Reactivity by Paul David Tripp

Something has gone wrong with how many Christians react on social media. It has developed into a toxic culture. Tripp initially saw social media as a powerful tool for the gospel. It has developed into a cesspool of anger filled with comments dishonoring God. And, unfortunately, it is becoming normalized, even infecting the church.

Tripp is hard hitting in this book. He reminds Christians God has made it clear. The norm for Christians should be love. “Being theologically correct does not give you the license to be mean.” (170/1709) He reviews the biblical commands covering our responses and other relationship interactions. Yes, we are to care about truth and justice but there is a godly way to express such concern.

I really like Tripp's underlying foundation for our way of understanding and dealing with everything, especially the culture of social media. We are to view everything through the lens of the gospel. The gospel provides us with a way of seeing, a means of interpreting, a guide to understanding, and a way of living. The gospel should shape what we say and how we say it.

This is an excellent book for Christians who are concerned about the toxic nature of recent social media conversations. It is also a necessary book for those involved in the heated social media exchanges. Tripp reminds us it has to do with the conditions of the heart and the sin involved. The gospel should be our driving motivation for all we do. Love and showing dignity and respect are to be essential elements of our exchanges.

If you are willing to evaluate what you think and say and do through the lens of the gospel, this book is for you. If you are not willing to make that examination, this book is all the more necessary for you.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Paul David Tripp (DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) is a pastor, award-winning author, and international conference speaker. He has written numerous books, including the bestseller New Morning Mercies, and posts daily on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. His nonprofit ministry exists to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. Tripp lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Luella, and they have four grown children.

Crossway, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)