Is Facebook the Place to Talk About the Supreme Court's Decision?

We live in a messy world. That silly law of entropy making things constantly go from order to disorder. Yet, we have hope because though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed. The Lord doing a miracle, reversing the law of entropy inside every Christ follower everyday. Isn't that amazing!

But because we live in this messy world, we have messy world problems to care about and navigating them can be rough. But another amazing thing is that though all Christians don't agree about everything, we do all have a few incredible things in common. That we are all seen through the perfection of Jesus and we were all chosen, specifically to live RIGHT NOW...  in this very time period. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." (Acts 17:26)  The Lord picked for you and me to live now, in the era of social media for His glory.

Let me share the weight of that for a minute. There are more people alive today that there has been in the history of the world...  combined. And because of social media we have a larger platform of people we influence that any generation has ever had... ever. Basically, the Lord has given us the opportunity and the responsibility to reach the most people for Jesus that He has ever entrusted to anyone. He's given us the most people at the very exact time He's given us the ability to reach more people than ever. How smart of God!

Now for another angle. Jesus lived in a very different time than us. He didn't deal with the supreme court making decisions unlawfully thinking they can determine something different than what God already said. And He didn't have Facebook. But He had mess too. He had sick people...  everywhere. And He used the sickness to point to Him and how He was the Healer. And there were women in need of water. He used the water to point to the reality that He is the Living Water and whoever comes to Him, will never thirst. He didn't ignore the mess, He used the mess to point to Himself. He used the mess as the opportunity to engage in conversation about Him.

So here we have the largest opportunity of reaching more people around the world for Christ than any of the people of God had ever been given combined with a giant mess. That my sweet friend, is God's recipe for God to be glorified. We have the weighty responsibility of using the entrusted stewardship of influence and platform of Facebook to use the mess of our world to point to Jesus. So should you talk about politics on Facebook? Is Facebook the place to talk about the Supreme Court horrific decision. My soul deeply cries out YES, YES, YES!

But just as in all of our conversations, we should make the most of every opportunity (whether political or not) and with "gentleness and respect" make a defense.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of the, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who ask you for the a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

This making a defense the Lord is using Peter to tell us about is making a defense when standing up for righteousness. That means, standing up for what God calls right. That includes God's definition of marriage. So God tells us to make a defense for what He calls right, YET with gentleness and respect. The rest of the chapter goes on to describe how suffering will result of standing up for what's right, but that it will allow us to relate with Christ, the One who suffered.

And one final thought. We should be the same everywhere we are, at church, at home, in Bible study and on facebook. Facebook is just a tool to communicate, just like other written words though email or books. What if someone after the invention of the printing press didn't think written words was the place to talk about politics or our opinions about things God cares about? I have been greatly encouraged by things I've read. So those who think no one has ever been swayed by something they read on facebook, maybe they should question why people would be able to be swayed by a book or say even the written words of the Bible yet somehow the Lord isn't able to use people with written words on a screen. I have had the privilege of leading a friend to Christ on Facebook, so please don't believe people can't be swayed through communicating on Facebook.

You have been chosen to live now, with access to Facebook and you have been entrusted with a large platform/circle of influence. Though you may not see the person face to face, that does not make them any less human or any less valuable. The Lord is able to use you in your friends life just as much on Facebook as in face to face. The Lord is not limited by Facebook. You have been entrusted with a great responsibility to use Facebook to glorify God even in the mess.

So sweet sister in Christ, the Lord wants to use you and your words in the influence He's given you. Will your trust Him? Will you step into the mess with gentleness and respect and point to Jesus and stand for what's right? The Lord promised you will suffer for it but He also promised you would know Him more deeply as a result (Phil 2:10) and that He has overcome the world (Jn 16:33).

About Laura

Laura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has five kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 13 years serving with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site.



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