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Top 10 things to remember this Christmas

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top-10-mistakes2016 ChristmasTop things to remember this Christmas

#10 - Don't forget the blessing of family and friends - As you try to catch up by wrapping presents, going to the grocery store, and getting ready to receive company or be the company, be thankful for the family and friends that you have been given

#9 - Remember to enjoy your family - A close friend and love of mine once told me that we don't get to choose our family but we do get to choose our friends.  Whether you are with family or friends or possibly both enjoy this season of giving more than receiving

#8 - Always be thankful - whether you get a gift of time, an expression of love and or an unexpected gift, be thankful that someone else took the time to give you something

#7 - Remember Attitude - We cannot control much, but we can control our own attitude and how we respond to others

#6 - Remember to say thank you- in the busyness of life and the demands of "me" and the cries of others, be kind and considerate to those who work and serve and share with others

#5 - Do for others instead for you first - the blessing is truly understanding that it is better to give than receive

#4 - Serve others - Serve one another in love as Christ has served us

#3 - Remember what God has given you - count your blessings

#2 - Share the Gospel - in whatever and wherever you do.  Give people the hope that we have in Christ alone.

#1 -  What's the gift - In all the hustle and bustle and spending and shopping please do not forget the ultimate gift that God gave us - Sending his Son down to this earth to be born of a virgin, live on this earth, spend time in his ministry, fulfilling every prophecy spoken of Him in Scripture and him drinking the cup of sacrifice for our sins - Jesus paid the price for you and me

Blessings,

Dante

 

 

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The marks of a disicple

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dareOften you have read and heard from Lance and I not to just be a follower of Jesus, but to dare to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Some may say, "Are you saying that if I am saved then I am not automatically a disciple of Jesus Christ?"  or some say, "If I am saved then I am already a disciple of Christ", while others say, "to be a disciple, your life has to bear the marks of a disciple."  So you find yourself asking where does Legacy Dad stand on this.  My answer is:  Look to the New Testament!  If you read and reread and study and meditate on the Word of God, then you cannot help but understand what a disciple of Christ must do,  must look like and what fruit he/she should be bearing.Jesus, in Matthew 7, tells us what disciples look like:

True and False Disciples21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Jesus in Matthew 28 doesn't just tell us to go out and reach the lost and save them.  He takes it one step further:

The Great Commission18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus also goes on to say that if you hold onto (never let go of) his teaching, then you are a disciple.  If you follow him (that is, to say, not just believing in Him), If you teach the truths to other trustworthy people so that they can multiply God's plan for His believers.  In Luke 6:40, "A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher."  Luke 9:23 says, "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  Jesus and His New Testament have so much to say on what a disciple must be, must do and must follow in order to be called His disciple.

Marks of A Disciple

A disciple must(s):

  • Know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:  Romans 10:9-11 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a]
  • Renew his mind:  Romans 12: A Living Sacrifice 12:  1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
  • Knows and Studies God's Word:  1 John 2:3-11 - "Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers, 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."
  • Let the Word have authority over their lives:  Colossians 3:15-17 "15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
  • Be Humble:  James 4:10, "10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
  • Be not just hearers of the word BUT doers:  James 1:22, "22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
  • Bear God's Fruit (you simply cannot help but bear His fruit if you are his disciple):  Galatians 5:22-26, "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
  • Die to self:  Romans 6:8, "8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."  This simply means let go and let God in all that you do.
  • Be a good steward:  A good steward is someone who understands that God is all, above all and over all.  That is, to say, that God has dominion over my finances, my choices, my daily life and my gifts.  All that I do should point others to Christ.

There is so much more to say on being and daring to be a disciple of Jesus Christ (more to follow on this topic).  That being said, understand that none of us are perfect nor could ever be.  We are called to live content and humble lives.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and understand God's call to worship together in community, in family.  To lift each other up and to supply the needs of the body.  In doing so, you will lay up treasure in Heaven where it is so much more important than the matters of a life down here on earth.  For we are but a mist and before we know it, our lives will be ending and our eternity approaching.

What are you going to choose to do?  Serve yourself?  Or serve God?

Blessings,

D

 

 

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F E A R

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fear[feer]

noun1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm.Antonyms: courage, security, calm, intrepidity.2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling:an abnormal fear of heights.Synonyms: phobia, aversion; bête noire, bogy, bogey, bugbear.Antonyms: liking, fondness, penchant, predilection.3. concern or anxiety; solicitude:a fear for someone's safety.4. reverential awe, especially toward God:the fear of God.Synonyms: awe, respect, reverence, veneration.5. something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of:Cancer is a common fear.6. anticipation of the possibility that something unpleasant will occur:Having grown up during the Great Depression, he had a constant fear of running out of money.

