To My Christian Friends on Facebook--Our Non-Christian Friends Are Watching

[James Nored]

To all of my Christian friends--I know that it is hard not to lash out on Facebook to all of the immorality that we see. It is blatant. In our face. And it is Christians who are mocked, made fun of, declared intolerant. I saw a high school friend just post that he had a hard choice to make about the Boy Scouts due to their stance on homosexuality. And that is just a small sample of the kind of posts that we see today.

 

But I would propose to you that non-Christians will not be drawn to our moral speeches or outrage. They will not change from online judgments or condemnations. They will be drawn to Christ and our love for one another. 

Morality without Christ has a limited appeal. And without the Spirit, people cannot follow God's laws. Remember--they tried that in the Old Testament and failed. Note what God said through the prophet Ezekiel: 

"26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

 

So introduce people to Christ. Allow them to receive him and his Spirit. Then they will be able to follow his moral decrees and way of life. Lead with Christ, not morality and condemnation.

[James Nored]

Thanks, Bruce! Hope things are going well for you up in the Northeast.

[Bruce Bates]

Great post James.  If you are with Christ, you are with all of his children, lost and saved.  "Lord, help us to remember we are salt and light, but if we loose our saltiness what value do we have?"

[James Nored]

Yes, a great practice. Anything that encourages fathers bonding with their kids or teaching them about God is good. I try to mention our nightly ritual of saying prayers, singing songs, and reading Bible stories whenever I can in sermons to try to encourage other fathers in practices like this.

[Dave Hamlett]

One thing I saw at Promise Keepers for fathers to do with their kids was this:  Jewish fathers would periodically pass blessings onto their children.  Great way to keep the kids aware of GOD's blessings on their lives.

[James Nored]

Dave, great point. Many people have grown up in loveless or abusive homes. They have not been told that they are special. They have been beaten down and told that they are no good. We should be great encouragers, as you say, and let everyone know that they were created uniquely by God. 

I have three girls, and I tell them that they are special all the time. I want them to feel loved, so that they do not go seeking for love in the wrong places.

[Dave Hamlett]

One thing I have found is the bible tells us to be a light to the world.  One great way to light the world is to tell someone in darkness or hurting that they are special and that GOD created them for a special reason that only they can do.  While the world junks people GOD lifts them up.  Encouraging others is the best way to share Christ with them.  It removes judgement and opens the door for Christ to minister to them or use us to.  A little bit of salt to flavor...not the whole block.