There are many people that use social media to gain understanding. If Christians use social media to spread the love of Christ, many people may better understand the love that Christ has for them.
Hi @kim,
Appreciate that insight. Its wonderful that we now have many resources online that Christians can access to grow in understanding. What brought me to the internet were questions I had about faith and then I stumbled upon this online community. It challenged me to go from passively learning new information to active participation.
Just as we are called to extend the love of Christ through our gifts in a local church, we could do the same in an online setting. Not everyone is comfortable to directly engage with the wider world on the questions of our day but we can all take small steps towards investing in the lives of others for the sake of the gospel. For example in this community, it may take the form of greeting, sharing a testimony, a prayer, sharing an insight from the Word, answering questions, asking questions, being sensitive and encouraging to the questioner, bible studies, giving etc. While there are certainly limitations to what we can do online, it can become a means of spiritual growth to ultimately influence our own family and local community even in the area of practical needs. The more we engage, the more we may find a need to spend time in God’s word and prayer to grow in our understanding, wisdom and communication. We may find that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
I am curious about your thoughts on how extending the love of Christ online can look like.
Well said! The opportunities on social media are many! As Christians, we have a chance to reflect the love of Christ to a world in need of true love. They will know us by the way we love one another (John 13:35). I very much appreciate your loving comments and encouragement - God bless you.
Thank you! Appreciate you starting this conversation.
Great question and thoughts! On Facebook, I follow a couple of Christian YouTube influencers. Every time they post something, there is never a shortage of those identifying as Christians using the opportunity to respond with salty comments aimed at unbelievers. Spreading the love of Christ online should include writing constructive comments that will hopefully be of some edification to believers and unbelievers alike. Engagement with unbelievers responding in the comments, which happens often, should be helpful and kind regardless of the tone of the other person takes. Even in the comments, we can seek to understand what someone is saying, inviting them into the conversation to make them feel their voices are cared about. Obviously, we need to be discerning as to whether to engage or not, as some are just interested in “trolling,” and engaging with that sort of activity would be fruitless.
Yes, I agree. As Christians we have opportunities to shine the love of God upon believes an unbelievers alike. No matter their response, we are to reply with good and not evil. These kind of testimonies are very powerful and soften hearts to receive. Thank you so very much for your insightful comments and godly wisdom.
Hi @lindsay! Good to see you on here again!
Very true. I dont use social media much at all but in just regular conversations with relatives and friends I see that there are so many prejudices against Christianity because of half-truths. There is a need to make constructive comments and clear misconceptions.
Wise words.
Thanks! It’s good to reconnect with you!
Even a troll can be softened with the right words given in the spirit of love. We may never see it, or hear about it, but we know that God’s word does not return void! (Isa 55:11)