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Introduction
This is the third book in a series that wants to address a simple question: if you could easily and freely help your brothers and sisters in Christ, would you do so? While the answer may seem a no-brainer, the reality seems quite the opposite.
The first book is called: God and Your Social Media: Being a Faithful and Wise Manager of Your God-Given Influence. Basically, does God have anything to say about how you are to use and not use your social media, especially when you can easily and freely use it for the good of others. In other words: is your social media fully at His disposal, or do you hold the reins?
As a sequel, the second book is called: A Simple Test of Your Faith and Love: 25 Irrefutable Bible Verses about Helping Other Christians When You Have a Free, Simple, and Easy Opportunity to Do So. While the subtitle may be much longer than most would recommend, the point is quite clear.
When it comes to the third book, we want to explore The Parable of the Good Samaritan in the World of Social Media. When you become aware of someone’s need, will you use your social media in order to help meet that need, or will you just scroll on?
In other words, are you more like the priest and Levite, who ignored the man and his need, or are you more like the Samaritan, who showed compassion and used his time, resources, and money to help him, without expecting anything in return? These two questions are even far more pertinent, because sharing doesn’t require any cost or effort on your part. Zero cost and zero effort to help your neighbor.
As with each of the three books, the main Bible verse is found in Galatians: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Without question, you have unprecedented opportunities through your social media to share that which is good and that which will “do good.”
Even though Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan about two thousand years ago, the message is as relevant as can be. Ultimately, it’s about the second greatest commandment, which is to love your neighbor as yourself. I’m afraid, though, that the increased opportunities to easily and freely help others will mostly fall by the wayside as we continue to scroll on.
The Setting (v. 25-28)
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan is in relation to a Jewish lawyer, desiring to put Him to the test. He wanted to know if Jesus had the right doctrine. Ironically, while Jesus and the lawyer had the same biblical doctrine, there was a vast difference between their application.
While we can hold to biblically sound doctrine, even be commended by Jesus for such biblical accuracy, we can fall desperately short of its practical nature. Ultimately, doctrine and practice go hand in hand.
The lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Instead of answering his question, Jesus turned things around: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
His answer was perfectly accurate: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” The Bible is about these two commandments (Matt. 22:34-40).
For example, Paul wrote: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:14). Love to God and love to one’s neighbor are the essence and totality of the Scriptures.
Jesus responded: “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” It’s one thing to know the right biblical doctrine, it’s quite another thing to actually live it out. Obviously, as we know from the Bible, we all fall short in loving God and loving our neighbor as we are commanded to do. Yet, our falling short doesn’t minimize God’s absolute requirement.
Thankfully, Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17-18). He came to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). We are saved by His fulfillment. The reality of His fulfillment, though, is in relation to our practical living, which is about loving God and loving our neighbor.
Paul expressed that as follows: “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4).
He added: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5).
Needless to say, to love “your neighbor as yourself” is in relation to setting your mind “on the things of the Spirit,” while not loving “your neighbor as yourself” is in relation to setting your mind “on the things of the flesh.” In essence, “to love or not to love—that is the question.”
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection had one goal: that you would “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Indeed, He came to magnify God’s law and make it glorious, including in our lives through His Holy Spirit (see Isa. 42:21). As such, our love to God and our love to our neighbor is the main indicator of our spiritual condition—our spiritual maturity or immaturity.
John wrote: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18).
What if we exchanged “the world’s goods” with “social media influence”? It would read as follows: “But if anyone has social media influence and sees his brother in need . . .” While we can easily “love in word or talk,” it’s quite different to love “in deed and in truth.” When it comes to our spiritual maturity or immaturity, Paul wrote:
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? (1 Cor. 3:1-4).
Could the same spiritual immaturity be true when you have a free, simple, and easy opportunity to help more people through your social media, but you won’t make use of it because you’re only thinking about your social media platform and what you are doing, “behaving only in a human way”?
Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan is a good indicator of your spiritual condition: will you genuinely love your neighbor when you have an opportunity to do so, especially when that opportunity is without any cost or effort on your part?
While you may have all the right doctrine, sharing it with your audience, you may fall significantly short in loving your neighbor when you can easily and freely do so. That is what The Parable of the Good Samaritan in the World of Social Media is all about.
