Tim reproves those in the church who are poorly representing Christ on Facebook. The root issue obviously isn’t the Facebook account, it’s the person, it’s their heart and that’s being expressed by ones Facebook. Proverbs 20:11 says – Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. – After looking at this verse one cannot say “My actions do not show who I truly am.” The verse clearly states that you make yourself known by your actions.
Just based on my pastoral knowledge, which definitely is not omniscient by any stretch. But just based on my pastoral observations. I want to do what Paul did, I want to address ten sins that I think have become increasingly a problem in these last days. I want to admonish you as beloved children.
First one. You may think this is a small problem, but I don’t think it is. Facebook. Scripture has various things to say about the identity of a person. Think with me here. Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” A child makes himself known, by his actions.
On Wednesday, somebody visited the church who told me, who admitted wicked deeds in his life and said to me, “But that’s not who I am.” And I said, “That’s not right.” Here are my wicked actions, but that’s not who I am. Our Lord Jesus knew nothing about that kind of logic.
A farmer can tell you the logic of walking out into an orchard. The tree has apples, the tree is an apple tree. That is the basic manner in which Scripture argues. It is by your words you are known. Matthew 12:27 “By you words you will be justified. By your words you will be condemned.” If I look, as a general rule of how you speak I can tell whether you are going to heaven or hell. That is exactly what that verse is saying. Exactly. You can tell a person by their words, by their works, and who their friends are.
You think Scripture says anything about that? Proverbs 13:20: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Don’t be deceived. Paul tells the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.”
Look there was a day when your words, your works, your friends were pretty much concealed to your family and to your immediate social circle. Maybe whoever you would write letters to. Then telegraph came, then telephone came, and then computers and internet. And email. And Facebook and all the other social media.
Guess what? Your words, your works and your friends are now known to the world. It is not concealed in any little corner any longer. Who you are and what you are is being demonstrated to this world on Facebook. Your works, your words and your friends are now visible there. Who you are. You represent Christ just as much in person as you do on your Facebook account. It’s got your name on it. It identifies who you are. If you have pictures on there that are worldly. It speaks about you. It is your fruit. Your friends on there speak about you. They are your friends. You have allowed them to be your friend. You have allowed them to post to your page. If your words are filthy or you allow filth on there. If you allow pictures on there that are worldly or pornographic. That is representing you. And you are supposed to be representing Christ.
Listen if you find that others in this church have Facebook accounts that are not faithfully representing Christ, you go to them. If they don’t hear, you take two or three. If they don’t hear them, we will bring it before the church. We are going to eliminate Facebook pages that are not faithfully representing Christ. Get that filth off and look at your own heart. What you are allowing there says everything about who you are.
Look, the root issue isn’t the Facebook account. It’s you. It’s your heart. It’s who and what you are that is being expressed by your Facebook account. You say “Well I can’t help what my friends put on there.” “Well, I don’t have them as a friend.” Look! It’s out of place. Filthy, inappropriate language. “Brethren let there be no filthiness, no foolish talk, no crude joking which are out of place. Instead let there be thanksgiving.”(Ephesians 5:4) They are out of place. Some people put stuff on your Facebook or allow others to post things that are out of place as a Christian. It’s not befitting of a saint of God. It’s a bad representation of someone that is saying “Look at me. I’m a follower of Christ.” “Look how I represent Him.” Out of place.
