What has been troubling to me about this election is the number of friends on social media that have made all-or-none statements like, “If you are voting for ‘candidate X’, remove me from your friends list because I can’t be friends with someone who votes for the likes of ‘X’.” Clearly, those “friends” toward whom they are lobbing this threat are not really friends at all because friends know one another, they talk together about things pertaining to life, like elections. The ultimatum seems a poorly conceived way of expressing deep passion over a particular issue.
The word “friend” has been stripped of its meaning on social media. Many who populate the “friends” category are not even acquaintances, but people who sought you out because of a mutual friend or a mutual interest. One litmus test for me is if we exchange birthday greetings. I congratulate those I truly know on their birthdays and wedding anniversaries, the rest I don’t. It would seem that the word “social” in social media is a misnomer.
I do not debate on social media; no one wins in that enterprise. Nor do I express my political opinions or trash the opinions of others. What value is there in that? Is there anything redemptive? My activity on social media is largely posting pictures of pizzas my wife and I have made, and giving enthusiastic “thumbs ups” to friends who post vacation pictures.
There is a Scripture that serves as an apt commentary on the broad but shallow category of friendship so characteristic of social media, while championing the immeasurable value of a true friend. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” This is the friend who would come to your aid in a crisis even at great cost to themselves. He has seen you at your best and at your worst and remains your friend. That kind of friendship weathers relational storms and comes through intact, maybe even stronger. Why, that true friend would stick with you no matter who you voted for.
Of all the friends you could have, Christ Jesus is the best. He knows everything about you, even that which you wouldn’t share with your closest friend. In truth, it was for sin that Christ came into the world, coming to us in our weakness, loving us when we weren’t lovely. In the greatest demonstration of friendship, Christ laid down his life for his friends.
My best post-election advice? Be a true friend. Cherish the friends you have. Pursue knowing Christ.
