When sharing scripture or things related to God’s Word on social media, do you think seeds can be planted that way?
I probably have some slightly different thoughts on this than many people do. That being said, my answer will be a point of view. Perhaps it would be best to consider what I say along with what others may say, and then of course check your own conscience and motives.
Firstly let me say, I fully believe we should not hide our faith. I’m going to share a scripture in a moment which I believe warns us about that. That said, how we share our faith is crucial! I have met so many zealous believers that never consider how they share their faith and I’ve witnessed it be destructive. They justify their poor actions by claiming that it’s just boldness. I learned this early on in my walk, boldness can easily become brashness when not controlled. We are to first be in control.
Luke 9:26 (NASB) says, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” In context, this is talking about taking up our cross daily and following Him. This isn’t as much about how we say something, but that we do what He wants us to do when He wants us to do it. Remember those email forwards? If you love the Lord, share this with at least ten people? Often times the ones that felt they had to share those were the ones that weren’t actually living for God daily. I purposely chose not to forward those!
Let me tell you a story from my walk when I first came back to the Lord as an adult. Immature Christian Jeff was a very zealous young man. I carried a Bible with me everywhere, and looked to strike up Jesus conversations with everybody and anybody. I never cared what they thought and further more, was not moved when they outright rejected me, of course just believing that’s the way things are. The truth is, they are that way, but what I didn’t consider was the damaged I caused in my wake. I just assumed that everyone needed to hear what I had to say about the Lord, regardless of if they were ready to hear all I had to say or not. I never considered my tone, my intensity, or my (often brief) listeners. I was a surgeon who brought a chainsaw to the operating room. Do you get what I’m saying?
I remember a service I preached early on in my church. We labeled it an outreach service and we urged people to get as many of their non-believing family members and friends there as they could and I did as well. To this day, I believe it was one of the largest attended regular Sunday services we had. I was nervous, and I came out “bold”! Oh and I preached! Fire and brimstone, pouncing on every bad thought of the world that I could think of. I can still see some members of my family cringe as I preached at them. I didn’t preach the love of Christ but bashed idiotic ideas of society. To this day, some of those family members refuse to come back. The sad truth is my boldness was really out of place brashness (regardless of its truth) and what I gave was my condemnation not Holy Ghost conviction. It is His job to convict hearts, not ours!
You may even sit there and think, “Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Listen, I had to repent from my wrong actions and I learned the lesson of anyone who is in ministry for a while that truly loves the Lord. If we aren’t careful, our zeal will push people away from God, not to Him. I am not advocating supporting the world’s sin. I am not agreeing with bad theology or compromise. What I am saying is if we don’t consider the people we minister to, we will cause more damage than doing anything good. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 (NASB), “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent (harmless) as doves.”
The world doesn’t know what you know. At one point, you didn’t either. This is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NASB), “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” He did not compromise but rather considered where the people were and how best to serve them. If you were sitting at a table tasked to feed a bunch of people, you would consider each person there. If a baby was present you might spoon feed them. An adult, you may just present the food. Someone without teeth, maybe just give them soup. You would consider their position and feed them accordingly.
I say all that to say this, social media can be good for outreach. However, I would really seek the Lord about if and what you should share. I used to preach on my Facebook account. After some time I realized it was more about my pride than it was me “witnessing”. I thought I had something to say and really did nothing more than stir up arguments. In this way, when social media becomes an outlet for vice rather than a tool for life, I think it has the reverse effect. It actually drives people away.
Jesus didn’t hold back when it was time to speak, but Jesus didn’t always speak. He was palatable to the lost and bold in the face of the true opposition. He knew the difference and we should too! I’m going to close with one of the most important scriptures on this point, but before I do, let me say something. I have met mouthy Christians, that as a Christian make me cringe. Not because what they say is not truth, but because they are so puffed up that they can’t see the people shutting down around them. It’s true that not everyone will receive what we say. That is not a license to just throw all our pearls in the face of everyone we come across. Be a witness of the Lord, but be gentle and lowly in heart, just like your Savior!
Colossians 4:6 (NASB), “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Be Blessed,
Pastor Jeff