Finding a Technicality (v. 29)
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
While Jesus and the Jewish lawyer fully agreed on the right biblical doctrine, the lawyer wanted to find a technicality in order minimize and even undermine the plain truth of God’s word. Undoubtedly, the lawyer knew that he fell short of loving his neighbor in the right biblical way.
Obviously, lawyers are supposed to know the law to the fullest extent and are often known for exploring technicalities in order to convict or clear someone for what they did or did not do.
As such, he desired “to justify himself.” He wanted to find a way that would confirm that he was meeting God’s standard. Without question, he had loved his neighbor to a certain extent throughout his life—having helped his family members, friends, acquaintances, and some strangers in the past.
As Christians, we often do the same. We try to find ways to minimize and even undermine the plain truth of God’s word. In doing so, we’re like the Pharisees and Scribes, making “void the word of God.” In the words of Jesus: “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!” (Mark 7:1-13).
For example, God clearly states: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). As Christians, we’re called to “do good,” which is synonymous with loving our neighbor. Nevertheless, we come up with various excuses in order to minimize and even undermine such a clear command, including that it doesn’t fit without our policies and procedures.
No, I’m not advocating that you should just share anything on your social media. We’re called to be a “faithful and wise manager” over what God has entrusted to us, including when it comes to our social media influence (see Luke 12:42). It seems, however, that we’re far more centered on our social media platform than helping more people when we have an opportunity to do so.
Even though the lawyer desired to find a technicality, Jesus didn’t give him any way out. While the parable is about the priest, Levite, and Samaritan, it’s also about the lawyer, who was trying to find a technicality in order to minimize and even undermine God’s explicit commandment, which is to love “your neighbor as yourself.”
A Stranger in Need (v. 30)
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.”
Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan is in relation to the lawyer’s question: “And who is my neighbor?” While the Jewish lawyer tried to find a technicality in order to minimize and even undermine the plain truth of God’s word, which is to love “your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus didn’t give him any way out.
Obviously, Jesus knew that this lawyer could provide a list of “good works” that he had done in the past, must like the rich young man (see Matt. 19:20). Undoubtedly, he could share numerous instances when he had loved his neighbor, having helped his family members, friends, acquaintances, and some strangers in the past. As such, Jesus used a complete stranger in need, away from the lawyer’s residence. He certainly didn’t limit “my neighbor” to those who live next door or in the same street.
Furthermore, Jesus also didn’t use a simple act of kindness, like helping an elderly lady across the street or reaching for a grocery item on the top shelf. While such acts certainly fall under loving “your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus used a more extreme case. This man was robbed, stripped, and beaten, being “half dead.” In other words: he had an obvious, significant, and pressing need. It was a matter of life and dead.
Undoubtedly, we can also list numerous instances when we have loved our neighbor as ourselves. Yet, as we will see later on, this particular case required one’s time, resources, and money, without expecting anything in return.
Often, the Bible uses the most extreme cases and scenarios in order to cover all cases and scenarios. In other words: if we’re called to love our neighbor as ourselves when someone is “half dead,” we’re called to love our neighbor in far less extremities.
Jesus defined our neighbor as anyone whom we come across in our daily lives and has an obvious need. Ultimately, loving “your neighbor as yourself” is the essence of the golden rule: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Obviously, if you would’ve been that man—robbed, stripped, beating, and left for half dead—you would’ve wanted anyone who passed by to help you. The same is true with a Bible fundraiser for your persecuted brothers and sisters, right?
If you were a believer who lived in one of the fifty-two countries where God’s word is banned and didn’t have your own Bible, you would want Christians, churches, ministries, Christians organizations, and Christian media outlets in the West to do everything possible in order to help distribute Bibles to the persecuted church.
If you would’ve wanted such activity for yourself, why not do so for other believers? If you don’t want to do what you would’ve wanted others to do for you, is your “love” not more so “in word or talk” than “in deed and in truth”?
The Priest and the Levite Passed By (v. 31-32)
Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Interestingly, Jesus used the words “by chance.” Yet, He didn’t believe in such “chance.” That word doesn’t exist in God’s dictionary. In other words: there’s no coincidence when we come across those who are in need. Furthermore, as we ponder Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, we must also consider that we could’ve been that man.
In light of God’s sovereignty and providence, we’ve been born in the West (for those who read this book and have been born in the West). God could have decided differently. We could’ve been born in one of the fifty-two countries where God’s word is banned and have no religious freedom at all. That biblical truth is meant to make use aware that we have no entitlement as to when and where we’ve been born.
