I recently read a post on a familiar subject regarding posting personal testimonies online. Generally speaking, there’s a sentiment among some Christians (not all) that you shouldn’t post such a blessing because of witchcraft from one’s background, and evil eyes of people who want to scatter that blessing.
Once upon a time, I certainly would have been on the opposite camp to this sentiment. I’d have called such people faithless, and overly paranoid. What’re my sentiments now? I think that people can’t be trusted - if they ever could. I think that once you open your mouth to share something, regardless of who you share it with, consider that community knowledge. I now do my utmost to keep things in my heart, to pray about it, and let God do what He will, because maturity requires you to see people as they are, not how you wish them to be. People mean well, but meaning well doesn’t mean anything when you’ve asked someone to keep your confidence and their loyalty to others supersede integrity. I’ve done this too, so my critique is not without acknowledgement of my own past errors. I understand the gravity of it now.
Anyway, I think that life is spiritual, and I think that a lot of our day-to-day requires revelation. I think that some people’s lives require them to exercise greater discretion than others, because the evil they are facing requires it. It’s not out of fear or lack of faith, but it’s wisdom. Discretion should not be equated to fear or lack of faith. Life really is mysterious and I don’t think anyone can be “too smart” or have such great faith to think themselves untouchable.
We live in a world where people don’t fear God. The devil doesn’t fear God to stop fighting His people. And there are people fully invested in destroying your life. They cling to your life with such desperation; you’d think your life alone is the breath of life. But understanding that the devil imitates God in every way, you’ll pause and be moved to become vigilant. I never fully comprehended what Jesus said when he said, “a man’s enemies are members of his own household” (Matt10:36), until I was faced with it. And it has changed how I think, and how I choose to walk in my life. Why? Because I have gained knowledge of what is around me, and the faces that I thought were friendly and harmless.
God said, “my people perish because of lack of knowledge” (Hosea4:6). Once, I was driving at break-neck speeds on that highway of ignorance. But when you know better, you do better, you change. What is inconvenient, or the decisions that draw the ire of many, or that cause others to scoff at you may be what protects you. We don’t know the heart of man, nor fully comprehend the desperate wickedness thereof. Personally, I know that I don’t necessarily need to post on social media to be “attacked.” I know household wickedness is the source. But I don’t use that avenue to give them ammunition of what they can’t find by divination.
My pastor used to say, “know people by the spirit, not according to the flesh.” After some time, I saw what that meant. In church, we often hear, “you are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body.” You are a spirit --- the spirit is who a person is; we are not the bodies that we live in. How we present ourselves isn’t necessarily who we are. There’s a verse that says, “the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” It’s spirit to spirit, not spirit to flesh, or flesh to flesh. And because of this, we cannot walk in assumption of who people are and what they think. Our own spirit must be born again to awaken from slumber, and our souls must go through daily renewal by the word of God. And by this will we know what we ought to do in every situation. It doesn’t mean we are perfect. Nor does it mean that if one person shares something publicly, they are automatically wrong. I think if you’re led to be discreet, be discreet. Some people in their public lives, God is ministering a message. But it doesn’t mean you’re to do the same. Personally, I’ve become one of those folks who cringe when I see what I consider private made public. Only because I know of the desperate wickedness of those around me.
I do think that we’re living in an era where there’s no longer a line between public and private. But we ought to be wise. Our enemy did not cease to be vicious nor have the enemies in our households found God and repented – at least I know that to be true in my case.
I think that we must ask God what it is that we ought to share on social media, with lovers, friends, family, and acquaintances. I think that we need an increase in the knowledge of God and of the true nature of those in our circles. It’s not to make us paranoid, or fearful. It’s to help us have better relationships and protect the precious things in our lives. It’s to help us be spiritually minded and become better stewards of our lives and what God has given us. It’s to help us keep the enemy from sowing tares in our field because we chose to sleep, to be ignorant; we chose to believe that we know people. Unless God tells you, I promise you, you don’t know anyone.
So, what is my conclusion regarding sharing your blessings publicly? “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter5:8). Be sober. Be clearheaded and discerning. A time ago, some folks were looking for some information, and I could’ve foolishly shared that information, thinking that nothing will happen. But if you discern there’s a lion looking to devour you, your actions change.
For those of us in Christ, perhaps we should not war against each other about who is sharing what and pray that whatever we share- in public and provide- is buttressed by wisdom and by revelation.
