When Justine Sacco, a PR executive for the internet giant InterActive Corp was heading overseas, she posted a tweet to her social media account on Twitter that was tongue-in-cheek: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!”
While en route to Africa, controversy swirled around her tweet. In days before widespread internet availability on planes, the public reaction was swift. The hashtag #HasJustineLandedYet (a feature used on social media to identify similar social media posts) was trending before she landed, and this PR executive was terminated.
We live in an age where words travel rapidly, unlike any other time in human history. In the time it takes you to fly from the US to South Africa, you can find that a foolish word can land you in peril.
The wisdom of Ecclesiastes reminds us to be careful of our words: “Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter” (Eccl. 10:20).
The irony of Justine Sacco’s tweet is that it was carried by the wings of a little bird. Twitter uses a little blue bird as its corporate logo and describes each post as a “tweet”. And this “bird of the air” carried foolish talk further and faster than an airplane.
We need wisdom in a social media world. With Facebook posts and tweets, our words travel far and fast. Words posted online can cause controversy faster than can be contained. Like a pillow that has its feathers poured out on a windy day, foolish words can never be gathered back. The tongue may be small, but like a spark, it can set a forest ablaze (James 3:5-6).
Words matter. Out of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 15:18). Learning to control our tongue is evidence that God’s Spirit is working in our hearts (Gal. 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:7). We need to learn to think about everything that we say and do.
How can we learn to control our mouths? First, know that God has given us his Spirit to have soundness of mind and self control. He never asks us to do something that he will not first empower us to do. Second, we need to consider every word, tweet, and email. In our home, we encourage one another to T.H.I.N.K. before we speak. Are my words Truthful? Helpful? Inspiring? Nice? Kind?
If we are known for timely words that are seasoned with grace (Col. 4:6; Eph. 4:29), we will grow in wisdom. Wisdom is better than might (Eccl. 9:16) and stronger than weapons of war (Eccl. 9:18). So let’s pray that God would use our words to build one another up and that we might be a tasteful flavor in a world of hostile and harsh words.
See you Sunday!
~Pastor Andrew
