Saints, let us pause and ask,'why did this item become news?' I believe it's because this man took a stand for something much bigger than a lot of us recognize. Since i haven't seen as much marital damage as he's seen, all linked to facebook, i would hesitate to say ought but pray for him. He obviously sees fb as a source of temptation that many MAY be unable to resist and like a wise shepherd, is warning his flock. Brethren, do please pray for this brother. We may not agree with his position on fb but let us believe the best of him. Frankly, if a trusted brother thought fb wasn't a good idea and asked me to give it up, i would. I believe Brother Miller's congregation [or at least, his pastoral staff] trusts his judgment on this matter. May the Lord continue to strengthen His servants all over the globe.
_________________Tolu
Just an afterthought...This particular pastor, Cedric Miller, had previously admitted in a 2003 criminal court testimony to having had engaged in sexual activity with his wife and a male church assistant during several sex romps. According to testimony, these sexual situations sometimes involved the pastor, his wife, the male church assistant and his wife. When news of the sexual immorality suddenly came to light last week, Miller tried to claim that Facebook was partially to blame for his immoral behavior (even though the immorality was between individuals that the pastor knew outside of Facebook). This pastor is now being mocked around the world for his hypocrisy. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1331704/Facebook-ban-pastor-Cedric-Miller-admits-threesome-wife-church-assistant.html*I won't include the article due to its explicit descriptions.
_________________Christopher
Some thing is got to change what ever the cost!
Telling people to quite facebook is God's place in a person's life... not a man's.Romans 14 speaks of each person's conviction to keep the Sabbath or not keep the Sabbath. I believe the same can include facebook :) If a person's conscience is not hindered from walking in the life of God while having facebook, who is man to tell him to stop? That's a bit legalistic.
Thank you Chris for providing more light on the situation. With the light of Scripture as a guide to interactions on SI and FaceBook, and elsewhere, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," I am often sobered by what I read posted on FaceBook. What once was only something you may learn after long friendships becomes visibly very quickly by what is said on FaceBook. I have had people become offended when confronted about their comments, especially confessing Christians. I have also been surprised by comments on links to sermons and articles from SI. On the other hand, I have found myself wasting time on FaceBook and even SI when I have other things to do. To say the Internet is a mine field is an understatement. Life is a minefield. I am free when I walk by the Spirit but as soon as I let my attention drift from the narrow path, BOOM! I hit a mine.
I know this pastor means well but he needs to see that its a heart issue, that the peoples hearts that need to change in order to guide their behavior. Anytime a person adds rules and regulations, they are reverting back to the Law. I will use myself as an example: I am a single Christian woman, if I wanted to run around and do naughty things, I could! Im 50 years old, I can do whatever Im big enough to do but you know what? I DON'T because Ive met a Man who has changed my whole mindset on what I do in my spare time; praise His Holy Name!! (edit: People who say they are Christians and don't live right, maybe they need to meet the Man again, too!) Man-made laws about (us doing or) not doing things because we might get involved in the wrong thing... did not change my mindset or my heart; the Holy Ghost did and yes, I facebook too but God knows how I use it. (edit: If God has specifically told someone not to facebook, then they need to obey pronto. Just wanted to add that!)God bless and thanks for reading my humble two cents worth,Lisa
_________________Lisa
James 1:25 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing ithe will be blessed in what he does. The Great commission tells us to teach them to obey every thing He commanded. The scripture tells us to use the scripture to teach rebuke correct and train in righteousness.Matt.28 I do not agree with this preacher but when you mention the word legalism the term is used so much these days to give people a license to sin I felt the need to comment.Matt. 5:17-20 AMP. 17Do not think that I have come to do away with or [a]undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows] are accomplished. 19Whoever then breaks or does away with or relaxes one of the least [important] of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven, but he who practices them and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Good one Lisa... I find Facebook like anything else is a tool that can be used to set people free.Let me give one instance. I have many high school friends on my facebook who are hindus. Back in school they knew I was a "nut case" for Jesus and now also they know I continue to be a "nut case" for Jesus. I started to post some of brother Zac's sermon on my facebook wall and one of them who was a serious enemy of mine back in school who is also a hindu was so blessed by it that he said I should post more sermons like that. I do not know the impact of what I have done but I know one thing for sure. The message is preached !The church carries a message of Hope which is relevant throughout the ages regardless of time or culture. But the means by which we get that message across needs to be relevant to the time and culture. I use facebook regularly to expose properity Gospel (WOF), to defend the faith against athiest. Another thing that helps is when your on facebook everyone knows your a Christian, so they will hold you accountable to your convictions. Some have even confessed the more public you are about your Faith the more others know your less likely to compromise.We cannot bring rules and laws of what to do and what not to do. But if its a stumbling block then I would de-activate my account (Romans 14).