Accountability Requires A Lot of Light
Today’s reading: 1 John 1:5-7
I’ve been thinking a lot about accountability lately, and today’s reading brings the topic to mind yet again.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;” (Verse 6)
As I grow in my faith, I often catch myself stumbling into this very trap. And many of these falls are ironic: they result from my attempts to pull others from darkness.
A case in point happened just this morning. I got into a chat war — complete with plenty of cursing from both parties– with a stranger I saw posting some immature, hurtful comments on Facebook.
It got ugly very quickly. Here’s what happened.
A radio station’s post invited light-hearted comments about “things that are more overrated than Tim Tebow.” This man’s response was “fat people.”
I sent the man a private message saying I didn’t find his remark clever or funny and suggesting that he “grow up” before posting much more on Facebook. He took my bait, of course, and our little war ensued.
“Hey why don’t you mind your own business and f— off,” he said. ” You must be one of the fat a—ss who don’t mind looking like a slob.”
Then came my terrific reply.
“I’m guessing I’m not the only person who has told you that you’re a big fat, huge, f—ing ——-! Grow the f— up, s— head!”
Geez.
I went on, explaining in a couple of more profanity-laced sentences just how unChristian he was being.
I ended with this.
“If you want to help people who are obese to change their ways (as I do) there are much more Christian ways to do that, … LOVE, not ridicule, is the answer.”
Then I called the guy a “s—head” again.
Geez, again. If you’re cringing, you should be.
Apparently the man went off to work and dropped our war for now. Facebook tells me he still hasn’t seen that last response.
I think I’ll send him one last note: a link to this post, and an apology.
While it’s true that my new friend’s opinion of obesity (it “is mainly about people who are lazy and dont care about taking care of themselves”) is a sign he is living life in the darkness, my ridiculous responses came from darkness, too.
All is not entirely lost, however. I think I started the battle fairly well: “Dude, your “fat people” remark is not all that clever or funny. Please try to do a little more maturing before you post much more on Facebook.”
I should have made that response public — and then just stopped. Publicly ignoring any immature reply would would have been accountability at its finest.
I’m thinking of my favorite quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “be the change you want to see.” Gandhi was not a Christian, but his lessons were always consistent with Christ. And, as I ponder his life, I can’t think of a better modern example of accountability in action.
Thanks be to God for eternal light. May I always remember to let it be my only guide.