Recently I find myself arguing online. Arguing about politics and also arguing about religion. Arguing about Jesus. Every time I engage I get that awful feeling in my stomach, you know where it’s telling you what’s happening is not a good thing. There are so many blogs, websites, articles, opinions out there that on a minute by minute basis some new topic is being talked about in my FB feed. I like to refer to this as the ugly side of Facebook.  Some of them I feel so passionate about that I can’t help but want to give my thoughts in the comments. Usually it is with people I feel like I can have open discussions with and that they should know my heart enough to understand that one I can have an opinion and second that what I say certainly comes from a place of love. So I think. Yet I find myself getting that feeling in the pit of my stomach where I just don’t feel right and sometimes I end up deleting what I write. I have also felt like I’m not having a discussion but being attacked.

This morning I spent a lot of time thinking about this and I got a vision of horses. Strange I know but hey, God gives me strange visions. Horses wearing what are called “blinkers”. You know the little leather things that go on either side of their eyes so that can focus on what is in front of them and not get distracted. Ah Ha! You know where I’m going with this don’t you? Here is what Wiki said about Blinkers:

“Blinkers are usually made of leather or plastic cups that are placed on either side of the eyes, either attached to a bridle or to an independent hood. Many racehorse trainers believe these keep the horse focused on what is in front of him, encouraging him to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. Additionally, blinkers are commonly seen on driving horses, to keep them from being distracted or spooked, especially on crowded city streets.”

Some of the things I see on FB have become “Blinkers” in my life.

When faced with this I turned to scripture to find out what God’s word has to say and so first I went to Colossians Chapter 2:6-8

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”

So many times what we read can lead us down the path of human philosophy rather than biblical truth. It is our job to stop and ask ourselves does this line up with what the Word of God says or is it just someone trying to stir the pot. I blog out of my own personal experiences in the hopes of helping someone else that has gone through something similar. Some of the writings now a days are pitting Christian against Christian and not doing anyone any good. How are we reaching the lost by tearing each other down. We aren’t.

In Philippians Paul makes a special appeal to those who are arguing in the church to put an end to it and settle it. He then goes on telling them (and us) to focus on what is important, things that are lovely, praise worthy, pure, true etc. These are the things we should focus on. Glorifying Christ Jesus! Telling people about a savior that loves them and wants a relationship with them!

Today I had to take a long hard look at my heart and think, “am I really accomplishing what Christ wants of me by getting into it on FB with others?” Today I make the decision to put on some spiritual blinkers. Not blinders but things that will guard my heart from getting off course. If I am going to stay in the will of God, hear His voice and do all He has planned for me then I cannot get caught up in nonsense. Always learning and will never think I know it all.