A better way to share political opinions?
By Karina Philip
www.karinaspeaks.com
Expressing one’s political views on social media these days is like dropping bloody fish guts into a shark tank. It’s downright scary at times. That’s why I often sit out these exchanges.
But I’ve seen brothers and sisters in Christ trash each other too often. I cringe every time I see some iteration of: “You’re a smart guy. Take down this garbage.”
Could there be a better way?
I hope so.
Jesus said that without unity, we (the Church) cannot be effective witnesses to the world (John 17:20–23).
With that in mind, here are some questions to ask ourselves as we engage in these difficult but necessary conversations:
- Is my objective simply to make a point or to point people to Christ?
- Am I regarding the person I disagree with as a fellow image bearer of Christ?
- Are the things we agree on of more consequence than the things we disagree about?
- What if neither of us has a full grasp on all the issues and we need each other to see a more complete picture?
- Can I acknowledge the inherent conflict, tension and trade-offs of siding with any political party?
- Can we acknowledge that no political party has a monopoly on what we believe? That in some cases it’s not as simple as “this versus that”?
- Could we work together outside of the current political environment to demonstrate the love of Christ and improve things in our country?
- Am I placing my culture, region, traditions or any other affiliation or ideology above identification with Christ and what He commands?
- Am I defending the truth of God’s word or striving to preserve power, wealth and entitlements that favor me above others?
- Has my personal apathy and compromise contributed to our country’s current societal ills?
- Is my aversion to our leadership so acute that it impedes me from obeying the biblical commands to honor (1 Pet. 2:17) and pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1–3)?
- Is my defense of our leadership so unequivocal that it impedes me from obeying the biblical command to speak up and defend the rights of the weak and destitute (Prov. 31:8–9; Jer. 22:3)?
- Can I call out any unbiblical views my brother or sister might have in humility and love?
- Can I accept being called out for any unbiblical views I might have in humility and love?
- How can I gracefully exit this conversation if or when it becomes apparent we cannot agree?
EDITOR’S NOTE — Karina Philip is a writer, blogger and educator who shares her thoughts on the Bible and life at www.karinaspeaks.com. She lives in the New York City metro area with her husband and 3-year-old daughter.
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Cooperation starts at home
During [this] Week of Prayer for associational missions I want to give a shout out to those who serve through the local associations and the churches who partner together in the local setting.
Southern Baptists have always been able to get more done through working together. Cooperative missions efforts start at home as local churches in an association join themselves together to reach their community.
We know that model continues on as churches cooperate across the state, across the nation and literally around the world through the International Mission Board.
But during this week I want to say thank you to those who are leading the association work. I want to say thank you to those churches who are still investing in that work.
Might the Lord use us as Southern Baptists to share the gospel — the good news of the Lord Jesus — locally, across the state, across the nation and around the world.
God bless you as you seek to share His good news.
—Paul Chitwood
EDITOR’S NOTE — Paul Chitwood is president of the International Mission Board. The Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations is Oct. 20–26. For prayer resources, go to www.ameresources.org.
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Letters to the Editor
I’ve noticed that you have such a positive and full presence on social media. I enjoy seeing what you and TAB are up to and all that you are making available to your followers. You are doing an excellent job!
Keep up the good work. You guys are doing great things.
Melissa Carlisle-Golden
Birmingham, Ala.
I’ve been a reader of The Alabama Baptist for several years and I love the changes that you have made. One word to describe it: relevant. TAB is filled with attractive and relevant content that is especially helpful to pastors and others who have an interest in the church making disciples.
Pastor Arnold Hendrix
South Mobile FBC, Theodore
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You are limited only to your imagination and the power of the Holy Spirit to reach, teach and disciple.
Randall Stoner
Director of Missions, Marshall Baptist Association
Let’s not be content with mediocrity in our Christian lives. There is already too much apathy [and] spiritual laziness in the church today. Don’t be ordinary, be extraordinary for Christ! Be a bright light shining for the Lord in this present darkness.
Charlie Howell
DOM, Madison Baptist Association
Congregations do not know everything about their pastor, his life or his wife and you don’t have to. … He may need you to love on him and his family just a little bit.
Mike Snow
DOM, Bethel Baptist Association
It’s healthy for us to remember that our identity is not tied to what we have to offer but what Christ has offered us. … [God] did not accept us based on wholeness but our brokenness. He gave us His Son to heal us from our sins.
Pastor Brent Thompson
Heflin Baptist Church
When a Holy Spirit-concept gets into our heads, [our] old, outdated, entrenched thinking gets dislodged and a powerful new way of life emerges.
Pastor Gary Burton
Pintlala Baptist Church
Live unselfishly and love your communities and see the beauty in every single person you encounter.
Lisa Rose
Montgomery, Ala.
We should also do everything in our power to expose as many people as we can to the life-changing gospel. … As people come into the church, we should love them enough to, with great understanding and grace, not allow them (or ourselves) to settle for less than God’s best plan.
Pastor Josh Cook
Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown
There are times in our lives that we can get so overwhelmed by our circumstances that we will refuse to hear what our Father is telling us. Days of trouble need to be days of prayer. … Prayer is the initial and essential action of every believer, especially when trouble comes.
Pastor Bill McCall
The Baptist Church at McAdory, McCalla
The Holy Spirit convicts us very clearly when we are not under His full influence.
Pastor Matthew DeBord
FBC Clanton
If you follow Matthew 28:18–20 and go out to make disciples, you will always end up building the true church. However, if you start out to make a church, you rarely get disciples. This concept is true in every instance! I have always been attracted to soul winners because they are the first line of defense against our community, our culture and our country turning against God. … If we fail in making disciples of those who are outside of our church we will never reach those who God called us to reach.
Pastor Jerry Light
FBC Selma
Jesus said, “I will come again.” This is a wonderful promise for the Christian. The coming of the Lord Jesus to gather His people unto Himself! … He will return!
Pastor Eugene Carver
Hillview Baptist Church, Birmingham
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From the Twitterverse
@vancepitman
Our nation desperately needs a generation of pastors who are more prophetic than pundit.
@myarnell
“It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even judge myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me” [1 Cor. 4:3-4]. Why is Paul so confident? His gospel call.
@dandarling
[A] key part of leadership, something God has had to teach me over the years, is to tell those who work with you how much you appreciate them before they expect it. Don’t make people scratch and claw for affirmation. Give it freely.
@Fikkert
“Nothing short of a change of church culture will suffice — from a culture of entertainment, politics, personality and program to a culture of discipleship.” [— Gerald L. Sittser @CTmagazine]
@EdLitton
Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Matt. 9:38)
@brocraigc
“Selfishness is as foreign to Christianity as darkness to light.” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon
@trillianewbell
Sometimes I wonder if we are most critical of people not because they aren’t walking in a manner worthy of the gospel but rather because they aren’t walking in a manner worthy of what we think. In other words, they aren’t reflecting us. We want people to be made in our image.
@bellevuepastor
Does anybody remember when people in general seemed a little kinder? I think it’s providential that “kindness” is located right in the middle of the nine attributes that make up the fruit of the spirit. Ask the Lord to help you be kind today — to everyone.
@DrStevenJLawson
The hard sayings of Jesus are not hard to understand, just hard to swallow.
@OSHawkins
For those new to SBC life there once was a time when the main thing talked about was evangelism and missions.
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