Facebook Frustrations

Facebook is a marvelous tool to connect with people and minister to them. It’s also a source of occasional frustration and conflict. Aside from increased censorship by social media platforms, you risk offending others no matter how you speak the truth in love. One time a woman unfriended me after I advised her not to sow discord amongst my other friends (Proverbs 6:19) regarding another minister we had differing opinions.

I’ve also had preachers promote their ministries and make fundraising appeals on my Facebook pages despite asking them to stop. That prompted me to change my account settings. Friends can only write comments in response to my articles and praise reports. Still, people will post stuff irrelevant to my writings. Usually, I remove these posts but have unfriended individuals who won’t respect my boundaries. In recent years, I’ve blocked (but not unfriended) many people on Messenger. With close to 5,000 friends from all over the world, I don’t have time to chat with everyone.

Another thing that has irritated me is Facebook Groups. Until a couple of years ago, friends were able to add me to these groups without my permission. A few of them took offense when I asked them to stop. One minister from India I met at a conference in South Carolina added me to two groups despite my sending two previous emails asking him not to do that. This time I emailed him two reminders: first privately but then posted a comment directly on the group page since he wasn’t checking his inbox. This minister unfriended me.

A few days before that, a Canadian pastor who friended me (but I never met in person) added me to a Facebook group promoting him and his wife. After immediately leaving that group, I sent an email asking him not to add me to any groups. This minister responded by blocking me. That’s a bit extreme. All I did was make a simple request.

I pray all my brothers and sisters in Christ grow up and pursue His purposes instead of their agenda. We are all called to reach the world but not necessarily associate and work with everybody who calls themselves a Christian. As Mike Murdock says, “Your Assignment is not to everybody, but to somebody.”

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Let God Be God

How do you respond if a fellow believer proclaims something that’s in error? There are times we need to rebuke others. But no matter how you speak the truth in love, some people won’t receive correction. In those situations, it’s best to back off. God can send someone else who will possibly get through to them. You have to let God be God.

A Christian writer I met a few years ago recently posted a quote on his Facebook page supporting his belief in universal reconciliation. First, I responded by reminding him of Revelation 20:15, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Later, I posted a quote about the reality of eternal punishment for the unsaved and then added the comment: “Love warns.” This writer repeatedly defended himself by posting links to blog articles he wrote. I glanced at only one of them. I’m cautious not to absorb teachings that misinterpret the Bible. I could have posted more corrective comments but opted not to. I cannot be someone else’s Holy Ghost. You have to let God be God.

This past week, another minister wrote many critical posts against a well-known worship leader for saying certain things. I was more disturbed by this minister’s ongoing attacks. So I wrote a comment on his Facebook page asking if he tried reaching out to this worship leader. This minister wrote a response asking me to clarify what I meant. I then questioned him having (at that time) eight posts against this worship leader. He defended his right to post whatever he wanted and then told me to “Scram Bro.” So I unfollowed this minister to avoid seeing his critical posts in my newsfeed. You have to let God be God.

When evangelizing, I often meet followers of other religions promoting ideas that conflict with Scripture. As a general rule, I’ll share two Bible verses countering their errant beliefs. For example, Muslims believe Jesus was only a prophet and that God has no sons. So I often quote to them John 14:6 and John 3:16. Usually, that won’t result in an immediate conversion. Still, I planted a couple of seeds. More laborers will hopefully water those seeds so the Muslims will someday recognize their need for salvation. 1 Corinthians 3:6 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

Once again, you have to let God be God.

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…” - Titus 3:10 (ESV)

Ready for Rebuke

Over twenty years ago I made the first of what would be many trips to the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. My initial reaction wasn’t too favorable. Previously I hadn’t heard any sermons from Pastor John Kilpatrick or Evangelist Steve Hill and was taken aback by their in-your-face preaching styles. I would have preferred attending more renewal meetings in Toronto but the Lord kept sending me to Pensacola. Since then I have grown to appreciate the ministry that went forth from Brownsville Assembly of God. Their leadership’s passion for purity and holiness is greatly needed in our churches.

Once I posted on Facebook a link to a Steve Hill article warning against heretical teachings invading the church. A fellow minister responded to that with mocking comments. He wrote, “I always cringe when people/prophets/fruitcakes say they have a word of rebuke from the LAWd. He is the God of ALL ENCOURAGEMENT.” Ironically, I spent time with this minister in Pensacola the year before.

Yes, God wants to encourage His people. But Jesus Himself said in Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” The dictionary defines rebuke as “express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions.” Nobody likes to be rebuked. Yet it is sometimes necessary if we are to grow up spiritually. Proverbs 1:23 says, “Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.”

Because we live in the dispensation of grace, some Christians won’t give and/or receive correction. That’s why there are too many immature believers (and non-believers) sitting in church pews week after week. Hebrews 12:8 warns, “But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” John Paul Jackson once said, “We are life long students of the ways of God; trouble starts when we think we have graduated.”

