online, they post under screen names and avatars. Wouldn’t their responses be different if they ‘dared’ to put their real name and picture on it? After all, God sees all, hears all, and reads everything we post online. It goes back to WWJW (what would Jesus write?).
Full story here and bits below.
Bono is a born again Christian.
Or he’s not.
It’s one of those two. I’m just not sure which, but I am certain that the faith of U2 is something we Christians like to argue about. That and beer. You never know if your small group is populated with prohibitionists. You have to say things like, “Is there anything you need me to bring to the dinner party, anything at all?” Then if they say, “Sure, how about a bottle of wine?” you’re good.
I want to talk about why sometimes we Christians are jerks online.
Much like “Christian hate mail,” being a “Jerk Christian” defies logic. We serve a loving God. We follow a Christ who very plainly told us what to do. In Matthew 22 someone asks Jesus, “What is the most important commandment?” The answer is simpl
e:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
There’s no confusion about that. No smoke monster.
So then why are there so many hateful Christian blogs? Why do Christians write bitter messages on Twitter? Why do we send hate mail?
I think there are two reasons Christians are jerks online.
- The business traveler approach.
- Room Cleaning Christianity
It’s unfortunately not that uncommon for business travelers to get in trouble when they’re on the road. With a “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” approach they tend to do things they would never do at home. “The rules don’t apply here. I’m a different person. This is ‘road me,’ not ‘home me.’” I believe sometimes Christians approach the Internet the same way. The rules of “real life” don’t count. Sure, I have to love my neighbor, but are people on Facebook my neighbor? The Internet doesn’t “count.” These are just words. Surely I can throw a missile of hate at someone on Twitter. And when we buy into this logic, we develop an unloving, anything goes, whatever happens online stays online mentality. We become two different people, “Offline Christian” and “Online Christian.” And we become jerks.
Why do Christians argue about drinking beer or why the tankini is the least slutty of all bathing garments? I think it’s because we sometimes practice “Room Cleaning Christianity.” Think of it like college. When you’ve got a final paper due Monday, you will be amazed at how energetic your desire is to clean your room. You will scrub tile with a slow toothbrush if it means avoiding the bigger, more difficult work of writing your paper. The same thing happens with Christianity. Loving your neighbor might be simple, but it’s not easy. Maybe my neighbor is a jerk too. Maybe they hate God. Maybe they are actively and violently opposed to everything I believe. And showing them grace feels impossible. So instead of dealing with that, we get online and police people. We find small things to focus on that will distract us. I think God wants us to discuss the little stuff, but we make it an idol when we practice room cleaning Christianity at the exclusion of love. And we tend to become jerks.
Other also read:
Congratulations, Mrs. Hammond, on your recent remarks about cyberspatial etiquette, especially among the ostensibly religious. Your observations are, of course, entirely justified: especially the ones regarding anonymity. Who can forget the way in which anonymity turned CB radio, during the 1970s, from a once-promising medium of independent communication into a playpen for scuzzbags? (Among the worst cyperspatial etiquette offenders are certain pseudonymous bullies on Angelqueen, although I’m happy to see your own occasional contributions there; they make a change from the prevailing atmosphere of mindless invective.)
Two recent books (neither by a Christian, or even theistic, author) have, I reckon, interesting insights into the relevant problems. One is Digital Barbarism, by Mark Halprin; and the other is The Cult of the Amateur, by Andrew Keen.
More power to your elbow!
Ah, yes…the CB radio. And thank you for the book recommendations. I’m working on a new book myself, and those will be added to my arsenal. Let’s hear it for elbows!!! (Enjoy your work as well, Rob!)