Convict with Compassion: Choosing Prayer Over Judgment in a Noisy Online World
The internet is a wild place. I think we all know that by now. It doesn’t matter where you are, who you are, or how old you are—most of us have access to tiny electronic boxes that allow us to broadcast our innermost thoughts into the universe. With so many thoughts out there, so many opinions voiced so confidently, the internet begins to feel like a room filled with voices screaming over one another—louder and louder so that one might be heard. But with all the yelling in hopes of standing out, the voices blend into a river of sound.
After the events of the past few weeks, I’ve had many conversations within my closest circle about the types of posts circulating online. Responses have varied, but the overwhelming reaction has been shock and disbelief at the hateful things people are putting out into the universe. That disbelief quickly turns into judgment as we look at those who have very loud and very different opinions from our own. We make the mistake of letting their hate harden our hearts as we begin to gossip about their social media choices.
It is at this point that I am personally reminded of God’s grace. Scripture makes it clear that we are not called to judge unbelievers. In 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks to the church in Corinth specifically about this in the context of sexual immorality. I don’t believe that “don’t judge those outside the church” means turning your back on unbelievers and shutting the church doors. I do believe it means we should be more steadfast in prayer for those who aren’t following Jesus than steadfast in our judgments about their life without Christ.
I once attended a small Presbyterian church before moving to North Carolina, and the pastor there said something that has always stuck with me: “Convict with compassion, not with condemnation.” Our immediate instinct is to join the social media echo chamber—to tell people that their opinions and views are sinful, wicked, evil, and unholy. We unleash the wrath of our thumbs as we type out long responses and screenshot posts to send in group chats.
But this is where knowing Jesus comes in. From my own experience, who I was without God is very different from who I am today. We must look at those filled with hate, rage, and confusion with compassion. Part of what drew me back to understanding my purpose as a woman of God and a follower of Jesus was the community of believers around me. A community that showed me love, not judgment.They prayed for me quietly, without my even knowing. They saw my questionable Facebook posts and life choices not as reasons to condemn me, but as opportunities to pray for my return to Christ.
Throughout Matthew we see the countercultural life of Jesus—one in which He came to disrupt the world by His unfathomable acts of grace. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Don’t even the tax collectors and pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” These are radical concepts because they go against our human nature. Our instinct is to judge, stare, and walk away. But if we want to be like Jesus, we must pray, extend our hand, and learn to convict those around us with compassion.
I’m not perfect—though I’d like to be. But I believe the best way to know Jesus is by following in His footsteps. And for every Facebook paragraph we’ve typed up, perhaps we should delete it and instead send a simple message: “How can I pray for you today?”
Xoxo,
A Once Closeted Conservative
