Be Careful What You Like On Facebook

Photo Credit - blog.storyful.com

Facebook can be great...sometimes.

For me, Facebook serves 3 main purposes.  First, it's a platform to talk about Jesus.
Secondly, it's a place where I can share photos with friends and family who aren't local enough to see my kids that often.
Thirdly, I use it to add a bit of levity to life from time-to-time.

But here's a serious caution for Facebook users: be careful what you 'LIKE'.

When you LIKE something on Facebook, most people read that as an affirmation of the photo, the article, the source (i.e. website) of the photo or article, or whatever you are liking.  Most people don't take time to think about the nuances of what you like - they assume you are 'good' with everything that you've LIKED.

And so if you are a Christian, remember this: when poor choices are made by others on Facebook and you - in a desire to be nice - LIKE a photo, most people see that as an 'atta-boy'. 

When you LIKE photos of friends or family that are showing them engaged in some questionable behavior, most people assume you are ok with that behavior.

When you LIKE provocative photos - even if they are of friends or family - most people start to make conclusions on what you think it acceptable and what's not acceptable.

And here's the truth: you don't need to LIKE anything.  If you aren't sure if your LIKE will be perceived in the wrong way...then simply don't click anything at all...just walk away.

I REALLY want to encourage every Christian to REALLY think about what you are LIKING on Facebook.  Please, realize that if you identify as a follower of Christ you are not just saying you like something, but - whether you want to or not - you're probably saying "Jesus LIKES this" too.

- tC

Risk Is Right: Better To Lose Your Life Than Waste It

Every once in a while I like to let people know what I'm reading.  If you are ever around when I am teaching, you'll probably have already heard about this book as I (like most pastors and preachers) often infuse what God is teaching me into my preaching and teaching.

Risk Is Right (click the title to purchase this on Amazon or you can get it free at www.desiringgod.org) is a short book - only 51 pages - that challenges the reader to live a risk-filled life for God.  Notice here that I didn't say a foolish life for the sake of risk or for an adrenaline rush.  Risking for God is very different than risking to impress self, others, or risking for a "high".

Piper challenges the reader to look at a variety of biblical models of risk like Esther, Paul, and Joab.
These characters saw that safety was not always the best option and that trusting in God for good things, for God-honoring things is right.

One of my favorite points of the books is that life is inherently risk-filled.  I love this notion because it presses us to think differently about risk.  The question is less about IF we risk and more so FOR WHOM will we risk.  Life is going to have risk, so let's at least make our risk worth something.

A deeper thought that arises out of this book and some of my own reflecting afterward is this: for the Christian all risk for God is worthy because in the end, we are guaranteed Heaven.  If we risk and fail, so we fail.  If we risk and are embarrassed, so be it.  But in the worst of all options we risk and lose our lives for Christ.  And the result?  We are eternity with Christ forever.  And so those doing things like planting churches in places like Turkey and Afghanistan - are they fools for Christ?  Perhaps, but then they are in the company of the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 4:10).

Risk is right if the goal is to honor and find joy in Christ.
This is a short and challenging read.  I recommend it.

- tC