By Gershinen Paul Dajur
In today’s digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for communication, influence, and self-expression. But along with its many benefits, it has cultivated a culture of harsh criticism, public shaming, and mass condemnation, commonly known as “dragging.” Individuals who express unpopular opinions or make moral missteps are swiftly and publicly ridiculed, often in the name of accountability. While the need for truth and correction remains, the spirit and method in which we engage matters deeply, especially for those who bear the name of Christ.
This culture of dragging is alarmingly at odds with the example of Jesus. When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him, He neither ignored her sin nor indulged in public humiliation. Instead, He extended mercy while calling her to repentance (John 8:1–11). His posture was redemptive, not condemning. Dragging, by contrast, thrives on exposure and shame. It celebrates the downfall of others, often fueled by self-righteous indignation. As followers of Jesus, we must ask: is this how He would have us respond?
Love is the hallmark of Christian life. Jesus made it clear: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Yet dragging, even when masked as moral correction, often lacks the fruit of the Spirit, especially gentleness, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). When believers take part in public condemnation, we risk misrepresenting the gospel we preach. In the pursuit of justice or doctrinal clarity, we must not forget the foundational call to love, even when we disagree.
Correction is indeed a biblical practice. Scripture does not call us to ignore sin or shy away from hard conversations. But as Warren Wiersbe wisely observed, “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” This delicate balance is what the gospel calls us to uphold. Galatians 6:1 urges us to restore those caught in sin gently. Matthew 18 outlines a process that begins privately, escalating only when necessary, and never for the sake of spectacle. Dragging, in its most common form, bypasses discretion and seeks not restoration but retribution.
Jesus also warned against the dangers of hypocritical judgment. “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the plank in your own?” (Matthew 7:3). Dragging often reveals a double standard: people quick to point out faults in others while neglecting their own need for grace. The digital space makes it easier to condemn without self-examination, creating an atmosphere where pride and performance replace humility and genuine care.
Worse still, this behavior fractures the unity of the body of Christ. Paul rebuked the early church for their divisions, urging them to be united in mind and purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10). Today, social media becomes a modern battleground for such divisions. Disagreements turn into public disputes, and the watching world sees Christians tearing one another apart. We are called to be peacemakers, not agitators, to preserve the bond of peace, not to weaponize our platforms for conflict (Ephesians 4:3).
The problem is deepened by the nature of the online world itself. The screen provides a sense of distance and anonymity that emboldens harshness. James reminds us that the tongue, now manifested in tweets, posts, and comments, holds the power to bless and curse (James 3:10). What we type carries the same moral weight as what we say. Ephesians 4:29 exhorts us to let no corrupt word proceed from our mouths, but only what is good for edification. In digital spaces, as in daily life, our words must heal, not harm.
At the heart of this issue is the need to recover a theology of honour and reconciliation. Jesus taught that when someone sins against us, we should first go to them privately (Matthew 18:15). This preserves dignity and prioritizes relationship. Peter wrote, “Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Peter 2:17). Even those who err are still made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Public disgrace is not the way of the kingdom. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), and that means embodying His mercy and truth, even online.
Social media dragging may be fashionable, but it is far from faithful. It is a hellish sport cloaked in counterfeit righteousness. The gospel calls us to something higher, a way of correction rooted in compassion, confrontation grounded in grace, and dialogue driven by a desire to restore, not destroy. Speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) is not weakness; it is strength under submission to Christ. Our online presence should reflect the One we represent: full of grace, full of truth.
We are not alone. God is with us.
