People stop being friends with me because of some nice things I’ve posted. Should I stop posting?
Question:
So I'm in college right now, and I was finally making friends. I say finally because I'm very shy and have a hard time making friends. Anyway, I like to post things on Facebook about God -- nice messages about waiting for marriage or pro-life stuff. I have noticed some of my friends have deleted me. I know two of them are gay and another is an atheist. I feel really bad about losing them as friends. Do you think I should stop posting these messages on my wall? It hurts to know that they took me off but I love God and I need to please him. I feel as if I'm doing a good thing by posting scriptural verses and stuff, right? Or is it wrong of me to be posting so much Christianity stuff that it drives away people?
Your opinion is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Answer:
Let's hear what Peter had to say:
"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, aving your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation" (I Peter 2:11-12).
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil" (I Peter 3:15-17).
"In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead" (I Peter 4:5-6).
Jesus said that there will always be people who do not like the truth. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12). You haven't even faced open hostilities yet. All you have is a few people, who don't want to be reminded of the good things in life, quietly disconnecting from you. It is sad that they don't want to see such things, but why should the good be intimidated by the evil?
What is happening is a sorting or filtering of friends is taking place. Such things always go on. There are people you really enjoy being around and others who make you uncomfortable. A requirement for a Christian is to be bold in standing out for who they are. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). Good people are attracted to the light you show and evil people try to avoid it. "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain" (Philippians 2:14-16).
A Christian, merely being a good person, will become a target for those who can't stand righteousness. It is simply a fact of life. So smile and realize that your message is getting out to people. We aren't aiming to be friends with the world, we are trying to persuade people to leave the world and join us.
