Take a look at my post on the Devotional from Mark 9:38: https://www.lognewant.com/2016/01/mark-938.html?m=1
The disciples didn’t want to let just anyone speak for Christ. But it was wrong for them to stop this individual.
However, Jesus did set a standard that we should be careful to observe. He said those who are not against Him are for Him. So how do we apply this today?
I see hosts of people taking to social media to pontificate about one spiritual subject or another. Are these people ok? I mean is it ok to speak the truth by yourself?
I think the key Jesus is giving us here is compatibility. For example, we can ask three things:
1. Is the person’s message consistent with the true purpose of the gospel?
2. Is the person a member in good standing of a local, bible-preaching, church?
3. Is the person reasonable and teachable, or antagonistic and obnoxious?
I fear that, all too often, Christians (or at least those who claim Christ) are guilty of the same virtue-signaling, shaming, and gossipy social interaction we see so commonly online. We must ask ourselves, if I wouldn’t say it in my Sunday School class, or in public to someone’s face, why am I saying it online?
We must always remember that though we are in this world, we are not of it. We don’t necessarily need to cut ties to our social media, but we must carefully consider the message we are sending to this lost world.
If you are going to be ignored or attacked, make sure it is because of too much Christ in your message, not too much of you.