The Epistles contain many instructions to confront an erring believer…

“Those [elders] who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” - 1 Timothy 5:20

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” - 2 Timothy 4:2

“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” - Titus 1:13

“Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” - Titus 2:15

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him’ - Hebrews 12:5

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11

Keep in mind the Lord brought correction to five of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. So if you want to fulfill His plan for your life, don’t tune out godly correction when it comes. Instead of shunning and unfriending people who care enough to point out where you’re missing it, be ready for and receive rebukes spoken in love.

“Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.” – Proverbs 13:18

Mind Your Own Business

The Lord once gave me a vision of a minister I know who was covered in black clothing like a ninja. I shared this with a friend who also knows this minister. We agreed the meaning of this vision was this man being covered in deception because of not being accountable to others. 

However, being accountable doesn’t mean we must allow everyone to speak into our lives anytime they please. Yesterday I went out for breakfast with a group of men following a Bible study. One of them started offering suggestions I didn’t ask for. First, he urged me to find a helpmate and wanted to take me to his church because of the many single women there. He also kept asking how I support myself and talked about other ministries fundraising. Yet one of my rules as a minister is to avoid asking people for money.

Years ago a former co-worker of mine had a habit of sending me messages laced with unsolicited advice. In one email, he quoted 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (“If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat”) suggesting I’m in sin for not holding down a regular 40 hour/week job instead of traveling doing the Lord’s work. I replied by suggesting he read the very next verse. The Apostle Paul also comes against busybodies or as the New Living Translation says, “meddling in other people’s business.” One definition of meddle is “touch or handle something without permission.”

There is a difference between rebuking someone living in sin and simply giving someone our opinion. We should always be open to godly correction. Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” But some people need to learn not to continuously overstep another person’s boundaries (especially on Facebook). It’s just plain rude!

When I’m out evangelizing, some sinners don’t want to hear the gospel. Even though God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), I have to back off when someone doesn’t want to get saved. God will not override another person’s will. One type of advice I particularly find annoying is when religious folk tell me how I should evangelize (such as never going out alone) but they won’t obey the Great Commission themselves!

Getting back to my former co-worker, I explained to him that what may not be the right way for him may be the right way for me. Finally, I had to stop communicating with this man because he repeatedly tried to get in the last word. Even Jesus sometimes walked away from the Pharisees when they continually harassed Him. 

It’s often been said opinions are like armpits…everyone has them and some of them stink. Christians would be wise to stop and pray first before telling anybody what he or she should do. Even a minister can unwittingly be used as a tool of Satan by misleading another believer down a destructive path. In 1 Kings 13, there’s an account of a prophet who gave direction supposedly from an angel that led another prophet to disobey the Lord and later got killed by a lion.

We are ultimately responsible for carrying out God’s plan for our lives, not someone else’s.

“If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.” - 1 Peter 4:15 (NLT)

Speak To Your Storms

One sign that we are living in the last days is an increase of inclement weather. This year the United States has experienced a record amount of tornadoes. The deadliest of which occurred last Sunday in Joplin, Missouri that killed scores of people.

Earlier that afternoon, another tornado hit north Minneapolis where I’ve been staying with friends. I wasn't even aware a tornado had touched down in the area until hours later after coming home from a bike ride to downtown Minneapolis. An air raid siren had been wailing but I didn't think much of it because it wasn't very loud. I figured it was due to bad weather out in the suburbs...not 20 blocks away!

Meanwhile, one of the guys I was staying with had slept in late and was awakened by the siren. In response, he simply rebuked the tornado. It lifted within five seconds! Five minutes later the sun came out and there was beautiful weather the rest of the day. After he posted this testimony on his Facebook page, several of his friends shared similar praise reports of seeing storms disappear after speaking to them.

Just in case you are skeptical of testimonies like this, here’s one you can see for yourself. Two years ago, Jeff Jansen saw a tornado approaching his ministry headquarters in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. You can hear Jeff speak and then watch the storm dissipate in this video…

Jesus said in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” This includes speaking to storms that threaten our lives. Look at Mark 4…

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

38 But He [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

On the other hand, we might find ourselves in storms due to our disobedience (remember Jonah?) or someone else’s like the centurion and the ship’s crew ignoring the Apostle Paul’s warning in Acts 27:10. Despite the resulting shipwreck, Paul and his fellow passengers all escaped safely to land.

Until Jesus comes back to set up His millennial reign, unstable weather will continue to occur throughout the world. So the next time a storm comes near your dwelling, remind yourself of the Greater One who lives on the inside of you. If you have full confidence that you are in the will of God, then there is no need to panic.

Speak to your storms!

“When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.” - Proverbs 10:25 (NLT)