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.