If you are on social media, you have probably seen it.  Someone makes a not so cryptic post, and you are left wondering, with whom are they upset. Instead of going to the person, they air their dirty laundry on social media.  Before we criticize this generation, we must remind ourselves that they have learned from the best. They have learned from us that when you are upset with someone, you go and talk about it with anyone but the person with whom we are upset. We feel the need when we are wronged to get other people on our side.

The Bible teaches us a better way. When someone wrongs us, we can do one of two things.  We can immediately forgive them and bear the burden on ourselves. We can do this because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8) and Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Second, we should go to the person alone and seek to reconcile. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15) If the person repents, we are at one with our brother.  If they do not repent, Jesus gives a process for dealing with it.