My camp boss gave us the usual internet safety talk at orientation in early June. You know, "Don't post pictures of campers online, talk nice, don't cyber bully," and so on. But one thing he said really struck me afterward.

Martin said, "You should generally be the same person online that you are in real life," when we were talking about friending campers on Facebook.

I don't think he realized how much his words stuck with me, but I have thought about them every single day. It reminds me of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird," when Scout describes Atticus as, "the same person at home as he is everywhere else." It demonstrates true integrity to have the same face everywhere you go.

Being the same person online and in real life is much more than not tagging yourself in party photos; It means that you lead a life of authenticity. If you say you don't do drugs, then don't do them. If you say you don't drink or go to parties with alcohol, then don't do those things. If you say that you treat women well, then actually treat them well. Words are empty if the actions behind them aren't the same.

As many of you know, I am a Christian. I believe that as a follower of Jesus, I am called to show love to everyone; I am called to be holy; I am called to be truthful. It would discredit my Christian witness if I were to talk badly about people online, or even in real life. I'm not only called to show love, but I want to love everyone I encounter.

Friends, this is why I am so troubled by how we conduct ourselves online. We get into ugly, name-calling fights over superficial things. People begin insulting families, looks, racial heritages, and in doing so, are undermining the image of God. As God created every single human in His image, this is not only insulting to us, it is insulting to God.

My mom, and probably many people's mothers, have told me that if I can't say anything nice, I shouldn't say anything at all. I want to take that a step further: say something nice instead. We get so caught up in finding evil in others that we forget that there is good in them too.

Being the same person on the Internet that you are in real life probably isn't easy; it requires active lifestyle changes, deep thought about your words and actions and self-awareness. I often catch myself and think, "Do I really want my grandpa, parents or anyone reading this on Facebook? Do I really want to get in a huge cyber fight? Do I want to spread light or darkness?"

There are certainly things to spread awareness of, such as police brutality, racism and sexism; I am not telling anyone to avoid spreading knowledge of those topics. But don't let yourself get so bogged down in the bad that your entire newsfeed or wall is covered in tragedy. There is definitely good in this world, and you are part of that good. Be that good online and in real life.