A Facebook Conversation

So the other day I was watching t.v. and was horrified at the news that there is going to be a new reality show coming out soon on TLC about polygamy; specifically one particular family that has 3 wives and approx. 19 kids or so. I decided to post a note on my facebook stating, "What have we come to when we have a reality show about polygamy?! And whats worse is they are making it seem like its no big deal!! I am totally disgusted." I then received a few comments back, one noting that they agreed with me, and another saying, "What's wrong with it". Let me start by saying that I have over 300 people as friends on my facebook that range from clients, people I knew in high school, to my current friends that I see on a regular basis. So when I say there are some fruity people on my facebook...I mean...fruity. I only keep them for potential business purposes, and who knows, maybe the Lord will use that as an avenue to reach them? Ok, so to continue, I noted back to this gentleman, "...are you serious..." because I genuinely thought he was kidding. That was my naivety kicking it... This started a two day back and forth between myself and two other of my friends on facebook. I actually only engaged him twice out of the 27 some odd posts that were made back and forth from that one initial comment that I had. One of his first comments that he made back of which was a little sarcastic, he noted, "...I'm not saying it's something I would want, I'm just saying that calling it disgusting is going a little far. I'm not religious so I don't care what people do one way or the other, but from your perspective WWJD? BTW neither one of you answered my first question." (His first question being, what's wrong with it.) So I was of course, fired up but wanted to meditate on my thoughts and think about what I should say back. I talked to Ryan who really helped me to gather my thoughts and to reach into the Word for a response.

So about 12 hours later after praying and talking to Ryan, my response was, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 "...the husband of one wife..." 1 Tim 3:2 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife (singular, not plural),... and they shall become one (singular not plural) flesh." Permanent monogamy was and continues to be God's design and law for marriage....as far as WWJD...all I know is, "that's what Jesus said..." He then noted back, "...Does that 'book' have any quotes/passages/verses regarding being respectful and forgiving of people who do not choose the same path you have chosen? I am not being sarcastic or rude, I've just never read it all the way through...." I then thought...ok, he is not going to stop. Should I continue to engage him, or just stop myself. What kept coming to my mind was to not throw pearls before swine... In between my thinking, some of my other friends were making comments, to which he then responded again with several things, the following in conjunction with the previous comment I wrote, caught my eye, "...I'm gonna just throw it out there that if there is a god and he decides that some people go to heaven and some people don't it isn't based purely on your belief in him. What if mother Theresa wasn't a believer but was still the amazing woman she was, you really think your god sent her to hell? I believe that if such a supreme being exists that simply living a good and honest life where you regret the things you shouldn't have done and always tried to do good is probably good enough to be rewarded. Do you really believe that your god is so conceded that if you don't believe in him then you go to hell, no matter how great of a person you were? I doubt it..." So then I was fired up again.... After talking to Ryan and then sitting down and praying, I opened by bible again and let the Lord's word guide me. I took some of the passages that Ryan had given me to look into and from the commentary on those, as well as some things that Ray Comfort had on his website, I posted the following about 12 hours later, "So if someone commits a horrific murder and then says they feel remorse for their actions, is the judge then justified to just let him go? Only a corrupt judge would do so. A good judge would say justice demands that they pay for their actions. God is not a corrupt judge; he is a holy, righteous judge. He hates sin. Jesus warned that on judgment day everyone who had sinned against God would justly end up in hell. The only way to heaven is through believing in Christ Jesus (John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through Me”). Jesus sacrificed His life to pay for our sins (which we have all committed – Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God…”). None of us are good, not even one of us. Luke 18:19 “Jesus said to him, “…no one is good except God alone.” Furthermore, there is nothing that can truly be said to “convince” anyone of God. It is through God’s Word and your own belief and faith that you might come to know Him. When things seem unbelievable or hard to comprehend I go to Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” As Christians we have researched His word, and through all the evidence, have faith that His Word is the truth. By no means do we expect everyone to believe and understand, it is only our hope that those that we love, both friends and family alike, will come to believe so that they to can enjoy a life of eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior. Bob (I am not using his real name) – if you are ever interested in researching it a bit further, please let me know. I would love to challenge you to maybe come to my church on any given Sunday (however right now would be an awesome time because of what we are studying) and just listen for one Sunday. The service is about 1 hour and 15 minutes long, but maybe it will solidify either your belief, or maybe encourage you to research Christianity a little more. Regardless of your thoughts and beliefs we all love you and hope for the best for you and your family." He finally responded with the following, "I'm gonna let this conversation fizzle out on the note that I asked you guys for 30 seconds of your time to look at a picture and walk outside and look up, at something that you believe your god created that is one of the most amazing things you will ever see and you wouldn't do it. Instead you asked me for over an hour of my time to listen to someone preach to me." What he was referring to was looking up at the sky and thinking about the picture he sent a link to that showed a picture from the hubble ultra deep field scope. I didn't respond, and I have left it, but I just thought it was an interesting conversation that I wanted to post. More than anything it has just encouraged me to continue to study God's word and to really speak up more. I don't have to be sassy, I don't have to be pushy, I just have to speak His word and plant the seed (as Ryan reminded me). Hope this is encouraging to you all!

~Tiff