Things Jesus didn’t (and wouldn’t) say. by Stephen R. Clark
I love a good quote. Especially about writing. One of my favorites is from Peter De Vries: “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.”
Witty, humorous, and inspirational quotes from well-known or barely known people can be fun to share and hang on our cubicle walls.
A lot of people like to share their favorite Scripture passages as well. With the advent of social media, memes are today’s source of promises.
Positive and happy-sounding memes, with backgrounds of kittens, flowers, and sunsets, abound on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X, and all over the Interwebs, espousing meme faith. The quotations come from people with diverse worldviews.
Paper promises
When I was a kid (pre-Internet), promise boxes were a big deal and the source of good quotes.
Basically, a promise box was an attractive container made of wood or plastic that held a few dozen slips of small, heavy paper. Printed on each mini card was a “promise” verse from the Bible. For example:
For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
“For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Promise box verses tended to always be upbeat and generally faith-affirming. Yet the totality of Scripture teaches that strong faith is built up through facing challenges. Reality is not always sweet and easy.
Whole truth
What you probably won’t find in a promise box are verses like these:
“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name” (Matthew 24:9).
“You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. You will be hated by everyone because of my name” (Luke 21:16, 17).
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy (2 Timothy 3:2).
Ouch! Sometimes the truth hurts.
This imbalance of presenting Scripture causes some to look askance at promise boxes. “Promise box faith” is not seen as particularly well-rounded or mature. Neither is meme faith.
Depending on a promise box or memes for your Scripture intake is like nibbling on snacks instead of eating full, well-rounded meals. It’s as bad as trying to be healthy while eating only junk food.
In fact, the way some use their promise boxes and memes can be akin to seeking wisdom from daily horoscopes or finding more than entertainment in a fortune cookie. These are not good things.
In his book The Fight: A Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Dr. John White writes, “The Bible is not a horoscope. Never try to read into Scripture mysterious instructions about your daily activities. . . . Scripture is not magic.”
Sadly, many treat Bible verses and spiritual-sounding memes like a magic totem, lucky charm, or genies’ lamp. They post them as if doing so will draw a blessing to their lives. This is not the way Scripture works!
Empty words
Leaving the promise box behind, memes often include no Scripture or, worse, distort Scripture. But they always sound so “holy” or “interesting.”
On the surface, these memes appear harmless. But for people of faith who pledge allegiance to the inspired Word of God, many are far more troublesome than proof-texted verses from a promise box.
Why? Because many meme quotes, besides not being Scripture, aren’t even scripturally defensible. They are empty words that can deceive and bring God’s disfavor (Ephesians 5:6).
For example, a popular meme states, “Whatever makes you feel bad, leave it. Whatever makes you smile, keep it.” Sounds so sweet, right? But can you imagine Jesus saying something like this?
Just look back up a few sentences to those examples of not-so-happy Bible verses. All of them contradict this meme quote. The first two are things Jesus said.
Even more egregious is that this meme has been widely shared, liked, and applauded by believers.
Scripture vs. meme
Let’s look at a few more meme quotes up against Scripture:
Meme says: “Go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated.”
Bible says: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
The problem: We are commanded to share the gospel in many places where we won’t be celebrated or tolerated.
Meme says: “All I want is for my children to be happy.”
Bible says: “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth” (3 John 1:4).
The problem: Being a Christian does not guarantee happiness all the time. We should wish holiness for our children over happiness.
Meme says: “You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life.”
Bible says: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds” (Matthew 11:19). Or, how about Jesus on the cross between two criminals and one being influenced positively to repentance (Luke 23:32-43)?
The problem: Being fully in, but not of, the world means we’re going to rub shoulders with a lot of negative people — some sitting next to us in the pew at church. Yet we are called to be salt and light anyway.
I hope you’re getting the idea.
The lie that will not die
Just because something sounds good doesn’t mean it is good, or right.
An important aspect of the mature Christian life is developing critical thinking and discernment: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
A meme, or urban myth, that regularly makes the rounds on Facebook goes something like this:
“After hearing Mark Zuckerberg say that posting the Lord’s Prayer goes against their policies, I’m asking all Christians to please follow my example and post the Lord’s Prayer. I declare my faith publicly. Jesus says that those who deny Him, He will deny. This is the best challenge I’ve seen on Facebook. So if you love Jesus and you’re not ashamed, please join me on this faith challenge and repost this with the Lord’s Prayer!”
The problem with this is that it is not true! It’s an urban myth, a falsehood that has been circulating for several years. It makes those posting it look foolish and clueless, which isn’t a good witness for Jesus.
First, it’s self-contradictory. If it were indeed against Facebook policies to post the Lord’s Prayer, you would never see this message on Facebook that contains the words Lord’s Prayer. Think about that. People post all manner of prayers and Bible verses all over social media every day. So clearly the posting of this material does not violate any policies.
Second, it’s easy to fact-check. It takes about two seconds to type “Is it legal to post the Lord’s Prayer on Facebook?” into Google search, which will yield multiple results showing that this urban myth has been debunked numerous times.
Third, it’s a sin to promote what isn’t true. This meme is a falsehood, and a falsehood is a lie. A we know where lies come from (John 8:44). When we lie or share a lie, we serve Satan’s purposes, not God’s. Paul exhorts us to put “away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). Proverbs 6:19 cautions that God abhors “a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.”
This meme is nothing less than false testimony against Mark Zuckerberg. It’s defamation. Posting memes, or anything on Facebook, that aren’t true is not being Christlike.
Eschewing memes
Everything we do on social media should reflect Christ in us and point people toward God. Before buying into or sharing a meme quote, follow three simple tests to help clarify its value.
Can you imagine Jesus (or Paul or the apostles) saying it? If you can’t, then you probably shouldn’t share it or dwell on it (Colossians 4:6).
Does it jibe with scriptural truth? If not, then sharing it could mean sharing a lie. We’re called to share truth (Philippians 4:8).
Is it true? If it isn’t true, just “a little bit true” (which means it’s a lie), or you’re not sure whether it’s true and don’t verify it, do not post it (Proverbs 19:9).
Also, if you post something and then later learn it wasn’t true, go back and delete it! Leaving it up merely allows the post to be viewed and shared by others, inappropriately lending it credence.
Guidelines
When posting or reading memes and inspirational quotes, remember:
We need to discern the truth and value of what’s shared with us.Allowing nice-sounding truisms that really aren’t truth to seep into our thinking can quietly undermine our faith. In other words, it’s bad leaven (Matthew 16:12).
We need to discern the impact of what we share with others. Sharing truisms that promote philosophies and worldviews counter to Scripture calls our own faith into question, creates confusion, and casts doubt on the validity of the gospel. In other words, we become the bad leaven (Colossians 2:8).
If you’re not sure about sharing something, ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) and then listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Very likely that moment of doubt is the Spirit saying, “Don’t post that.”
Serious business
While memes can be fun and provide a quick hit of inspiration, anything that inspires us away from solid truth — or the Truth (Jesus) — is dangerous.
Just as we are accountable for what we say out loud, we are accountable for what we post online.
In his classic book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene H. Peterson stated, “Good poetry survives not when it is pretty or beautiful or nice but when it is true: accurate and honest.”
The same could be said for good memes. And you can quote me on this.
