I sat next to a guy recently at a game who most definitely was the reason the officials kept flashing the “no harassment” rule on the Jumbotron over and over throughout the game. That kind of behavior sucks the life right out of everything. I often feel like social media is the place where that obnoxious person sitting next to you at a sporting event feels like it’s game on all of the time. It’s something that may start out a little funny or innocent the first time, but by the fifth, eighth, or tenth time…it about makes your head bust or makes you want to remove yourself altogether. Social media, like the guy yelling at a player on the court from 100 feet away, is the place where people feel free to say whatever they want. They think it’s a safe space (although we’ve seen some pro athletes go after hecklers in the crowd lately). But as we are learning more and more, there is no safe space on social media either. What is said in that forum can last forever. It is something that can be tracked, viewed, recorded, and even seen after it’s been deleted…unlike the guy sitting next to me last night (unless someone was recording the guy…which can also happen).I’ll never understand the human mind, so I don’t know why people do or say some of the things they do. I try and rationalize some comments as moments of insecurity and attention-seeking, while other comments may even reveal some sort of undercurrent of jealousy, anger, hate, etc. Most people, if we are being honest, seek the approval of man (some more than others). People want to be seen, noticed, heard, and valued. It’s why the loud guy keeps going as people laugh, cheer, press “like,” or respond with positive comments.
However, Galatians 1:10 says to seek the approval of God, not man. I’m pretty sure the guy next to me at the game was not getting a fist bump from God for the things he was saying. And social media magnifies “the man’s approval” complex times a million.
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About the Author
Erin Olson's primary full-time ministry is that of a homemaker which consists of serving her husband, Scott, her three children, and four dogs. In 2012 while raising her young family, she founded Sandalfeet Ministries as a way to minister to people through writing, speaking, and teaching. She blogs on her website, is a podcaster, Bible study teacher, radio host on graceandtruthradio.world, ordained minister, and the author of four published works. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, a master's degree in Christian Leadership, and she currently resides with her family in Birmingham, AL.
