1. What we post should speak what is true.
God is not merely truthful, he is truth. So, falsehood in any form—exaggerations, selective omissions, distortions, and so on—is not just unethical in human terms but contrary to the character of God as revealed in Christ Jesus. A Christian should never post anything for rhetorical advantage, never anything that he would hesitate to speak
coram Deo—in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and for the glory of God. Hard to believe as it may be,
what we as Christians say here in these forums will come up before the judgment seat of Christ. In this world enslaved to the values, desires, and motivations of sinful man, maintaining a Christ-like character in our words is a form of courage, and understanding and clarity are acts of love. Avoid lies and half-truths, misrepresentations, deceit, and so on. Refuse to manipulate facts, ideas, or feelings in order to win arguments. Always give thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:20-21).
2. What we post should pursue what is honorable.
This term (τὸ σεμνόν, honorable) denotes gravity, moral weight, and dignity, the sort of reverent speech that befits those who walk with God. It is the opposite of flippancy, mockery, juvenile sarcasm, belittling, and so on. Online platforms tend to reward belligerence, derision, rhetorical domination, and triviality, but the Christian is called to a different metric, namely, what is fitting in the presence of a holy God. That is what we want to promote and reward here.
Let your tone be marked by reverence and a cruciform intent, not self-importance or language that trades dignity for likes or diminishes or objectifies others. Remember, what flows to the keyboard is the content of your heart. "On the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak" (Matt 12:36). The words of the righteous reflect the fountain of life, and love doesn't dwell on the wrongs that others do. Behind the words of the wicked hides evil, and a heart of hate stirs up trouble. (Prov. 10:11-12, paraphrase).
3. What we post should uphold what is just.
This refers to that which is upright and morally right, conforming to God's fixed standard of justice rather than to human opinions. Biblically, it describes the character of God himself (Rev 16:5), the sinlessness of Christ (1 John 2:1), and the moral life of believers called to Spirit-empowered covenantal obedience (Eph 4:24; Rom. 8:13). To center our efforts on what is just, then, is to meditate on all that accords with God's will, judgments, and the right ordering of human conduct under his sovereign authority. In the context of our discussion forums, it means resisting the temptation to side with human notions of fairness, culturally fashionable definitions of justice, or even one's preferred group when their cause departs from God's standards.
The righteous do not shift with the winds of culture, nor are they partial to power or the majority. Righteousness is not tribal, it is covenantal. Resist favoritism and factionalism; evaluate every claim, every cause, and every conflict through the lens of God's revealed will. Speak for the truth, even when it costs you socially or complicates your narrative.
4. What we post should be Christ-like and unblemished in its devotion to him (pure).
The meaning of this term denotes morally clean, undefiled, and free from corruption, closely overlapping with the idea of holiness though emphasizing freedom from moral stain. It is used in scripture to describe moral purity (1 Tim. 5:22), the sincere devotion of believers (2 Cor. 11:2), and the hope of becoming like Christ (1 John 3:3), setting before us a vision of untainted spiritual life.
Purity is not merely the absence of outward defilement but a positive reflection of the unblemished character of Christ, whose spirit indwells the saints. What we post should steer clear of self-centeredness, pride, deceit, hostilities, double-mindedness, refusing to indulge in quarreling, innuendo, mockery, dissensions, even when confronting genuine error. Every post, indeed every argument, must proceed from a heart that is unconcerned with things like self-interest or the desire for validation, aiming instead for moral integrity and clarity and sincere devotion that mirrors the spirit of Christ.
5. What we post should be gracious (lovely).
The word lovely (τὸ προσφιλές) refers to that which is pleasing, agreeable, and attractive, not in a superficial or sentimental sense but in the deeply moral sense of what is spiritually beautiful before God. Although this term appears only here in the New Testament, its usage suggests a focus on relational and ethical beauty—qualities that evoke godly affection, foster unity among believers, and reflect the holiness of Christ. True loveliness is not external charm or carnal appeal but the inner beauty produced by the Spirit, the kind of character that pleases God and knits hearts together in love.
To center one's efforts on what is lovely is to set the mind on what builds harmony, inspires virtue, and draws attention to the excellence of Christ's character. This calls for our deliberate promotion of what is spiritually beautiful, namely, highlighting the goodness of sound doctrine, the redemptive work of God, and the virtues of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Even in rebuke or correction, our words should be adorned with the fragrance of Christ, drawing others toward the beauty of holiness rather than repelling them through cynicism or harshness. Let your speech become a conduit for the grace that reflects the heart of God.
6. What we post should be above reproach (commendable).
This refers to what is admirable, virtuous, worthy of being spoken well about, behavior or speech that glorifies God and edifies others, without either self-interest or self-preservation. The Greek roots of this term—
eu ("good") and
pheme ("speech")—and its ethical usage emphasize actions and words that are honorable, above reproach, and fitting for public commendation. This excludes things like gossip, slander, and sensationalism, embracing conduct that magnifies the beauty of Christ's character and strengthens the testimony of the church. Crafting posts that are commendable requires believers to dwell on those things that would not cause shame but rather inspire worship, integrity, and encouragement.
This principle demands that our posts, arguments, and critiques be framed with integrity, worthy of being read aloud before the body of Christ without embarrassment or regret. Let your words be seasoned with grace, so that they bring honor to Christ and build up his church. Measure every contribution by this standard: "Would this, if made public, glorify God and strengthen his people?"
7. What we post should reflect divine virtue (excellent).
True excellence of character is measured by God's standard, not by worldly acclaim. In the New Testament, ἀρετή (
arete) is used more narrowly to describe the virtue that believers are to add to their faith (2 Pet. 1:5). Paul calls believers to dwell on that which embodies the highest moral quality, reflecting the character of Christ himself, who is the fullness of all virtue. Excellence here is not ambition, brilliance, or achievement as the world defines them but conformity to the righteousness and purity of God's will. To think on what is excellent is to prize what is morally radiant and spiritually mature, longing not merely for correct opinions but for Christ-like transformation. This calls for us to
aim not merely at being right but indeed righteous, modeling excellence in tone, content, and purpose. Strive to post in a way that mirrors the beauty of holiness, refusing to settle for victory at the cost of virtue.
8. What we post should qualify for God's approval (praiseworthy).
The apostle Paul calls believers to fix their minds on what is truly praiseworthy (ἔπαινος,
epainos), which is not according to human applause but rather what God esteems. The term can broadly mean approval or commendation, but scripture consistently redirects our focus toward divine commendation (e.g., Rom. 2:29), where praise comes from God, even if not from man.
Paul exhorts believers to fix their thoughts on what will survive the searching judgment of Christ, not what flatters human pride or garners fleeting applause. That which accords with God's revealed will and reflects the character of Christ is what's truly praiseworthy. To think and write in this way is to cultivate a conscience that is sensitive to God's approval, even when it invites the world's contempt. In discussions here, this means writing not for likes, validation, or popularity, but for the approval of God alone. Post as one who desires to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant"—regardless of whether anyone else notices or approves.
