Facebook Friends - Part 3 of 3

Here I am at Part 3, addressing possibly the most difficult question of the three. Difficult, not because of lack of clarity in the scriptures concerning the subject, but difficult because I may alienate some that I desire to maintain friendships with.  But am I a true friend if I don't speak the truth when I see error? 

"Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy." (Proverbs 27:5-6, ESV)

Like others, I inherently want to be liked by those I not only hold close to me, but also to those I wish to associate with. Speaking the truth (in love), when it rebukes another, can be difficult. I imagine that is a fault of mine. A purely selfish fault that gains strength through my worldly weaknesses. Why? Because I want to be liked by others. God help me cling to Proverbs 27:5-6.

In today's fellowship of believers, at least where I live, it is rare for one to confront a fellow believer when that person is behaving in a way contrary to the teachings of Christ. Is it because sin has entangled us as well? If so, the power of conviction pierces our conscience because of our own hypocrisy.  If it does, the power to speak is nullified in us and we become like salt that has lost its savor.  Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. (Matthew 5:13, ESV)

Conviction.  Anyway, on to the question:

What does it say about the person who posted it?

 Before I dive into answering the question, let's consider this:

"Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:4-6, ESV)

And this:

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:4-6, ESV)

So now on to answering the question. Scripture's words are far better than mine, so here it is:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22-25, ESV)

If you claim to be a Christ-follower, take an honest appraisal of yourself. Are you consumed with anger, resentfulness and bitterness when it comes to the state of the country and/or the world? If you are, run to this verse and don't leave until you are ready to pass the test:

 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Facebook Friends - Part 2 of 3

This is installment 2 of my Blog post of August 19, 2013. The introductory post was a lament concerning the way some Christ-followers express themselves publicly in judging the unsaved, which is not the job of the Christian.

Here is question number 2, and the subject of this post:

How do non-believers view Jesus based on these bitter, complaining Facebook posts?

While non-believers cannot respond to God because they are spiritually dead in their sins, on a human level, they sure can respond to all the other creatures in the world. Including Christ-followers. How then should Christians conduct themselves in speech and action, knowing that non-believers are hostile towards God (and therefore hostile to his message and his messengers).

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." (Romans 8:7, ESV); and,
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (John 15:18-19, ESV)

 Now that we know that this animosity is a given, and before moving on, let's revisit what it means to be a follower of Christ. Let's start with the fact that He made you.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

OK, so how should Christians go about accomplishing their mission? It's simple; 
"whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6, ESV)

And here's how; "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9-10, ESV)

And finally; "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)

As I said, simple. Definitely not easy, but simple.  

Let's move on. If a Christ-follower is living his life knowing he is God's workmanship, that he should abide in Christ, that he should walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, and be an imitator of God, will he not by definition reflect the life of the man Jesus? Now I ask you, is that what the non-believers see when they read caustic, emotional, and worldly posts on Facebook (and all other social media outlets) posted by those who claim the name of Christ? Hardly. What they see is a god that is unworthy of their allegiance. There is no opportunity for the conviction of sin. Why? Because they are not hearing the Gospel. The Word of God is not being spoken. And this is the very thing Christ-followers are called to preach. 

So before you cross swords with non-believers, "know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20, ESV)

Stay tuned for part 3.


 

Facebook Friends - Part 1 of 3

I have a few friends on Facebook that are believers (as in Christ-followers). Some of them have a keen interest in the heartbeat of our country and are dismayed in the direction that it is heading, both morally, and politically. They frequently post complaints about the current administration, what decisions are made, what is being said, and who is egregiously violating the Constitution.  Their accompanying comments come across as a bitter obsession, and it's caused me to reflect on these three things:
    1. Do these posts glorify God?
    2. How do non-Believers view Jesus based on these bitter, complaining Facebook posts?
    3. What does it say about the person who posted it?

I'll save questions 2 and 3 for another post.  So on to question 1.

Do these posts glorify God?
Let's see what Peter has to say about believers' behavior in their daily lives.

"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."(1 Peter 2:11-12, ESV)

When a Christ-follower says or writes emotional, derogatory things against the President of the United States, other elected officials, public figures (or any unbeliever for that matter), does it honor God? No. Does it bring reproach against Christ? Yes! Christ-followers are not called to judge unbelievers. 

"For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside." (1 Corinthians 5:12,13a, ESV)

Reason with them in person, debate them on issues in the public forum, love them enough to share the Gospel with them, but don't disparage them.  Why? It puts you in the place of God (the only True Judge). And the last time I checked, everyone walking this planet, and even those posting on Facebook, are still just creatures.