Since that’s true, how much more should we be eager to use our social media influence for the good of our persecuted brothers and sisters. Or will we be like the priest and Levite, who “passed by on the other side”?
Ironically, Jesus used religious leaders as the ones who “passed by on the other side,” while He used a despised Samaritan as the one who expressed compassion, using his time, resources, and money to help “his neighbor” in need.
A priest served as an intermediary between God and His people. He represented God to the people by way of communicating His commandments, encouraging the people to holy living, and he represented the people to God, by way of the sacrificial system, making atonement. Yet, this priest denied everything he was supposed to stand for.
Since the Law and the Prophets are about loving God and loving our neighbor, this priest was to instruct the people about such love. Through his action, though, he set aside God’s word and his profession. He became aware of the man and his need and “passed by on the other side.” What about us, though? When we can easily and freely help our neighbor through our social media, will we do so or will we scroll on?
Then, a Levite came by and saw the man and his need, laying there for “half dead.” While all priests were Levites, not all Levites were priests. As to those Levites who weren’t priests, they would have a subordinate role when it came to maintaining the Tabernacle and later on the Temple.
Either way, though, both were like fulltime ministers, caring for God’s people and God’s dwelling place. The Levite also “passed by on the other side,” expressing no compassion for the man who was left “half dead.”
While there are no more Jewish priests and Levites, the New Testament teaches that all Christians are priests, representing God to the people by way of doctrine and practice, and representing the people to God by way of intercessory prayer.
Peter expressed that as follows: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Obviously, such proclamation can be done by what we say and how we live our lives. As a priest, as someone who belongs to God, will you love your neighbor or will you pass by on the other side? In other words: will you “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” by being “a model of good works” (Titus 2:7-10), or will you pass by on the other side?
The priest and the Levite were in fulltime ministry, so to speak. Yet, they failed to minister to the one who desperately needed their help. How much more are we at fault when we can easily and freely be a blessing to our persecuted brothers and sisters but are unwilling to do so. Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan isn’t about all the good we’ve done; it’s about all the good we could’ve done but didn’t do.
Undoubtedly, the priest and Levite could’ve shared a list with numerous instances when they had loved their neighbor as themselves. Would Jesus have accepted such a list as an excuse to not help the man who was in need of their help?
The Samaritan Showed Compassion (v. 33-35)
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, “Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.”
As stated before, Jesus used religious leaders as the ones who “passed by on the other side,” while He used a despised Samaritan as the one who expressed compassion, using his time, resources, and money to help “his neighbor” in need.
On a side note, are there examples of Christian leaders who aren’t willing to reach and help more people when they have an opportunity to do so, while the secular world wouldn’t have to think twice about it?
Jesus did say, “the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” He expressed that in the context of the dishonest manager, who was as resolved and as resourceful as could be when it came to serving his own interest (Luke 16:1-13).
In other words, are Christians as resolved and resourceful in serving Jesus’ interests as “the sons of this world” are when it comes to serving their own interests? Often, the secular world is far more eager to cooperate with others in order to make an extra buck than the Christian world is in order to help one extra person or distribute one extra Bible.
When the Samaritan saw the man in need, “he had compassion.” That was the main difference between him and the priest and Levite. Each became aware of the man who was left for “half dead.” The priest and the Levite “passed by on the other side” while the Samaritan “had compassion.”
His compassion was “in deed and in truth.” He freely used his time, resources, and money in order to help “his neighbor,” a complete stranger whom he had never met, without expecting anything return.
He “bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.” He also “set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” When he resumed his journey the next day, “he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’”
What about you? The sole premise of God and Your Social Media, A Simple Test of Your Faith and love, and The Parable of the Good Samaritan in the World of Social Media is quite simple: if you could easily and freely help your brothers and sisters in Christ, would you do so?
In other words: will you demonstrate compassion toward your persecuted brothers and sisters by sharing a Bible fundraiser on your social media? Such an act of loving your neighbor as yourself is without any cost or effort on your part.
Will you use your God-given social media influence for the good of His children? If not, are you then not more like the priest and the Levite, who “passed by on the other side,” or like the Jewish lawyer, who tried to find some technicality that would minimize and even undermine the plain truth of God’s word?
