I have seen so much stuff lately online, from moral debates to politics to gay choir directors and Hillsong to the Supreme Court ruling on marriage. With everything we see going on in the world around us, there may be some evidence that Jesus just might be on his way back. When you look at scriptures that reference what it will be like in the last days, it’s hard to look at the world we live in and not think, “This sure looks like it.”
Even in the world we live in right now, and how bad things seem to be getting, there are two things that really standout to me in the Christian circle. They are things that are both confusing and heartbreaking. Every time you log onto social media, you can see these two things loud and clear and I would like to bring them up right now in the hopes that it will spur us all to action in an effort to change thesis things.
1. Lost people cannot be expected to act like Christians.
As Christians, we may share some similar morals with lost people, but our standards and the expectations in our lives are simply different. We have a different worldview. We have made a covenant with a different system. And, while I know that some of the things people will post on social media, or some of the things you will hear them say or see them do are incredibly disturbing, you simply can’t expect them to live, talk, think, act like a Christian when they are not. Furthermore, it is useless to beat them over the head with words from a book they don’t even believe in. For us, the words of the Bible are life, but instead of being used to bring life, they are used as a bludgeon to bash in the heads of people who aren’t Christian to begin with.
As Christians living in a world full of lost people, we have to realize that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). So when you deal with people who are lost, people who are putting stuff on social media that makes your blood boil, don’t forget that you were once lost, you once were a reprobate in a place where you needed Jesus to save you. I understand if you disagree with them, I understand if you don’t approve of them living the life they are living. I really can relate. But you don’t win them to Jesus by pointing out everything they are doing that is wrong in their lives. Help them get to Jesus first, no matter where they are. Remember that Jesus came to save the very person I am talking about here. Get them to Jesus. Then allow Jesus to do the work of changing their hearts. He is so much better at it.
2. We need to remember John 13:35.
Take a quick look through the comment sections on some of the more controversial posts on your Facebook wall and you will see one thing emerge: Christians aren’t very good at loving each other. It’s really sad, even ironic, since it is our love for each other that is supposed to show the world that we believe in Jesus. I have seen so much Christian to Christian hate just over this Hillsong NYC issue. Brian Houston has since gone on record to say they had no knowledge of what was reported. But I think the real sad part in all of this is the fact that so many Christians were so quick to tear each other down. I posted the article that Ps. Brian released in the comments of one post and was quickly told I was going to hell for defending an apostate church. Wow. Even if that were true, that response sure would not have helped me “see the light.”
The way the people, saved or lost, know that we love Jesus is how we show love to others. In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” I may be dead wrong, but I fully believe that Jesus expects us to love each other. On top of that, I believe he fully expects us to love the lost. He does. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If Jesus loved us – even as sinners – so much that he gave his life for us, doesn’t it stand to reason that we should show love to saved and sinner as well?
I think it is okay to address bad theology and misinterpretations of scripture. I think it is okay to speak with a fellow believer who is taking a stance on an issue that is not biblical. But can I give some loving advice? Not on social media. Don’t argue a point out online. I used to fall into this trap. I am a passionate guy, strong-minded, and to be honest, I love a good debate. But I had to learn that was not acceptable on social media. It usually never ended well, and even if it did, onlookers who may not have known the relational dynamic I had with my debater could easily see our discussion as a fight. It just is not worth it to argue on social media.
So what do we do? Joel Houston of Hillsong United gave the best example.
On one of Hillsong United’s posts, a young man was blasting them because they had an owl as decoration. He had a list of reasons why Hillsong was “turning from God.” For a good part of the comment section, he blasted Hillsong and anyone who defended them. Joel responded with a simple, powerful response: “much love.”
Love doesn’t let you do what you want to do. Love doesn’t let you keep on living a lifestyle of sin. But love does win. It wins because love opens your eyes to a Savior who loved you when you didn’t deserve it, who saved you when you were beyond saving, and changed you. When I found the love of Jesus, I didn’t want to be the same. I wanted to be like my Savior. He began working some things out in my life. And to be honest, he still is. I am so grateful for that.
So the way I am going to show my appreciation is not by tearing down, but by loving. I am going to love people to Jesus and let him change their hearts. He changed me. He can change them too.
1 John 4:8 ESV Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Be blessed!
J