Thread by @arielbovat

If we look upon those who think differently than us concerning social justice as unconverted, in a state of enmity against God and his grace, they are a more proper object of our compassion than of our anger. Remember: “He knows not what he does.”

But you know who has made you to think differently, if God, in his sovereignty, had not given you clarity, you might have been as they are now; and they instead of you be the one trying to defend the gospel.

You were both equally blind by nature. If you attend to this, you will not reproach or hate them, because the Lord has been pleased to open your eyes, and not theirs.

Of all people who engage in controversy, we, who are reformed in our theology, are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness & moderation.

If, indeed, they who differ from us have a power of changing themselves, if they can open their own eyes, and soften their own hearts, then we might with less inconsistency be offended at their obstinacy.

But if we believe the very contrary to this, our part is, not to be argumentative, but in meekness to instruct those who oppose. “If peradventure God will give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth.”

If we write w/ a desire of being an instrument of correction, be cautious of laying stumbling blocks in the way of the blind or using expressions that may exasperate their convictions, confirm their principles & make their beliefs, humanly speaking, more impracticable.

In our Tweets we will appeal to the public; where our followers will either

1) differ from us in principle, even though we have our eye on one person in particular, there are many like-minded with him; and the same reasoning will hold, whether as to one or to a million.

2) Unbelievers who think little of Christians yet know what character traits are becoming one who calls themselves Christian. They may be incompetent judges of doctrine but they can form a valid judgment of a Tweeter’s spirit.

They can recognize humility & characteristics of a Christian’s posture & even though they treat the doctrines of grace as mere notions & speculations & don’t strive for those qualities for themselves, they expect Christian behavior to correspond with the precepts of the gospel

They can see when we deviate from such a gospel motivated spirit, and will call it out to justify their contempt of our arguments. If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn, we may think we are doing service of the cause of truth.

In reality we shall only bring it into discredit. The weapons of our warfare, and which alone are powerful to break down the strongholds of error, are not done in our flesh, but are spiritual.

Arguments fairly drawn from Scripture & experience & enforced by such a mild address to persuade our readers, that, whether we can convince them or not, we wish well to their souls, and contend only for the truth’s sake.

3) those who readily approve of what we Tweet & may be further established & confirmed in their views of the Scripture & doctrine by a clear and masterly elucidation of our subject.

We may edify them if our kindness as well as of truth regulates our Tweets, otherwise we may do them harm. There is a principle of self, which causes us to despise & disregard those who differ from us; especially when we think we are being zealous in the cause of God.

We seem to trust in ourselves that we are wiser, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines or beliefs about social justice, which a fruit of a self-righteous spirit.

Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines as well as upon works; no one is free from this leaven. Controversies, for the most part, are so managed as to indulge rather than to repress one’s wrong disposition & are productive of little good.

They provoke those whom they should convince, and puff up those whom they should edify. I hope our public profiles will savor the spirit of true humility, and be a means of promoting it in others.

* Adapted from John Newton’s On Controversy for the 2021 Christian