Fear is a real feeling (emotion) that has been given to us by God.    Research from the University of Glasgow has challenged the established view that there are six basic emotions: anger, fear, surprise, disgust, happiness and sadness.  They pontificate that there are just four basic emotions.  The theory is that there are four biologically basic emotions–anger, fear, happiness and sadness–on top of which have evolved much more complex varieties of emotion over the millennia.

There is real fear and then there is the outcome of the unknown.  That is, to say, whether the fear is real or perceived real it still gives us a natural response.  The question is how should we respond to both types of fears as a Christian.  Each one of us are fearfully and wonderfully made as Scripture tells us so.  Because of this, each one of us are different and will respond differently to all types of circumstances.

The word "fear" is found 353 times in 340 verses in the ESV Bible translation.  Do you think the Bible has some things to teach us about fear?  I sure do.

Fear in the Bible (Various Passages):

  • Genesis 9:2  The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.
  • Deut. 6:2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
  • Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  • Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[fn]
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

The Bible gives us a Road Map on facing fears (source:  www.belief.net  :

  • I Will Fear No Evil:  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
  • I will help You:  For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)
  • Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?   The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
  • We Say With Confidence  "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)
  • Peace I Leave With You  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

 

Funk, Depression, Not just myself

Dear Legacy Dad (and all of our readers),thanksgivingHappy Thanksgiving to all of you!  Lance and I would like to wish you the best of Holiday on remembering all the things that you are thankful for.  We are thankful for all of you and for your desire and commitment to grow and be a legacy dad (and family).

Philippians 4:6-9New International Version (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Funk

That being said, you may have noticed that blog entries between Lance and I have been far and few between these past several months and I am sorry for that.  I cannot speak for Lance, nor his travel schedule, but as for me, it has been a taxing year:  New Job, Health and death of a parent, health issues (or lack of health maintenance) and then finding myself in this funk (you may call it depression).  I knew, since we buried my dad, that I would be grieving and/or at least have the grief catch up to me.  When my mom died in 2011, I had processed that a lot before and up into the funeral and was able to let go and grieve all along the way.  Not so with my dad.  He was a very hard man, who become soft is his last few years.  He had anger issues and a temper and could be known for not always being such a nice man.  However, if you saw him in most circles (from his profession, to his community habits) he was a gentlemen and a very hard worker.  He was a socially responsible human being that lived by a very stringent set of ethics - hard work being on the top of that list.  He would always quote Shakespeare to me and talk about the importance of stewardship and integrity.  He instilled in me a work ethic that is rivaled by very few.

My father was an Architect, a professor and a dad who would do anything for family.  He was a man of character and integrity and for all intents and purposes, he was good man.  He knew his trade and not only that, to the shock and sometimes surprise of the contractors that he worked with, he knew as much about their trades.  Seriously, this man could build a house from the ground up (I saw it).  From the excavation, to the concrete and foundation, to the plumbing and electrical all the way up to finishing work - this man could do it.  In my eyes he was a super man.  For years I longed for his approval in all that I did.  He was not a man of many words relating to feelings.  He would talk, yell and discipline.  He would encourage at times and correct often as needed.  He was lacking love (his Mom died when he was 11) so he sucked at expressing how he felt about others.  I understand this now!

Anyways, back to me.  Before this man died, when he became really sick and was given weeks to live - two of the four siblings (My oldest sister and I) were able to spend those last days with him  I could tell he was struggling and caught between two worlds - his earthly desire to live on earth and the uncertain desire to meet his Savior and wife in Heaven again.  He was in the VA Hospital in their wing called Heroes Haven (Warriors that served our Country).  The staff was wonderful and very comforting, encouraging and urging to my sister and I.  They told me that we should not be surprised to see these warriors fight until the very end.  They wouldn't just give up and die.  How true that was, because this soldier fought and perked up actually when he saw me fly down to his hospital bed.  He improved so much that he actually went into another VA wing were he ultimately succumbed  to death and went home to be with our Lord.

The funeral was beautiful.  I had asked a Pastor of our church to do the funeral and he did it was such an authority of love and compassion for all those who attended.  I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of customers who sent cards, flowers for my dad and gifts to my dad's charity of choice.  I was overwhelmed by all those who came to pay their respects for my dad to our family.  I was even more overcome by those who came to see my family and I.  The funeral was pointing to our Savior Jesus Christ and the hope that we should all have in Him and Him alone.

