Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
—Nehemiah 6:2-4
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
—2 Timothy 2:23
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
—Galatians 6:2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
—Hebrews 12:1
After walking through a muddy barnyard or field, it is a good idea to take the time to scrape the mud and mire from our boots. Otherwise, the burden will cling to our boots and add weight to every step.
The flip-side of that image is that negative talk about someone, especially with the goal of damaging that person's reputation or stirring up contempt, is called "mud-slinging".
Social media is like essentially every other form of technology. While there is great potential for good when used with good intent, there are always some who will twist it to their own purposes, using it to the harm of others. And so we see "anti-social media", full of malicious gossip and school-yard-style bullying. Sadly, that's nothing new. Sanballat and his cronies tried to use noise and slander and false pretenses to distract Nehemiah and those working with him. But Nehemiah wouldn't take the bait.
When Jesus acted as the Good Shepherd, or stated that He came to seek and save the lost, He was fulfilling the prophecy through Ezekiel that promised to seek the lost, bring back the sheep who had wandered away, and strengthen the weak. That same prophecy spoke judgment against the fat sheep who shoved the weak aside, muddying the pasture and drinking water.
The book of Hebrews instructs us to "lay aside" every hindering weight. That means discarding our own temptations and sins, not discarding other people. As a consequence of obeying that teaching, the Lord's people regain the capacity to bear one another's burdens.
Lay Aside
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
—Psalm 40:2
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
—Nehemiah 6:2-4
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
—2 Timothy 2:23
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
—Galatians 6:2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
—Hebrews 12:1
After walking through a muddy barnyard or field, it is a good idea to take the time to scrape the mud and mire from our boots. Otherwise, the burden will cling to our boots and add weight to every step.
The flip-side of that image is that negative talk about someone, especially with the goal of damaging that person's reputation or stirring up contempt, is called "mud-slinging".
Social media is like essentially every other form of technology. While there is great potential for good when used with good intent, there are always some who will twist it to their own purposes, using it to the harm of others. And so we see "anti-social media", full of malicious gossip and school-yard-style bullying. Sadly, that's nothing new. Sanballat and his cronies tried to use noise and slander and false pretenses to distract Nehemiah and those working with him. But Nehemiah wouldn't take the bait.
When Jesus acted as the Good Shepherd, or stated that He came to seek and save the lost, He was fulfilling the prophecy through Ezekiel that promised to seek the lost, bring back the sheep who had wandered away, and strengthen the weak. That same prophecy spoke judgment against the fat sheep who shoved the weak aside, muddying the pasture and drinking water.
The book of Hebrews instructs us to "lay aside" every hindering weight. That means discarding our own temptations and sins, not discarding other people. As a consequence of obeying that teaching, the Lord's people regain the capacity to bear one another's burdens.