Redemption Song

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Relevant Quote from Richard Baxter

If sinners are stubborn and malicious, flesh and blood will persuade you to take up their weapons and to master them by worldly means – but that is not the way (further than self-preservation or public good may require), but overcome them with kindness and patience and gentleness. The former may show that you have more worldly power than they have, but only the latter will tell them that you surpass them in spiritual excellence. If you believe that Christ was more worthy of imitation than Caesar or Alexander, and that it is more honorable to be a Christian than to be a conqueror, or even to be a man than a beast (which often exceed us in strength), then battle with love rather than with violence. Set meekness and love and patience against force, and not force against force.

Remember that you are required to be the servants of all. Condescend to men of low estate (Romans 12:16). Do not be a stranger to the poor of your flock, for they may be inclined to take your avoidance for contempt. Friendship, improved to holy purposes, may do an abundance of good. Do not speak roughly or disrespectfully to anyone, but be courteous to the lowest, as to your equal in Christ. Having a kind and pleasant attitude is an easy way of doing good to others. Let me urge you to abound in works of compassion and benevolence. Go to the poor and see what they need, and show your compassion.

Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor, 1656

Why a Facebook Fast?

There are many things I appreciate about Facebook: the opportunity to keep up with friends and family, to catch glimpses of their adventures, the hear about ways they are making the world a better place.

There are also toxic influence that come to us through Facebook: false stories, slanted perspectives peddled by curated “information,” pointless arguments carried out largely from positions of ignorance.

There is a more subtle unhealthy influence that can come though Facebook: an addiction to superficial sound bites, information snippets that peak our interest but do not challenge us to think deeply. While scrolling through Facebook, I have found myself being distracted by mindless entertainment. I’ve consumed shallow “spin” on important world events. I’ve been given stories that made me angry. I often didn’t know if they were real or made up; nevertheless they hijacked my emotions. Meanwhile I found myself losing the patience to read carefully an extended article or lengthy news story. My attention span seems to have gotten shorter.

I need to take a more intentional approach with my reading. There are books I need to read, some classics and some contemporary ones. There are sociopolitical issues I need to investigate. There are theological questions I need to explore. Clearly I should not be trusting my Facebook algorithm alone to tell me what should be commanding my attention or demanding my response.

So, I’ll be hitting the pause of Facebook. For at least a season, perhaps a year, I won’t be responding to the latest rage or outrage that comes across my timeline. The reason: I need to redeem the time for other things.

I have good friends who use Facebook to respond intelligently and faithfully to important issues. They are competent and respected; I leave this task to them.

I’ll be creating a timeline at johnsamwallace.com. If you’d like to know what’s happening with the Wallace family, you can go there and see pics and comments from our latest adventures. If something consequential happens to you while I’m offline and you feel compelled to share it with me, feel free to contact me there or DM me.

God bless you all!

John