I was really touched with the honor guard came to Salute him at the grave site and folded the flag and we requested that my oldest brother receive that flag.  How touching and inspiring that was to all those around.  My brother, I could tell, was overwhelmed by the honor.  I salute those soldiers for what they do and how they serve - I am very thankful for them, as well.

Afterwards, the process of loss begin to creep into my life.  The feeling of emptiness and uncertainty was in the back of my head.  The thing is, though, I could not rationalize this.  I knew that I would grieve after the funeral as I did with my mother's funeral.  But this was different, I was gaining weight and not doing my usual things to take care of my self (workouts, running, eating).  My loose clothing are actually no longer loose.  I don't want to say that I was (am not) laughing and living because I am.  The thing is, with my dad's funeral, this hit me so much harder because now my parents are no longer on this earth.  I have to wait to be with them again and realized how lonely that felt.  I do not want to diminish my family (my wife and kids) because they are my strength and my encouragement in life.  I truly look forward to coming home.

For some reason, I could not put a finger what was going on with me.  Was I in a funk?  Was I just "fat and lazy"?  Am I depressed?  Am I in depression?  These were questions that were floating in my head that just were not gaining any traction in my life.  That is, until I met with a young gentlemen this past Tuesday to discuss his co-leading our men's group (Men of Faith) this Saturday.  He was going over a lot of possible topics - but a theme was beginning to develop.  He shared a lot with me and it was an honor and a privilege for me to get to know him better than just seeing him on Saturday mornings.  The theme was a story of depression and community and caring and the church.  I felt as if the Lord put this man in my life for me to deal with the "unsaid" in my life:  Funk/Depression.

Last night, after our church's Thanksgiving Service of Gratitude, I was going to stay up late and watch a movie with my wife, but instead her and I went to bed and talked.  I shared about my meeting with this young man and then I shared a lot about what was truly going on with me.  It wasn't as if my wife didn't notice or was not caring, because she was.  However, I wasn't dealing with it head on.

I don't want to misrepresent where I am now, because I am still they're going through it and being raw with who I am right now and where I want to go.  But after the talk this past Tuesday with this younger brother and then the heart to heart with my wife last night I can tell you where I am going:

The church is a hospital - if not, it should be.  We are all broken, all sinful and all in need of help and community and  a Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus didn't come to help the righteous, he came to heal and cure and bless the sick and broken.  He invited the lame and broken and lost into his world and saved them from their bondage.  Jesus knew what He was doing from the beginning - because His Father gave Him the Trinity:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  There it is - community from the very beginning.

tasteThe church is a hospital.  My men's group and friends and family are my community.  I need to serve others and go outward toward the Father's business and not my own (in the state of mind that I am in) to pull back, isolate and feel sorry for myself and internalize poor and unhealthy choices.  I need to look upward, reach outward and in some cases (maybe if you going through this) to get professional Christian (biblical) counsel and even in some cases medicate to regulate the brain to correct itself.  From a post in Christianity today, "Major depression is diagnosed when an adult exhibits one or both of two core symptoms (depressed mood and lack of interest), along with four or more of the following symptoms, for at least two weeks: feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions; fatigue; psychomotor agitation (cannot sit still) or retardation (just sitting around); insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much); significant decrease or increase in weight or appetite; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.  This clinical definition is sterile, however, and fails to capture the unique quality of the severely depressed person's suffering.  Deep depression is embodied emotional suffering. It is not simply a state of mind or a negative view of life but something that affects our physical being as well. Signs of a severe episode of depression include unfounded negative evaluations of friends, family, and oneself, emotional "pain," physical problems such as lethargy, difficulty getting one's thoughts together, and virtually no interest in one's surroundings. Though most of us know at least an acquaintance who has committed suicide, this tragic act baffles us perhaps as much as it pains us. "I just don't understand," we say. The irony is that survivors of serious suicide attempts frequently reflect on those attempts with a similar attitude: "I have no idea what came over me." The pain and mental dysfunction of major depression are that deep."

After this two God-ordained talks this week (the younger brother and my wife) I have come to the conclusion of the following action steps:

  • Serve others
  • Be in community
  • Open up about my hurts and feelings
  • Weep and mourn
  • Don't hold it in
  • Look Upward (in God's word and prayer)
  • Reach Outward
  • If needed, seek biblical counseling
  • If needed, in Biblical counseling (Be open to medicating)

If you find yourself in any form of this "funk" or "junk" or actual depression, then I encourage you to seek others, trusted friends and biblical counseling and to be open for help and prayer.  Look upward and reach outward.  Life is too short to wait.  Your life does have value.  I say this because as God as my witness, I can tell you that this is truth because He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you.  You have value and if you need help take action today!

