An accused murderer is reported to have said, “I’ve had enough of his hatred, ” so he killed him. Meanwhile, the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the nation declared that “we will absolutely target you, go after you” if you engage in what she thinks is hate speech. The editorial board of one of the most influential papers in the nation then declared her “constitutionally illiterate.” (Washington Post, September 16, 2025, Front Page, www.washingtonpost.com).    

We are missing the point.

I’m no genius, but you don’t pour gasoline on a raging blaze to extinguish the fire. It’s senseless.

If You Really Want Peace, Disengage

Learn to walk away.

Daddy always told me that it took a bigger man to walk away from a fight than to take a swing. I’m now his age, and I think he was right.

Silence is a wonderful tool when facing an enemy. Do you remember how Jesus dealt with Pilate? He would not answer him (John 19:9). The Lord was also silent when corrupt men tried to entrap him by accusing a woman of adultery. He neither engaged nor argued. Instead, Jesus asked a deeply reflective question, stooped down, and began writing on the ground (John 8:5-9). There is no reason to join in combat. You will accomplish nothing.

That snarky comment you just left on Facebook? Maybe you should delete it…if you really want peace.

If You Really Want Peace, Think

Effective public discourse requires wisdom. It requires thinking. Allow me to offer four quick questions to answer before speaking or posting.

1. Will my comments expand and improve the discussion?

Paul said, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6). This comports well with Jesus’ teaching that we (his followers) are the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). David wrote, “My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding” (Psalm 49:3).

The point is not to waste words with empty, foolish responses that do more harm than good. There is nothing new about gracious speech or not wasting words. But it can be hard not to respond with a visceral comeback to put someone in their place. It takes work.

• Am I only venting my own anger?

There are times when we need to vent. Anger is normal. Even Jesus was angry (Matthew 21:12). Scripture tells us to be “angry and sin not” (Psalm 4:4). We should ask why we are angry. It could be, and often is, that we are mad “just because.”

Such anger invites regret and never helps anything. If you really want peace, examine your anger.

• Does anyone care what I say?

Social media has created more experts on more topics than all the universities in the world. We have come to believe that people really care whether we had green beans or lima beans for dinner (they don’t). The number of friends we have, as seen by subscriber numbers, defines how important we are. Some become provocative just to hike those numbers. Why would we do that? Why would we knowingly anger somebody for our own promotion?

Chances are, the close friends you see daily or talk to, in person, are the only ones who care. Therefore, don’t risk anger and division because you have an opinion that no one cares about.

• Do my words model Christ?

Here’s the big one. It’s hard. It demands a piercing honesty that we may not want to face. Do I sound like Jesus when I speak? Hear Peter: “Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God” (1 Peter 4:11 NASB2000). The writer of Hebrews reminds us to imitate our spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:7).

So then, do you sound like Jesus? How will your hearers come to know Jesus if not through you? The Lord needs people speaking like him every day.

The old folks used to remind us to count to 10 before responding. That’s good advice. But I wonder, should we sometimes count to 10 days, months, or even years, before disgorging the thoughts of our hearts? I mean, if you really want peace…