Please excuse my feeble attempt at alliteration. Having begged the reader’s pardon, allow me to define the word ‘foible’ before I proceed further. Simply put, a ‘foible’ is defined as:

• a minor weakness in someone’s character (Oxford Dictionary)
• a strange habit or characteristic that is seen as not important and not harming anyone (Cambridge Dictionary):
• a minor flaw or shortcoming (Webster’s Dictionary)
• a small fault or foolish habit (American Dictonary)
• a minor weakness or failing of character (Dictionary.com)

Synonyms for ‘foible’ include eccentricity, fault, failing, frailty, infirmity, and shortcoming. The word comes from 16^th century French, as an adjective meaning ‘feeble’.

Why do I claim that there are ‘foibles’ associated to social media? I’m glad you asked. Actually, based on recent, and not so recent experiences using social media (primarily Facebook), it just seemed to pop up in my tired old brain. Now you know.

Additionally, I need to say that my remarks here are specific to self-professed “Christian” FB groups dedicated to enlightening the rest of us concerning the truth of a certain ‘pet’ doctrine. For the purposes of this blog post allow me to use a specific example of one the several groups dedicated to ‘rightly dividing’ the text of scripture. The actual names of FB groups are omitted here in order to protect both the innocent and the guilty (concerning the aforementioned ‘foibles’, or weaknesses).

First, let me say that to ‘rightly divide’ the text of Scripture means, in simple terms, to properly handle God’s word, Literally, to ‘rightly divide’ means ‘to cut straight’. The Apostle Paul told young Pastor Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 3:15).

For some however, the term ‘rightly dividing’, or ‘rightly divide’ has taken on a life of it’s own and become almost a mantra used frequently and often in ways never intended by the Apostle Paul.

But I digress. We’ll get back to our example, I promise. The topic here is the ‘foibles’, or weaknesses of social media that hinder intelligent, rational, and respectful dialogue. Here are a few that come to mind:

1. You can sit (and hide) behind a computer screen (or Ipad, Ipod, Iphone, etc.) all alone, by yourself, without seeing another face, hear a human voice, or recognize heartfelt emotions. You lose significant aspects of human communication that are present in face-to-face dialogue. In my opinion, this is at the heart of other serious issues.

2. Sitting alone behind your screen lets you make all of your opinions (about anything) known to everyone in the ‘room’, as adamantly as you want, without having to actually consider other’s opinions, or intelligently substantiate your own. You know you are right, you let others know that fact, and you can easily dismiss others’ contributions to a discussion, even calling them names, using pejorative adjectives to their faces, and refusing to even consider any opinions other than their own

3. Face-to-face communication allows for reading the Bible together, carefully examining relevant passages of scripture relevant to the matter at hand. Ripping passages out of their natural contexts to ‘prove’ one’s point is much easier when you are behind the ‘screen’. Sadly, that also occurs during face-to-face dialogue, but hopefully not as easily.

4. When you are sitting in the same ‘real’ room (as opposed to a ‘digital’ one) with other believers, discussions (especially with good leaders/facilitators) tend to be more organized and can flow much more smoothly than the online ‘free-for-alls’ we are faced with on social media.

Those are just a few weaknesses (foibles) of communicating via social media. I’m sure you can think of more. Back to our FB Group example focused on ‘rightly dividing’ the word of truth.

To many who use the term ‘rightly dividing’ (and variations thereof) in every other sentence. It means that the only NT scripture that pertains to Gentiles is from the middle of Acts through Paul’s letter to Philemon. The rest, including the synoptic gospels, Jesus’ own teaching, and Hebrews through Revelation was written to and for Jews only. Furthermore, Peter and Paul preached completely different gospels.

I’ve made it a project of mine to demonstrate, with as much gentleness and respect than I can muster up, and using excellent resources, as well as scripture itself, their ‘interesting’ beliefs. The responses I have received clearly demonstrate ‘social media foible #2, mentioned earlier.

“Sitting alone behind your screen lets you make all of your opinions (about anything) known to everyone in the ‘room’, as adamantly as you want, without having to actually consider other’s opinions, or intelligently substantiate your own. You know you are right, you let others know that fact, and you can easily dismiss others’ contributions to a discussion, even calling them names, using pejorative adjectives to their faces, and refusing to even consider any opinions other than their own.”

At this point I must freely admit that the attitudes and behaviors described above are not unique to those who claim to really truly ‘rightly divide’ scripture. We can find them all over social media, especially where individuals opinions are shared. Face it, people can be really ugly. Being able to hide behind a computer screen, etc. makes it worse. At least when we are sitting with one another, face-to-face, there’s a better chance of honest, intelligent, and rational dialogue.

So now the question for this old soldier is whether or not to just completely ditch some social media venues or keep trying to reason with unreasonable people. One thing I know for sure is that the amount of time I spend researching topics raised on social media, in support of finding the truth or a matter or issue is good for spiritual clarity in particular and my soul as well!