Others will be blessed by you and others can even be helped by your story.

To God be the Glory!

Happy Thanksgiving!

D

 

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Tell Your Story

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whats-your-story-4I gave my life to Jesus Christ on November 7, 1976 in a fundamental, independent Baptist Church.  The pastor was a humble and intelligent man named Reverend Donald G. Humbert.  He was a godly man who believed in the Bible word for word.  I grew up Catholic, meaning I grew up in a tradition and religion rather than a genuine faith and friendship with our Creator.  That is, to say, that I was not connected to God's word, His truth, nor did I have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  My sister started attending this church and eventually got my mom and I to start attending this church.  After several months, I remember one Sunday evening (11/7/1976) that I was so convicted by the Holy Spirit that I stood up during the "alter call" and gave my life to the Lord.I cannot tell you that I always followed the road to biblical discipleship (read more:  Here), but the Lord never gave up on me even at my most darkest of times.  During my late adaloscent years and even into my early teens I was on fire for the Lord.  I was President of my youth group and CEO of our high school ministry.  I loved the Lord with every part of my being.  And then I met high school football and the like and turned away from God and toward earthly idols.  My youth Pastor, and my friend, noticed a dramatic change and wrote me a letter about this (I still have this today) and called me out (or tried to) in being raw and honest with his walk.  I really always love and respect that man for his truth in love.  As a result, I walked away from my relationship with God for over a decade (again see the post above).  It was not until I went to a friend's wedding and met his wife's best friend did my life begin to change.

This woman, who would later be called my wife, introduced me to another Bible Church in her hometown.  She even had me waking up at 6am in the morning to drive out to her church in the western suburbs of Chicago to help her lead a 2 and 3 year old class.   At the time that we officially started dating, we were on a double date downtown for her birthday and I found out from my dad that that early morning my mother had a massive heart attack.  She was given 6 months to live and my dad had just lost his brother.  Needless to say, I got a second opinion and my mom lived 10 years past the original 6 month diagnosis.  After my mom had her open heart surgery, she woke up and asked me to make her a promise (i said of course) and she asked me to go to church again and to start reading my bible again.

That begin a long road to recovery (sin nature stuff takes some time to work through the carnage and scars), but my wife said to me during this process of early marriage, "do something about it" (she was referring to my walk and what I needed).  This began to formulate my walk with other brothers and to truly grasp what Galatians 6:1-2 says (click here).  So I started walking with other brothers and started to repent of all the justifications (that were sin) in my life and confess to a Holy God that which I did and was repenting of.

What do I believe (in) today:

  • I am a work in progress.
  • I am going to finish well.
  • I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and my friend.
  • I believe that God is the authority over my entire life.
  • I believe that God calls us in to community and to walk with each other.
  • I believe that He has given me a story, my story, to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What I am asking you to do today:

  • Take a hard look at your life and ask yourself if there is any sin nature stuff in your life that needs to be repented of
  • Pray continually
  • Ask God to lead you
  • Examine yourself daily (in and through the word of God)
  • Let God be the authority of your entire life
  • Walk with other brothers (if you are a man) and other sisters (if you are a woman) - confess your sins to one another!
  • Finally, I ask you to tell your Gospel story of your life to others in your circles of life.

To God be the Glory,D

 

 

 

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BE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

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If you are an American, like me, then unless you are completely off the grid then you have been drastically affected by social media like myself.  That is, to say, both mentally and physically this has been a really exhausting poltical year.  I have to say in this Presidential election neither candidate would have made my top 20 list of who I would vote for.  As a matter of fact, given the political climate and social barometer there weren't too many that would have made the list in the first place.In either case, we the American people, had to choose to 1) vote for either candidate, 2) vote for neither and pick a 3rd party that has no chance of winning (which was a vote for the incumbant candidate) or 3) choose not to vote giving up our right and privilege to vote.    Either way, you had to make one of these choices, however, if you choose options #3, then shame on you if you are one of these protesters or internet haters (in my opinion, you shouldn't be allowed to have the right a privileges as an American citizen - just my opinion).

Okay, now enough about me and my opinion on the 2016 Election.

