Don’t Take the Bait

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,

whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

…and do not give the devil a foothold.

Proverbs 17: 27, Ephesians 4:27

“Horrified” would describe how I felt as I read the Facebook post of an old High School friend. He had reposted something about how all Christians in the South hated a certain family because of the color of their skin. 

I could not believe that “hate” and “Christians” had been used in a sentence like that. At first I thought how sad it was that Christians had given him or anyone else that impression. What kind of Christians had he been around?

Feeling like I needed to defend Christianity, I pointed out the words that bothered me. “All Christians” I wanted to change to “a few people.” Let’s just take Christians right out of the equation. And “hated,” did we really have to use that strong of a word? It seemed to me that by his post he was spreading the same kind of hatred he claimed to have upset him.

It soon became evident that his seemingly ugly statements about Christians did not have a thing to do with the types of Christians he knew. It had to do with Satan and the hateful tension he wants to build up in the world. I realized no matter what I said lovingly or otherwise, my friend would not change his mind. All the while, Satan sat back having a great time as we bantered back and forth.

I had taken the bait.

Right then and there, I decided that I could not let Satan get the victory in those types of situations. The best thing I can do if I read unsavory posts on Facebook is to pray for the person posting them. Arguing even good-naturedly will not make a positive difference, so why do it?

Lord, help me to remember what I learned through this experience. Please help me not take the bait Satan throws at me. Help me to “use restraint” instead.

Susan P.