Speaking Without Guile in an Age That Profits From Outrage
A Rule of Righteous Speech for Catholic Men on Social Media
Social media platforms, especially those designed to elicit emotional responses, are not neutral spaces. They are engineered to provoke, amplify, and monetize outrage. This creates a moral dilemma for Catholic men who are called to speak truth and fight injustice while remaining righteous in their speech.
St. Peter does not instruct believers to be silent in the face of evil. He commands something more difficult: to speak without guile.
“Let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile… let him seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:10–11)
Guile isn't outright lying; instead, it involves speech that is technically accurate but morally deceptive. Essentially, it is language crafted to provoke, hurt, posture, or exert control while still seeming righteous. Guile is especially tempting on platforms like X, where engagement is often driven through conflict.
This post isn't about simply being “nicer online," but about guiding men to communicate with integrity in challenging digital environments.
The Hidden Driver Behind Unrighteous Speech: Fear
Most unrighteous speech online is not driven by hatred but by fear of:
Losing cultural ground
Being overrun or silenced
Watching what we love decay
Being mocked, dismissed, or made irrelevant
Fear generates passion and a sense of urgency. This passion can override reason and discipline. When self-preservation takes control of the heart, the tongue tends to act quickly and impulsively.
The following are a few primary reasons why men lash out verbally:
Sarcasm feels like control
Mockery feels like strength
Outrage feels like action
But Sts. Peter and John expose the deeper issue:
“Perfect love casts out fear.”
When fear takes over, we reach for rhetorical weapons. However, when love governs us, we can speak plainly and stoically. Thus, guile is often nothing more than anxiety wearing righteousness as a mask.
Why Love Changes How We Speak
To love one’s enemies does not mean approving of evil or withdrawing from conflict. It means something far more demanding: refusing to let fear dictate our response.
Love does three critical things to our speech:
It restrains panic. Love trusts that God is not absent, even when institutions collapse or culture rots.
It purifies intention. Love seeks repentance and justice, not emotional release or domination.
It stabilizes passion. Love does not eliminate anger, but prevents it from becoming panic-fueled retaliation.
A man who loves his enemies doesn't need to win every confrontation because he's not fighting for his identity or security. Those are already rooted in God.
The Hidden Danger of “Winning” Online
Outrage platforms reward:
Speed over reflection
Emotion over reason
Mockery over accuracy
Tribal affirmation over truth
This tempts men to justify unrighteous speech because:
“The other side deserves it.”
“It’s technically true.”
“I’m just asking questions.”
“Someone has to say it.”
But St. Peter draws a hard line: truth spoken with guile forfeits blessing. Thus, the issue is not what you say, but what kind of man fear is shaping you into.
What Guile Looks Like on Social Media
Guile almost always includes plausible deniability. Some examples are:
“I’m not accusing anyone, but this should concern people.”
“Interesting how this always happens…”
“I’ll let others draw their own conclusions.”
“Just asking questions.”
These statements are designed to:
Trigger suspicion without accountability
Damage without naming
Inflame without standing exposed
They protect the speaker because the speaker is afraid to stand uncovered. But this is not righteousness; it is self-preservation masquerading as wisdom.
The Rule of Righteous Speech (Online and Off)
Here is a rule that will purify nearly all online speech:
Say exactly what you mean, in plain language, without hiding your intent or insulating yourself from consequence, because you trust God with the outcome.
Guile avoids costs because fear seeks safety. Conversely, righteous speech embraces costs because love trusts in God. If you're unwilling to accept the consequences of your words, you shouldn't speak them.
How to Speak Against Evil Without Using Guile
1. Name Actions, Not Motives
Motives are invisible, but actions are public. So instead of saying “They hate families,” say something like, “This policy weakens parental authority and increases state control over children.”
This is firmer, cleaner, and yes, it may seem weak. But go back and read 1 Peter. Note how he calls you to be guiltless in your words and actions while citing Christ as the prime example of patient endurance in the midst of suffering.
2. Speak in the First Person
Guile hides behind “people are saying,” however, love speaks from conviction, not cover.
“I believe this law is unjust because it violates natural law and harms the vulnerable.”
This may seem weak and risk rejection, but fear should not govern our efforts to achieve a specific outcome.
3. Eliminate the Pleasure of Contempt
When posting feels emotionally satisfying, pause to consider if you’re exhibiting contempt as fear relieved through dominance. Christ, our role model, rebuked with authority but never with enjoyment.
If the post feeds your adrenaline, it is likely feeding your fear.
4. Refuse to Use an Audience as a Weapon
Fear recruits crowds, but Love speaks truth. Before posting, ask yourself:
Am I clarifying truth or trying to achieve “likes”
Would I say this the same way if no one applauded?
If not, guile has crept in.
5. Bless While You Oppose
St. Peter’s command is explicit:
“Do not return evil for evil… but bless.”
This purifies your heart while maintaining a strong stance against immorality. When love governs, your passions no longer respond fearfully but faithfully.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Speaking without guile will cost you:
Engagement
Applause
Approval
The illusion of control
Your audience may label you as weak and naïve. But St. Peter grounds this command in trust:
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.”
Fear insists, “I need to respond immediately or let this go unchallenged." However, love assures, “God is watching, God is judging, and God will intervene."
A Final Word to Catholic Men
The world does not need more Catholic men who are clever with words. It needs men who are fearless because they love as Christ loved.
If you face a choice between asserting control through speech or trusting in God's timing, opt for faith in His justice. Fear prompts loudness, but love brings steadiness.
Speak plainly, love your enemies, and refuse guile. God will handle the rest.
