Today we are seeing an unbelievable expression of anger and division in the news and on social media. And it is an expression of what is going on in the heart of man (Matthew 15:18). Something is really taking root in the thinking of this age. Young people may think, “Well, it’s just a post. I’m just expressing my opinion.” But it is going deeper than that. When you read some of these posts, you can feel the impact of the anger, division, and hatred. What is transpiring is the loss of love for mankind. As believers in Christ, we need to cry out to God to see something transpire that reverses the direction we are headed. Otherwise, the conclusions of these actions will be devastating in their results.

Those of us living in this age need to stop and analyze our emotions, thoughts, and actions. Certainly, we as believers need to do this. God does not want us to engage in the same thoughts and emotions as the wicked around us. It concerns me when I read posts on social media written by people who are proclaiming to be Christians and believers and see the anger and division they are spewing out. They are not helping what is going on in this age. Instead, they are literally feeding back to it the same emotions that God finds unacceptable. We do not have permission to judge. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. … For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:37–38).[1] If you are judging, do not think you will get away with it. You are not dealing with people and situations; you are dealing with the laws of God, and you are setting something in motion that you are not going to be able to get out from under.

Are you speaking the truth as something you know firsthand? Or is it something you are just repeating that you heard from someone else who was angry, judging, and condemning? Are you pardoning or are you holding others to account? Whatever you give out is coming back to you and poured into your lap—pressed down and running over (Luke 6:38). Are you giving out anger and judgments? It will all come back to you. You are not dealing with people or natural situations; you are dealing with principles of the Spirit that God has set in motion.

For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:34–37)

We are not to be conformed to this age but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). We need to get out of the thinking and emotions of this age and be transformed. Let us spend time with the Lord and sort out our thoughts, feelings, and actions before Him.

[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)