Dear Editor,
I was very interested to read Glen Scrivener’s article “We’re almost ALL digital evangelists now” in your March issue.
I spend quite a bit of time responding to and commenting on articles on Facebook and other digital platforms, and believe the internet is an effective way to communicate the gospel and defend the faith.
There are, however, pitfalls to avoid. We need to be discerning when deciding when or how to respond. I usually feel I want to respond when people attack our faith and pour scorn on the Bible. Although I want to help people see the truth, and remove obstacles to belief, it’s clear that many of those who take part in these exchanges are not really seeking the truth but trying to find excuses not to believe, and are extremely hostile to Christianity and the Bible. It’s certainly best to avoid the “prove God exists” and “who created God?” challenges. It’s surprising how many people rail against the God they don’t believe in, and we should certainly avoid any attempt to defend God. That would be arrogant in the extreme!
It’s obvious that many are totally ignorant about the Bible and its historical accuracy. I often see such comments such as “it was written by Bronze Age goatherders”, or “it’s all fairytales.” I sometimes respond by referring to the overwhelming archaeological evidence for Biblical history, but this usually has no impact, and people often respond with a laughing emoji. Some comments can also be very offensive and obscene, one needs to decide whether we are “casting our pearls before swine”, and when to end a debate, not trying to always have the last word. I do, however, feel it’s good to include a personal testimony, e.g. “I know God exists, because I know Him through His Son Jesus Christ.”
I think I’m learning to resist the temptation to respond every time, and when to “keep my powder dry” for some other occasion. However, I do see social media as an opportunity to witness, praying that some will be challenged to change their views and really seek the Lord.
Yours sincerely,
Geoff Chapman
Yeovil
