On Tuesday, January 7, Grammy-winning Christian rapper and CEO of Reach Records LECRAE took to social networking site Twitter to share 4 insightful tips on how to deal with criticism and hate via the internet, particularly social media.
Lecrae, who has had his share of varying and harsh critics of his ministry, being accused by some folks of being a sellout to the world, shares these tips on how to navigate what he tags the “Internet Ghetto”.
Lecrae
#1: They Don’t Really Know You
True, true. How can you possibly grasp the sum total of a person’s character from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts? Can you gain some insight? Sure. But even that is not always what it appears to be.
Just as Instagram photos are filtered and doctored, so too, are details of a person’s life on the Internet. We don’t get a picture of what they truly look like or what they are like until we spend time around them.
Still, those who pick up tidbits about your life from the crumbs you drop in the digital universe inevitably will think they know you. Since, however, you are aware that folks outside your most intimate circle have an incomplete picture of your character, why get upset about someone sizing you up wrongly?
#2: They’re Just As Imperfect As You Are
Her nose is too big. She’s fat. He is so ugly. All sorts of mean-spirited criticisms are directed at people on the Internet every day, sadly, from other equally imperfect individuals.
Whether the negative commentary is about physical features or moral choices, the one sizing you up has flaws just the same. So take what you read online with a grain of salt.
Those lobbing judgmental bombs forgot to obey Matthew 7:5 which says “First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye.” (CEV)
#3 No matter what you do, everyone won’t agree.
It is often said that Jesus was perfect and ended up nailed to a cross, so expect to be “crucified” by some groups. It comes with the territory of opening yourself up to others. The only way to have complete consensus is to tuck away all your personal convictions and walk in lockstep with everyone around you.
Since this is impossible, you may as well prepare to be critiqued—harshly, sometimes. Furthermore, if you are not ready to altogether disappear and blend into the wall pattern, put on your game face and deal with it.
#4: If you respond to hate, respond with love
This is biblical. Luke 6:28 says, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” It’s not always easy, because our natural inclination is to fight hate with hate and be equally mean or sarcastic as a defense mechanism. But when you get into a verbal sparring war with a complete stranger, nothing good comes of it.
Actually, it undermines your Christian witness, brings you down to the level of the person coming after you and gets you all bent out of shape. So if you choose to engage an enemy, be kind. In doing so, the Bible says in Proverbs 25:22, “You will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”
