What to Do When Someone Is Wrong on the Internet

If you spent any amount of time engaging folks online you likely chuckled (or wept) at the comic above. You’ve likely watched in horror (or engaged to your dismay) a flurry of ridiculous comments on an online thread.

Yes, someone is wrong on the internet today. And they are probably wrong about very significant things. Things like God, the Bible, and all branches of theology. So what is a person to do?

As a fan of John Newton—and since we are doing a year with John Newton—I find it helpful to ask this question of Newton. If he were alive today what would he do if he discovered someone to be wrong on the internet? How did Newton suggest we engage in controversy?

It is not difficult to find Newton’s answer. In his nineteenth letter in his 41 Letters on Religious Subjects, Newton wrote a letter entitled On Controversy. It was originally a response to a young man that was about to set pen to paper to engage an Arminian on questions of salvation. In other words—someone was wrong on the internet.

Newton’s chief concern in controversies is to speak the truth in love—for the good of others and for the good of our own souls.

The Good of Your Opponent

Here Newton reminds his inquirer that he must aim for the good of his opponent. He should first and foremost pray for him. After praying for him Newton is confident that the opponent will be seen with the eyes of grace. He will see that, “The Lord loves him and bears with him; therefore you must not despise him, or treat him harshly. The Lord bears with you likewise…”

This is why, if you are reading Newton with us, I had you read Olney Hymn 8. In that hymn I believe you see the foundation of Newton’s philosophy of engaging in controversy. Newton could see himself even in one like Esau—and he knew that the only thing that caused him to differ from one like Esau was God’s redeeming grace. This is the same thing that he is saying to his inquirer in On Controversy.

If we can see our opponents with eyes of grace and through the lens of eternity then this will impact how we engage them. As Newton encouraged, “not to strive, but in meekness to instruct those who oppose”.

The Good of Others

Because this young man was going public with his controversy Newton encouraged him to consider the manner in which he engaged this controversy. His character and tone will be given opportunity to glorifying God in the hearts of not only those who differ but also those who agree.

Newton is spot on—especially to us Calvinists—when he says:

And I am afraid there are Calvinists, who, while they account it a proof of their humility that they are willing in words to debase the creature, and to give all the glory of salvation to the Lord, yet know not what manner of spirit they are of. Whatever it be that makes us trust ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit.

The Good of Your Own Heart

If you must engage in controversy watch your own heart. Newton is correct that “we find very few writers of controversy who have not been manifestly hurt by it”. And so if you embark on controversies be aware of the dangers.

One of the chief dangers in engaging in such a controversy is the danger of making things too personal. Even when being ill-treated this gives an opportunity to show the glory of Jesus.

I don’t think Newton thought controversy would actually advantage your own heart much—instead it was more of a necessary evil of which we had to be careful to protect our hearts during.

Conclusion:

So what would Newton do if he found someone wrong on the internet? I don’t think that he would say that we must never engage in controversy. Even on such a sticky matter as Calvinism (it was just as much so in his day) he considered the “service to be honorable” but also dangerous.

For Newton if something was of first importance—or even something closely related to the gospel then he would humble engage in controversy. But he would do so with an eye not only to being declared right in words and position but correct before God in his character. For Newton it was often more important how we engaged in controversy rather than whether or not we did.

He abhorred controversy, and as he would rather, as he said to John Ryland Jr.,  “aim at plain and experimental things, and endeavor rather to affect your hearers’ hearts with a sense of the evil of sin, and the love of Jesus, than to fill their heads with distinctions.” (Wise Counsel, 15)

So I think Newton would say, engage in controversy if you must but do so as one that accurately models Christ.

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What do you think? Upon your reading of Newton how do you think he would answer this question?

Is there anything else in your reading of Newton that you would like to share?

For Next week:

Jan 16 To a Student of Divinity & Olney Hymn XXVIII
He-Man option: Wise Counsel p19-24, & p349-352