If you’re like a lot of people, you probably have a love-hate relationship with social media.

On the positive side, it’s provided an incredibly convenient way of either getting in touch or staying in touch with loved ones and friends.

On the negative side – where to begin?

From being a hotbed for narcissists to facilitating extramarital affairs to sowing seeds of resentment and jealousy, to bullying, fanning unrealistic expectations and instigating digital obsessions and addictions, it’s a tool that’s been used and abused since its inception.

In the political realm, it’s also subjected us to reading, hearing and watching all kinds of opinions. Short of a lawn sign, bumper sticker, t-shirt, or actual conversation, we may never have known about our neighbor or colleague’s preference for president or various ideological sympathies.  Yet now it all can be easily had, and in less than 140 characters in the palm of your hand.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own political point of view. Even Christians. Despite what some have suggested, politics isn’t a dirty word. Part of being a good Christian is being a good citizen, and that means getting involved and voting. In fact, Christians should be the best of citizens.

But there’s also a wise and unwise way of engaging the issues. We’ve followed lots of friends and commentators over the years – and most have done it very well. Then there are the others. They might be in the minority, but they tend to be the loudest. Let’s call them the pompous, self-righteous gasbags. To quote my late Irish mother, “These are the people who risk breaking their arm by patting themselves on the back.” Another of her favorites: “Their halo must be giving them a headache.”

It’s actually not that hard to be one. In fact, it’s downright easy. Here are five simple steps:

1. Make a habit of critiquing and criticizing members of both parties. But save your strongest rebuke for candidates of your own party, or at least the party representing the candidates and issues you traditionally support.
2. Ignore the fact that the United States has a two-party system. After all, the outcome doesn’t really matter. You’d rather wash your hands of it all than roll up your sleeves and work for the best outcome of what’s available in Realsville.
3. Find Christians who say unwise things or behave poorly, and then extrapolate these unfortunate incidents and examples out. Then suggest this is the rule and not the exception. Extend grace to those outside the Church, but be especially stingy towards those inside of it.
4. Embrace the “burn it down” philosophy instead of the “repair, redeem and restore” approach.
5. Only support the perfect and reject the idea that every candidate is flawed. Conveniently brush aside the fact that as Christians, we’re called to support policies that champion life, celebrate one-man, one-woman marriage and respect our constitutionally protected rights of religious freedom.

At the core of pomposity is arrogance and pretension, a self-inflated view of oneself. Warned C.S. Lewis, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”

Rather than lamenting our current electoral lot and excoriating our various and limited choices, Christians would be wise to look up and look within. Rather than pontificate, pray and plow ahead. Ask the Lord what He is up to – and what He might be teaching you and our nation during this critical time for choosing.

Image from Shutterstock.