“You Go, and Do Likewise” (v. 36-37)
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
When Jesus had finished His parable, He asked the Jewish lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” The answer isn’t difficult.
Nevertheless, while we may know the right answer—while we may have all the right doctrine, even sharing it with our social media followers—the application of what we believe to be right and true can be non-existent. Which of the three was able to prove that he had loved his neighbor as God’s word commanded him to do?
In his letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul wrote that knowledge “puffs up” when it’s not mixed with practical expressions of love. Yes, sound doctrine is vital, but so are practical expressions of compassion. Or in the words of James:
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).
While James used a poorly clothed brother or sisters as an example, what about a brother or sisters who doesn’t have a copy of God’s word. In other words: if you could easily and freely help distribute Bibles to your persecuted brothers and sisters, would you do so?
The Jewish lawyer had the right doctrine and gave Jesus the right answer: “The one who showed him mercy.” Yes, the one who had compassion and showed him mercy was the one who proved to be “a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers.” His love was quite visible. Jesus ended His teaching with a simple application: “You go, and do likewise.”
When you can easily and freely help distribute Bibles to your persecuted brothers and sisters, can you come up with a biblical reason to not do so?
Two Confronting Illustrations
Since we live in “our version” of Christianity, it’s often helpful to see how some Christians in the New Testament expressed their faith in going “and do likewise.” For example, in 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, Paul used the Macedonian believers as an example for the Corinthian believers. We read:
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.”
These Macedonian believers begged Paul earnestly “for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” Even though they were severely afflicted and extremely poor themselves, they wanted to help their poverty-stricken brothers and sisters in Jerusalem and Judea. Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to pursue the same kind of mindset: “See that you excel in this act of grace also” (2 Cor. 8:7).
Secondly, in Hebrews 10:32-34, we read about an astounding account how these believers expressed their love for their brothers and sisters in Christ:
“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”
These believers wanted to partner with and show compassion to their imprisoned brothers and sisters. Such partnership and compassion came at great personal cost, though. Yet, they joyfully accepted the plundering of their property.
Maybe they took Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan to an extreme. Not at all! Earlier, the author or Hebrews had encouraged them with these words: “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Heb. 6:10). Ultimately, our love to God is proven by how we serve His saints.
In light of these two illustrations, is it too much to ask you to share a Bible fundraiser for your persecuted brothers and sisters on your social media? It’s one thing to have all the right doctrine and even share it; it’s quite another thing to express such doctrine in practical expressions of genuine love to God’s saints.
Elevating Your Policies and Procedures over People
When it comes to those who have a significant social media following, whether Christians, churches, ministries, Christian organizations, or Christian media outlets, there’s nothing wrong with having policies and procedures when it comes to the use of your social media. Actually, it’s good to have such guidelines. What if these policies and procedures prevented you from helping more people, though?
The lawyer tried to find a technicality that would undermine God’s commandment to love “your neighbor as yourself.” The priest and the Levite just “passed by on the other side,” showing no compassion and care for “their neighbor.”
What about you? Are you elevating your social media policies and procedures over helping more people? In that case, you may be in danger of “making void the word of God” by your policies and procedures.
Jesus said plainly: “You go, and do likewise.” In other words: if you can easily and freely use your social media to reach more people with the gospel and help more people in need, do you think Jesus will tell you to do so? In my desire to distribute Bibles to our persecuted brothers and sisters, I’ve heard more than enough excuses to not do so, because it didn’t fit within their preferences, policies, and procedures.
For example, I reached out to a ministry that has an email list to over 600,000 pastors. They were not interested in helping distribute Bibles to their persecuted brothers and sisters, because they only share the writings of their founder.
If ten percent of these 600,000 pastors would participate in Help the Persecuted Church, this retired pastor would’ve been able to distribute 20,000 Bibles to his persecuted brothers and sisters, without any cost or effort on his part, not even mentioning if he had encouraged these pastors to also share this Bible fundraiser with their churches.
No, I’m not questioning all the good this retired pastor has done and is doing. Not at all! When you have a free, simple, and easy opportunity to do more, though, doesn’t the Bible make it clear that you ought to do so?
For example, it’s praiseworthy when a firefighter rescues four children from a home that’s on fire. What if he could’ve easily and freely rescued the fifth child also but didn’t make use of that opportunity.
Most likely, he would be reprimanded, put on leave, or even fired.
