The Super Bowl vs. Silence

I did not watch the Super Bowl halftime show. I had no desire to. If you know me, you could probably guess the different reasons why I did not care to watch it. Until this gets posted, I have posted nothing online about the halftime show whatsoever. After the third quarter began, I looked at social media to see what people had to say about it. Nothing I saw surprised me. Many people on the left seemed to think it was the most unifying moment in the history of human civilization and many people on the right thought it was one step shy of Satan. I’m exaggerating, of course. But there was really no keen insight on it other than one friend on Facebook who mentioned that everyone debating the halftime show missed the Olympic highlights of the American curling team on the USA network.

I’ve started listening to a podcast called The Bully Pulpit. Per their own description, “Four conservative Christian thought leaders pull no punches in this energetic weekly show, providing clear and candid commentary on politics and culture from a biblical standpoint.” They often talk about social media and what each of them as well as other public figures posted about a certain event. A month or two ago, one of the hosts talked about how selective he is about what he will post on social media regarding current events because often what you stay silent on says as much (if not more) than what you choose to say out loud.

I just read an article yesterday critiquing John Piper for posting comments about the video put out by the Trump social media team the other day while staying completely silent about the chaos going on in his hometown of Minneapolis, including the storming of the church where many of his seminary professors and students are members. I don’t know what his intentions were, but at least to some people, the fact that he said anything meant far more than what he said.

I notice a lot of people whose silence says far more than their speaking. They are all for criticizing the president over every minute detail…as long as it isn’t their guy. I see this on both sides of the spectrum. When it’s their guy, he’s basically Jesus. They are all for peace and unity…until you correct their political philosophy. And it doesn’t have to be a matter of politics. Sometimes simply what one person really cares about as opposed to something that just doesn’t apply directly to them can make that difference as to whether one speaks out or stays silent.

Social media has drawn lines. When we talk face to face with people, we inevitably cannot talk about everything that matters in the world. There’s never enough time. However, to those who are constantly posting their opinions for the world to see on X, there’s always room to post about every current thing, or so it seems.

Proverbs 17 says, “The one who has knowledge restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a person of understanding. Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent—discerning, when he seals his lips.”

Social media is just shouting opinions to the world; there’s no real conversation with others. There is usually little gain by making a post. The point is not that we should stay silent or that we should always be speaking. The point is that we must have wisdom. Wisdom to know when to speak and when to stay silent. Wisdom to know what to speak. How to speak. When to speak. How to be silent on purpose.

We all need wisdom. Are you asking God for it?