Shining as stars in the sky

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As a Christian there’s a lot I disagree with Stephen Fry about, but I was a bit saddened to hear he’d left Twitter. I keep an eye on what he writes not only because his words carry such weight in our world, but because he uses the English language beautifully. I often disagree with what he says, but there’s a lot to be learned from how he says it.

It was slightly surreal to see him attacked pretty mercilessly by people who hold to an almost identical worldview after his (ill-advised) BAFTA_joke.

Fry explains why he left Twitter by saying:

“let us grieve at what twitter has become. A stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended – worse, to be offended on behalf of others they do not even know.

It doesn’t matter [who] they think they’re defending.... the ghastliness is absolutely the same. It makes sensible people want to take an absolutely opposite point of view....

I’ve heard people shriek their secularism in such a way as to make me want instantly to become an evangelical Christian."

(Full post here)

Yes, Stephen Fry seems to have left Twitter because of sanctimonious, self-righteous… secularists!

The world expects Christians to be harsh, unforgiving, judgemental and self-righteous, what a witness it would be if we were steadfast and uncompromising in holding to the truth, yet also gracious, gentle, forgiving and humble. Looking to build and to bless rather than tear-down and destroy. What a witness that would be.

“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

(1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV)

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

 Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."

(Philippians 2:14-15)

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