Texting is a modern day phenomenon that has the potential to strengthen or stress relationships therefore sincere Christ followers would be wise to examine their texting behavior in light of scripture, and seriously contemplate HWJT: How Would Jesus Text?
Consider the following texting scenarios:
TEXTING SCENARIO ONE
You send a loving message to a friend with a cute emoticon and they immediately respond with a warm and fuzzy sentiment. Instantly, both your serotonin levels surge, and you are flooded with a sense of acceptance and wellbeing.
TEXTING SCENARIO TWO
You send a loving message to a friend with a cute emoticon and they do not respond. You know that they are an avid and prompt texter but you don’t hear back from them for several days and when they do finally text they do not acknowledge your previous text, but instead ask you if they can borrow your red Kate Spade purse for an event they have coming up. You would normally not make a big deal of this, but this particular friend often disregards your texts even when it’s something that you feel is important.
What do you do?
What should you do?
Does the lack of response bother you or do you see it as no big deal?
Before we dig into the How Would Jesus Text response, let’s see what social media experts have to say.
One such expert is website called Adult Social Skills. They offer the following insight as a basic reality check.
One of the first indicators of social rejection is that people you text take a long time to text back. This happens because the person you are texting likely has very little interest in talking to you. Your texts are largely viewed as annoyance that to be ignored.
Sometimes there will be no response at all. Other times, you may get a late reply because the person doesn’t want to enflame things or be overly rude. They see replying to your text as a chore (as opposed to something they want to do).
Normally, slow text responses are coupled with other related indicators of social rejection, such as:
You always have to initiate text messages and communication with the person;
The text message replies tend to be short and lack enthusiasm. Normally, the response effort is disproportionate to the effort that was put into the initial text;
The person does not normally respond to statements, only questions.
HWJT: How Would Jesus Text
While in theory, I understand the argument that above quote is making, I wonder if Jesus might want us to handle our texting behavior differently. Or at least modify some of the above suggestions. I agree for example that we should back off from texting those who we know are going to disappointment us with their lack of response. Why set yourself up for rejection? On the other hand, if the texting ball is in your court, and say they haven’t responded to you for days, and then they suddenly need something, I believe that Jesus would want us to apply the principles of Matthew 7 and Luke 6 and respond to them as we would want to be responded to.
It is so easy to get into a tit for tat exchange and that is NOT How Jesus Would Text.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” -Matthew 7:12
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” -Luke 6:30
I have found myself on receiving end of the No Response Scenario and struggled to do the same to them. To not respond. To make them wait 3 days, or 5 days or longer. To give them a dose of their own medicine. But each time, the Holy Spirit reminds me of the commands Matthew 7 and Luke 6. And so I make myself do what I believe Jesus would do. I respond to them promptly. I don’t mention their lack of acknowledgement or response. And I move on.