Here is an article about posting on Social Media from the Gospel Coalition:

1. Will it edify? Or significantly inform a useful conversation? (Mark 12:29–31; 1 Cor. 14:26)

Think of what will edify others. All we do is in obedience to the command to love God and others. How will it increase their knowledge, faith, or love? Am I accurately representing positions you disagree with? Am I sure of my facts? Trivialities hopefully fill up our lives less than they do so much of the Internet.

As John Piper has said, “One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove on the Last Day that our prayerlessness was not from lack of time.” He’s right.

2. Will it be easily misunderstood? (John 13:7; 16:12)

The privacy of a personal conversation limits misunderstanding. Some public posts will sound one way to those who know us and another to those who don’t. Negative assessments are often best shared privately, or not at all. How many of us have learned at our workplace that e-mail is a terrible way to share negative comments? When it comes to public postings, ask yourself: Are there reasons I may not be a good person to speak on certain matters?

3. Will it reach the right audience? (Mark 4:9)

If you’re correcting someone, should the audience be wide—or more narrow? Is that audience correctable? When you use social media, consider who’s listening. What if everyone in your church eavesdropped on your conversations today? Yet we do this all the time online.

4. Will it help my evangelism? (Col. 1:28–29)

Is what you’re about to say going to help or hinder those you’re evangelizing? Is it likely to diminish the significance (to them) of your commitment to the gospel, or enhance it?

5. Will it bring about unnecessary and unhelpful controversy? (Titus 3:9)

Think carefully about controversy. The line between the vigorous exchange of ideas and a kind of social war is sometimes thinner than we think. What’s this particular controversy to which I’d be contributing good for? Might it be unhelpful? How much time will it take up? Is this an unavoidable primary issue, or a matter about which disagreement is fairly unimportant? Will this controversy play into any other division that threatens the unity of my local church?

6. Will it embarrass or offend? (1 Cor. 12:21–26)

Will anyone be embarrassed or offended by what you’re saying? I understand that the mere fact something is offensive doesn’t mean saying it is wrong, but we must be sure it’s worth it.

7. Will it convey care? (1 Cor. 12:21–26)

Will those mainly concerned appreciate your motives? Privacy in communication conveys care, an honoring of the person receiving the information. You like the fact that your doctor’s report is private, but you don’t mind that the store’s sale is advertised. If someone would rather be addressed in person, why not do that?

8. Will it make people better appreciate someone else? (1 Cor. 12:21–26)

Point out God’s grace in the lives, ministries, and arguments of others. Highlighting something that will build esteem for someone else glorifies God and encourages others to see his work in them.

9. Is it boasting? (Prov. 27:2)

Does what you communicate online draw attention to yourself more than your topic? How could that be spiritually harmful? Will it leave people with a more accurate understanding of yourself? Are you simply being tempted to draw attention to what you know? When was the last time you encouraged others by sharing something embarrassing or even sinful about yourself?

10. Is the tone appropriate? (2 John 1, 12; Col. 4:6; Eph. 4:29; 2 Tim. 2:24–25)

Will people understand and be encouraged in the truth you communicate? How important is the tone to your message being rightly received? Is it evidently kind, patient, and gentle? The literal tone of your voice and the look on your face fill out so much of what you mean. In a personal conversation, you can more quickly understand that something needs clarifying. The Internet doesn’t sanctify anger or frustration.

11. Is it wrong to say nothing? (Rom. 1:14)

Do you have an opportunity or even a responsibility to communicate something? Some of you do this for your job. Have you established a “relationship” with readers, friends, and followers online that would expect you to comment on a particular issue or situation? Our freedom of speech is a wonderful stewardship. Use it well and responsibly.

12. What do others advise? (Prov. 11:14; 15:22; 24:6)

When you’re about to communicate something provocative, do you have good sounding-boards to help you estimate the response? Do you take the time to consider before you publish? Speed of response is both an ability of the Internet and a temptation to speak too quickly (contra James 1:19; Prov. 10:19; 14:29; 16:32; 17:27). Remember, you will give an account for every word you type (Matt. 12:36). Does saying things at a “safe distance” from people tempt us to say things we wouldn’t say in person?

Perhaps you could write down these questions and ask a friend to look over your social media feeds with them in mind. Or, even ask someone you know disagrees with you on an issue you’ve posted about and see what they say.

 

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;watch your words, they become actions;watch your actions, they become habits;watch your habits, they become character;watch your character, for it becomes your destiny." (Frank Outlaw)

 

Blessings,Dante

 

 

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