Should the moral code for firefighters be higher than for those in ministry?
We’re not only accountable to God for how much good we’ve done—maybe far more than most Christians—we’re also accountable to Him for how much good we could’ve done but were unwilling to do so. As such, with much social media influence comes much responsibility and accountability, especially when it’s without any cost or effort on our part.
The believers in Hebrews were willing to joyfully accept the plundering of their property, because they wanted to show compassion to their imprisoned brothers and sisters. They choose loving “your neighbor as yourself” over any government stipulation or repercussion.
Thinking Too Much of Yourself
When it comes to all three books, God and Your Social Media, A Simple Test of Your Faith and Love, and The Parable of the Good Samaritan in the World of Social Media, there’s one overarching Bible verse: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).
A few verses prior to these “opportunity words,” Paul had written: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6:2-3).
As Christians, we’re commanded to “bear another’s burdens.” In doing so, we “fulfill the law of Christ,” which He had expressed in John: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Our entire salvation is based on Jesus not thinking too much of Himself, as Paul wrote to the Philippian believers: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourself, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form or a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:4-7).
When you don’t want to use your social media influence for the good of your brothers and sisters in Christ, are you then not thinking way too much of yourself, indicating that you’re above helping other believers when you can easily and freely do so? Jesus “emptied himself” and became a servant, using all His resources, so to speak, for your eternal wellbeing.
In light of such compassion, will you refuse to use your social media resources for the good of His persecuted brothers and sisters, which doesn’t require any cost or effort on your part? Your entire social media influence is as a result of His grace. Will you then use if for the good of His saints?
Some Christians, churches, ministries, Christian organizations, and Christian media outlets have 10,000+, 100,000+, 1,000,000+, and even 10,000,000+ social media followers.
While you may have a significant social media following, such prestige, though, doesn’t exonerate you from a simple Bible verse: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Unless you’re thinking way too much of yourself, of course, even though you’re “nothing.”
In other words, are you willing to reject Galatians 6:10 by elevating your policies and procedures over God’s word? Such an action would certainly indicate that you’re thinking way too much of yourself, right?
A Modern Rendering of the Parable
As the new Christian left the underground church meeting for the third time, he was both joyful and sad. Joyful, because he had been fellowshipping with other believers, listening to the pastor preach from the only Bible available. Sad, because he would have to wait two more days before he could hear God’s word again.
To have his own Bible would be the best thing ever, more important than his daily food. Hopefully, a new shipment of Bibles would soon reach their city, praying that his brothers and sisters in the West would do everything possible to help distribute Bibles to his country and city.
As the pastor scrolled down on his Facebook feed, he saw something about a free, simple, and easy opportunity to help distribute Bibles to his persecuted brothers and sisters, to those who live in one of the fifty-two countries where God’s word is banned. He continued to scroll, about ready to tackle his Sunday sermon on Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
While the leader of a large ministry had seen much better copywriting than what he had just read, he did like how the copy stressed the importance of every Christian’s ability and opportunity to make a difference for at least one person.
He approved the copy, adding just one extra Bible verse: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Obviously, he thought, no true Christian can deny that they will have an opportunity to “do good” with just one $4.00 donation to his ministry. What is $4.00, right?
As he picked up his phone and saw a Facebook ad about a free, simple, and easy opportunity to help distribute Bibles to the persecuted church, just by creating awareness on his social media, he laid down his phone and called it quits for the day. Hopefully, the donor letter would go out by the end of tomorrow and have significant donations as a result.
Even though he had only been a Christian for less than a year, he had read the Bible from cover to cover in just about ten months. As he was scrolling down on Facebook feed, he saw a post about a free, simple, and easy opportunity to help distribute Bibles to his persecuted brothers and sisters. After reading the post, he immediately shared it on his social media, not even realizing that such a small act of kindness was done as unto Jesus.
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the new Christian from the underground church?
Conclusion
In 1985, over seventy secular artists came together in what is known as Live Aid. They raised about $140,000,000 for the devastating famine in Ethiopia. What if Christians came together for the distribution of Bibles to our persecuted brothers and sisters.
It doesn’t cost you anything to use your God-given social media influence in order to create awareness for a Bible fundraiser for your persecuted brothers and sisters.
Even if your share would only result in the distribution of one Bible, would that be worth it to you?
For all the info, please go to www.HelpThePersecutedChurch.com