4. Healing on the Sabbath
On multiple occasions, Jesus healed people on the Sabbath, which the religious leaders condemned as breaking the law. In Luke 13:10-17, Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years, drawing criticism from the synagogue leader for working on the holy day. Jesus responds by pointing out the hypocrisy of their interpretation of the law, emphasizing compassion over rigid adherence to rules.
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In today’s world, this could be seen as Jesus deliberately flouting the norms of His religious community, an act that might be flagged as promoting illegal activities or disrespecting cultural practices. Social media platforms often suspend or ban users who share content that is seen as encouraging unlawful or disrespectful behavior toward established traditions. A post or video captioned, “Jesus Breaks Religious Laws to Heal on Holy Day,” might violate community guidelines for promoting actions that go against religious norms or customs. This could easily lead to Jesus being banned from social media for advocating behavior that challenges deeply rooted traditions.
5. The Sermon on the Mount: Radical Teachings on Morality
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus lays out radical ideas about morality, love, and justice that often go against the grain of conventional wisdom. He speaks about turning the other cheek, loving one’s enemies, and forgiving those who wrong us. These teachings, while foundational to Christianity, could be seen as promoting ideals that are too radical or impractical for many in today’s world.
Social media tends to favor content that aligns with popular sentiment or at least fits within the boundaries of what is considered socially acceptable. Jesus’ teachings on loving one’s enemies might be viewed as too controversial or even “dangerous” in a world where division, conflict, and tribalism dominate online discourse. A post like, “Jesus Says Love Your Enemies – Is This Realistic?” could be met with backlash and possibly result in a ban from social media for spreading ideas that some may perceive as promoting submission to injustice or perpetuating harmful ideologies.
Why Jesus Would Have Been Banned From Social Media
It’s clear that many of Jesus’ actions and teachings, which challenged the societal norms of His time, would likely clash with modern social media guidelines. Social media platforms today are focused on maintaining civil discourse, protecting users from offensive or harmful content, and promoting a safe environment. While Jesus’ message was ultimately one of love, mercy, and justice, it was often delivered in a way that was disruptive, provocative, and countercultural—qualities that could easily lead to a ban in today’s highly moderated digital spaces.
If Jesus were to preach today, His words and actions might be too bold for platforms that prioritize maintaining peace over fostering radical change. From turning tables in the temple to challenging authority and preaching forgiveness, His behavior would likely be seen as too extreme or controversial for the online world, where even well-meaning posts can be misinterpreted. The question remains: Would Jesus have conformed to social media standards, or would He have embraced the ban as a necessary cost for delivering truth?
Ultimately, Jesus’ message transcends platforms, time, and societal expectations. But in the context of today’s online environment, it’s almost certain that He would have been banned from social media at least a few times.