I've had several people thank me recently for my brutally honest and probably offensive Facebook posts, shared articles, and bold truth claims, regardless of what society says is acceptable.
I've been praised for my "bravery" and willingness to "stand up for what I believe", and encouraged to continue preaching the truth, no matter how unpopular that truth may be.
And I appreciate that. I appreciate people letting me know that they support me. I'm glad to know that someone approves of my shameless disregard for political correctness on social media.
We're called to be ambassadors for Christ, and if that means "preaching" the offensive truth on Facebook, then that's what I'll continue to do.
But please, don't thank me for what I post online. If you must thank me for something, thank me for how I live.
What good are my words if that's all they are? I can say whatever I want online, but if - when faced with opposition face-to-face - my resolve crumbles, then not only is my Facebook status pronounced null and void, but it proves me to be a hypocrite and a liar, and worse than if I'd said nothing at all.
It's easy to be brave and bold from behind a keyboard, to promote beliefs you have no base for (and sound very confident while doing so), or to make potentially offensive statements fearlessly, knowing that a digital medium lets you avoid all that messy, face-to-face conflict.
Anyone can post truth statements on social media. But to live the words, to get behind your beliefs and defend them in the real world, is something else entirely.
So please, continue liking my posts and appreciating what I say on Facebook. But before you praise my words, make sure I'm backing them up with my life. Make sure I'm living what I'm preaching, and call me out when I'm not.
I don't promise to be perfect, or anything close to it. But I do promise to try and not only preach God's word with my words, but with my life as well.
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James 2:14-15, 20 - "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?..... Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?"
