Joni R. Vatuvatu

It is really alarming watching how our digital spaces has turned volatile recently. The trend is disheartening.

The digital space - social media - was designed for our good, has now become our worst enemy. It has become spaces and arenas for division, hostility, and political or social toxicity.

Fiji once tagged "the way the world should be". Our past leaders' ideology was to build community, communal warmth, and deep spiritual root, however, now this feels jarring.

What can we do about it to heal this rift among social media citizens?

It doesnt require policy changes or platform moderation. This deep rooted illness calls for an intentional shift in the hearts and minds of Fijians and social media users. Hearts changed will influence social media navigation with grace and good citizenry.

​1. Practice Veidokai (Mutual Respect) & Love

Veidokadokai is central to Fijian values and culture. It inherits respect towards others' dignity. It is biblical. Mark 12:31 lays the command to love one another as yourself. It carries no disclaimer for the comment section. Each time you have an itch to post or send a comment, PAUSE, THINK AND ASK, will this build up or tear someone down? Am I driven by a desire to win an argument, or live for truth?

​2. Guard Your Heart and Tame the Tongue

​The written and spoken truth taught us inspirational, and profound valuable light as to how we should conduct ourselves. It speaks truth and powerfully discerns our thoughts and motives. Matthew 13:34 reads: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". The words of wisdom simply mean that we spew the conditions of the inner self.

A theologian's favourite line always was "it is wise to always keep quite, and allow others to assume you are a fool, or open your mouth, and remove all doubt". Simply - whatever you post or send is a true reflection of yourself.

Don't be consumed by online rhetorics and volatile exchanges. It will eat your peace and may distort your character. Outrage consumes us, it corrodes our peace and distorts our character.
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Proverbs 18:13 reminds us, "To answer before listening—that is folly and shame." ​Choose quiet wisdom over loud reactions: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.

​3. Be a Peacemaker, and Good Citizen Online

Social media is a community itself. Good citizenry online means being civil, respectful, and loving. ​Recognizing that is essential in our digital footprint - it is part of our online civic responsibility.

As Christians, we are called to be "a light in a dark space" - digital space included. We are to refuse to share rumours, refuse to contribute to inflammatory posts. We are called to speak up for the vulnerable without attacking the offender. Social Justice can be practiced, admonished and lived online.

Be strong and ​know when to walk away: Not every comment warrants a response. Disengaging from toxic threads is an act of spiritual discipline, protecting both your peace and the dignity of others.

Jesus identified two greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-40. First is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and second is to ove your neighbor as yourself.

According to Jesus that "it is the foundation", and all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

Blessed Sabbath friends and family.

We live in a world that constantly sells us connectivity, we are surrounded by promises of faster networks and clearer signals.

I walked past the sign below - a billboard promoting a new 5G service—boasting about speed, coverage, and reliability.

It struck me how we are always in need of and willing to pay for a few more bars of service. Yet, in the midst of this clamor for better reception, we often overlook the most profound connection available to us: PRAYER‼️

Unlike our fragile earthly networks, prayer is never subject to “network busy” errors or dropped calls.

There is no subscription fee, no data cap, and no dead zone. As the old favourite so often reminded us; "Central never busy, always on the line."

This truth is timeless. It means that at 3am when anxiety strikes, or at noon when we are overwhelmed, or even in the mundane moments of a Tuesday afternoon, the line is always open.

Our access to God is not contingent upon a strong Wi-Fi signal or a costly plan; it is a free gift of grace.

We don't need to wait for an appointed time or a special place.

Because of Christ, we can boldly approach the throne of grace anytime, anywhere. While the world offers us 5G with a monthly bill or pre-pay plan, God offers us a direct line that never fails and is never busy.

The privilege isn't just that we can pray—it's that we are always heard. The switchboard of Heaven is never jammed.