I’m a wee bit worried about our society. These days, it feels like we’re living in the age of “trial by social media.” We’ve already had the “Coldplay Couple,” the “Baseball Hat CEO,” and now the infamous “Phillies Karen,” who became the latest “viral sensation” for something that happened at a ballpark. Back in my day when you went viral, the next person you saw was a nurse.
Now, let me be clear—I’m not defending what happened. But let’s be honest: how would you like it if one of your “less-than-stellar” moments got caught on camera, replayed a million times, and judged by strangers who don’t know the first thing about you? That’s what I call “crucifixion by social media.” And to be honest, it’s both cruel and a poor reflection of us as a society.
I’m a comedian, so I usually try to find the funny side. (If my bad days ever trended online, I’d probably go viral before my morning coffee!) But behind the laughs, here’s the truth: the real heroes of this Phillies story weren’t the people with phones in their hands—it was the Phillies themselves. They stepped in, gave that kid who had the ball snatched away a goodie bag, and the batter even gave him a signed bat. They didn’t have to do that, but they did—and I give them love and respect for it.
The Bible warns us against this kind of public shaming: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). None of us are spotless—if our worst ten minutes were broadcast to the world, we’d all be in trouble. Instead of piling on, maybe we should remember Jesus’ words: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7).
So here’s my thought: let’s not be a society that crucifies people on Facebook and Twitter. Let’s be a people who show grace, mercy, and forgiveness—because that’s exactly what Christ shows to us.
What about you? Do you think we should keep allowing these “social media crucifixions,” or is it time to start choosing compassion instead of condemnation?
Make thine own application…
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