Wineskins Contributor・04/05/18

Whether in person or online in social media God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are involved in our conversations with other Christians. In Acts 8, when Jesus confronts Saul on the road to Damascus, he tells Saul that Saul's persecution of the church was actually a persecution of Jesus himself, "Why do you persecute me?" Three chapters earlier in Acts 5 we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira. In Peter's conversation with each of them he points out that their lying to the church was actually a lie to God (5:4) and a testing of the Holy Spirit himself (5:9).We enter into so many conversations without the slightest thought about the role of the Trinity in our conversation. As Spirit-filled people who talk with other Spirit-filled people we must remember that we, together, are God's temple as the Spirit dwells in us (plural). This should change the way we talk and type. It should change the tone of our words. Our mistreating of other Christians is a mistreatment of the Spirit who is in each and every one of us.So before you go on that next online rant, or even one face-to-face, consider the presence of the Trinity in that moment and who it is who is actually involved in that interaction. When you stop and think about who is on the receiving end of your vitriol or aggravation it should help us to pause and convert our conversation to one that is more appropriate for such holy company.