Comboxes

I am regularly saddened by the way that Christians speak to each other. Much of our communication is rude and inconsiderate. As we all know, the worst place that this occurs is on the internet. As I have said before, it seems as though people think that the anonymity of the internet frees them to be able to say anything they want without the fear of consequences.

I have made up the following "combox" exchange, so please do not think that I actually found this entire thing somewhere. Yet, I also want to make it clear that everything written below is an example (though somewhat simplified and condensed) of how numerous people (including Christians) are often speaking to each other. Like a parable, I am putting forth something fictional, for the sake of clarifying that which is actual.

"I'm smart."
"I'm smarter."
"How dare you think that--you're stupid."
"Not as stupid as you; and your Church is worse."
"I may be less smart, but I'm much more witty."
"Add your smarts to your wit and you are still only half."
"Cute. But not as cute as I am."
"Only if there is no one else in the room."
"I'm sorry, were you speaking to me?"
"Yes, I was. I was saying that it is wrong to call people names, you jerk!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I think you should agree that your lineage bears some canine elements."
"Sorry, I didn't get that. Can you translate 'hee-haw' into English?"
"That's your job; after all, you're smarter, right?"
"Why do you keep returning to that which we've already determined conclusively?"
"Are you trying to change the subject?"
"I will not sit by and tolerate these baseless accusations any longer."

This is essentially how we sound. Do the guilty parties think that this pleases God? Are we as Christians proud of how we speak to one another on the internet? Those things that we type are out there for all the world to read. The example that we are giving of how Christians treat each other, may seem a minor issue because no one is drawing blood; that is far from the truth. I encourage each of you, personally, to make the decision to have your words (typed or spoken) be filled with grace and love for your brothers in Christ.