A Life in Exile

Living and working among the nations changes you. I cannot help but have an opinion about what’s going on in the news, anytime something about the Middle East, North Africa, or Islam is involved. These days, it’s a daily occurrence! No matter where a person lives or serves, the close contact one has with people of another culture impacts your perceptions about them. Sometimes, that’s just in your ability to know them better than others. You understand more of where they’re coming from when they speak or act. You have taken the time to learn their history, language, and culture. God has given you a special love for them, and in the process, you often rise to defend them to the world.

When perspectives are at odds.

I can still remember several years ago, I took the risk to interject my opinion on a matter relating to the Muslim world on the Facebook feed of a close relative. Their friend group instantly attacked me, though I thought I had been very reasonable and spoke out of solid knowledge and experience on the issue. Though my kin tried to somewhat defend me, they basically told their friends that because I had lived in the region as a missionary, my view was slanted, and I should just agree to disagree.

I chose not to agree or let it go, and that was the last time they posted on Facebook. It was easier to remove their account than be challenged by someone they knew understood much better than they did. Perhaps my actions were wrong, it’s hard to know, but I believe we all need to be able to handle disagreeing views with civility and carry on frank discussions on important issues.

Choosing the when and how to respond.

I don’t know if it was that experience or just the flood of constant opinions on social media that did it, but I am much more aware of when and how I speak out on social media or share memes or news from other sources.

It is obvious, I think, that people who are currently serving in cross-cultural situations speak up less on social media because, as should be, they are focused on the main task of the Great Commission. When you’re on the front lines among the lost and dying, you’re not worried about the latest uproar on Instagram or among the podcasters. I thank God for that because there are way too many distractions already than to be caught up in trying to respond to every misconception and lie on the internet. Satan would like nothing better than to see us trapped in this cycle of defending the people we serve or speaking against specific issues.

One of the things I’ve learned and applied from Scripture is that just as the Body of Christ is made up of many different members, each with their own job to do for the growth of the Church, God gives each of us a cause or passion to pour our energies in different seasons of life. Some people are called to speak into the pro-life/abortion issue; others raise awareness or serve those caught in sex trafficking; another person may be passionate about ministering to the homeless, while others are committed to being a Christian influence in politics. The list could go on forever. What I realize is, that while I want to pray and encourage those who are called to these causes, I must know where God wants me to serve—where to use my influence.

This means, that though I agree one hundred percent with your post or meme, I will not like or repost it. I want to be a good steward of the influence God has granted me, so that may not mean I give or help with yours. Others will as God leads them.

Christ over politics.

It is very easy, as Christ-followers, to lessen our influence by speaking more of the politics of an issue than the biblical response to it. I will use my own personal experience with the Middle East and Islam, though you might do it with your country of service or current geo-political conflicts.

It is very hard, when you’ve served and loved a group of people for decades, not to take up for them when things go bad. Living among people does color one’s view of things. You know their hurts, dreams, motivations, struggles, and what war or immigration does to them. You know what the toppling of a government means to their daily lives. When a view is given on the news or through social media that is obviously out of ignorance, you want to speak up, clear the air, and make things right.

That’s when the Holy Spirit tells us to take a chill pill, breathe, and pray first, speak second—or not at all. I have to ask myself several questions:

• Why am I responding? Is it to show myself smarter than the other person or put them in their place? Is it because I don’t like seeing the people I love defamed? Or, is it because Jesus wants me to speak His truth to the issue to His glory?
• Do I have Scripture to back up what I’m saying? If not, then I must recognize this is a purely personal or political response. Is that how I want to speak to this issue, really?
• Do I recognize that the people I love are not perfect? Can I admit that there is wrong or evil on both sides of an issue? What is the way the points to Christ?
• Am I choosing to speak into this issue in order to get fellow Christians to pray or seek God’s guidance?

I choose to speak to fellow Christians (or those who claim to be) about issues when I can use Scripture to speak truth or encourage prayer. I rarely respond to those I know are not believers, because, well, in most cases they will not hear. I rely on my posts to fellow believers to prick the hearts of any nonbelievers as they might be encouraged to see what the Bible says about an issue and turn to Christ.

Does that mean believers should not be a voice in the marketplace of ideas? Absolutely not. I’m just not that person. God has gifted others to do that important job, and they will carry a greater influence and reward than I would. I like to apply Paul’s instructions to Timothy.

But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26 CSB)

Be remembered for Christ, not politics.

The number of people who remember me grows fewer by the year, the longer I’m away from the area I served. However, there are some who continue to be connected through social media. I have to ask myself: How do I want them to remember me? Does the way I served and lived on the field match with what they’re seeing through my current online posts?

In the end, I want them all to remember Christ in me, Christ over me. To do that, I must keep Christ over all I do, write, and say…till he returns.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Mission Monday post, click HERE, or check out these posts about expressing your opinions: Keeping Sharp, I Disagree, and Listening and Learning.