Sometimes one of my FaceBook friends will post a video from another person or from an organization or group, which contains either verbal or visual material that is offensive to me. I often assign that third party to the "HIDE" category, which means that anything that comes from that person or group will not show up in my "feeds." (I don't usually "unfriend" my friends, even if they have a lot of offensive material, though I may hide specific posts that they make). I have had friends "hide" me or even unfriend me because they were so offended by my anti Liberalism and pro-Bible position that they could not stomach my constant declarations.
I was thinking about an interesting video I had seen earlier this week, but could not remember who shared it or the origin of the video. As I thought about it, I realized that when I shut the door on a third party source because they shared an offensive posts, I also shut the door on any good posts, which they might share. AND THAT IS FINE. I don't need to go through the mounds of garbage to find a morsel of good. But the point is, sometimes the negative can block access to the good. AGAIN, THAT IS FINE.
HOWEVER...
It is not fine or acceptable when we, as Christians show the negatives of life (the unChristlike, unBiblical actions, attitudes, assertions) to the unsaved. When they assign us to the "hide" category, because of a moral failure, they also hide the redeeming truth of God, which we are trying to share with them.
I accept the idea that folks will cut me off, either because of misinformation or because they are knowingly rejecting the message that I am trying to share. What I must not accept is the idea that I am entitled, that I am allowed to mix the beauty of salvation with the ugliness of selfishness, the truth of God with the corruption of carnality, the authority of Scripture with the lie of Satan.
God does not view our failures as acceptable either. In fact, when we morally, spiritually fail God by demonstrating or articulating carnal concepts, we must either confess them and repent of them, as well as take steps of reconciliation and even restitution, or we will be judged because we chose sin over Christ and His salvation from sin.
I am constantly reading and hearing the lie of Satan, which says that sin does not separate us from God and that God does not separate us from sin. Trusting Christ for salvation from sin is not "works salvation" or "works of the flesh," it is the work of God in us. The bad news is, God will judge us according to the way we live our lives and if you turn back from Christ to sin and sinning, He will not remember you. The good news is, if you come to Christ in faith, He will not remember your sins.
CONSIDER THE ADMONITIONS FOUND IN THESE PASSAGES
Ecclesiastes 12:10-14
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Matthew 12:33-37
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Romans 2:4-11
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
2 Corinthians 5:8-10
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
