Greetings my sisters who love and obey the one true and living God in truth!
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;1 Timothy 2:5
I hope you're strong in Him and the power of His might! You see the works of the Lord to help keep us in Him in such a world with so many things to stumble and distract us and satan walking about seeking whom he may devour and also him manifesting as an angel of light to deceive. Much walking circumspectly needed and holding fast to the Word of truth. We know we have to keep pressing on so it's not something that happens automatically for us. We know it is a fight! But then you realize you can't do anything without Him so it all comes back to Him! May He in all things be glorified...not us.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.1 Timothy 6:12
Today I am going to share some thoughts on something I've been pondering about. The Lord always refines and grows us in various ways and that is a good thing. One thing that we have to use great wisdom and discernment in, because it's a relatively new thing, is the internet and our use of it.
Obviously there are all the aspects of redeeming the time and not using it to set evil before our eyes or be deceived by false teachers etc. But today I'm sharing about how I blog here and how I need to test everything I do to see what best glorifies the Lord and is in obedience to His Word of truth including loving others and being considerate.
So one thing that came up recently is using a personal blog/website to share private communication without the permission of the other person involved. We know the internet is just a tool for good or bad and can bless others or be the opposite. It is not something they had to face in Bible times so we have to use discernment and wisdom in how we use it and apply God's commands.
So going forward I have been convicted not to post any emails or my replies to them without asking for the others permission. I am here to help people if they want it and putting private communication online for all to see is not being trustworthy. Many people have concerns about the internet and rightly so and it is a dangerous place. No we don't fear man but using wisdom is important. I feel that first I need to be faithful with those who are immediately in my life whether that's physically or in personal communication. I want to be a faithful sister to those I know and communicate with. My blog is my own and I don't believe I have a right to share that which is not completely mine on here. If someone wants to confide in you in trust and it goes further than that so all the world can see, I don't believe this is right for me to do. How does the other person know what we will share online of the communication and then may not share as openly with us as would be wanted and most helpful. (I may share with close and trusted saints though who also will not do this to others.)
There are things we should not take into our own hands. Some things are not our own. We don't 'own' other people's lives so we have no right to saying what we like with everyone about them. This reminds me of a thief actually. Although our Lord is great and has authority, we are nothing but His servants and don't have authority over that which isn't our own and we are no better than anyone are we.
This just came up recently with a woman sharing their concern about what I posted a month or two ago on my blog which was a reply to their email and they felt they could no longer trust me. If we are to be servants to others how can we be if we are doing this?
There are other ways to edify others here so I will stick with those in order to be as blameless as possible. No problems.
This has nothing to do with darkness either. Everything we say and do is seen by the Lord and I am more aware than ever how I am solely responsible to the Lord for what I do. We judge ourselves and will give an account to Him.
So I will not be sharing here any personal communication with women I have or of any sisters that are in my life except perhaps scriptures or 'generic' things which are not personal and specific in nature (or if I have their permission). I do this to protect them, be trustworthy and faithful, and I see the depths of love we are to have as well as other biblical reasons.
This really will have no real effect on my blog as I rarely shared such things and thought I was being careful enough but I need to do better. This will just be a blessing to others who are on the other end of feeling insecure of what they can share with me knowing it may not stay with me. If they want to start a website and share things...that's their choice. Yes I want to edify (build up) others by what I share here but I can't do that at the expense of tearing someone else down...even if that's just they got stumbled even if you didn't ever mean any harm in the slightest.
We are not our own and can't just do what we feel like. There is much depth to dying to self and preferring others before ourselves.
Of course this has nothing to do with compromise as it is just to do with how I use the internet and striving to walk as blameless and perfect as possible. If everything I share on here is so essential to be shared and I can't give it up in love for others then I think I have a problem.
I think of brother Paul being willing to give up certain foods for life if it made his weaker brother to offend. Stumbling others is a serious thing. We know Jesus said it would be better to have a millstone around your neck than to stumble a little one. Yes He said it not me. And as I said, this doesn't mean I am compromising nor throwing away other biblical commands as we live by all that is written and just do our best preferring others and decreasing ourselves and what we want to do.
People seeking truth may not feel comfortable coming to us for help if they think we are not trustworthy. We are to have a good reputation. We don't want to be sent away for not doing something to Christ if we didn't do it unto the least of His brethren. Let's be careful what we do on the internet sisters. I believe the internet is a good blessing when used rightly but also a dangerous deadly hurtful tool when used wrongly in various ways. I don't want to be a part of that.
Here's just a few scriptures that I see that could have some affect on my decision to not share private communication online (or from various other experiences I have had in this area). Some of them apply to saints and some to those without but many good scriptures here. Praise God for them!
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.Galatians 5:14
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.Philippians 2:3-4
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.Luke 6:31
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.Galatians 6:10
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.1 Thessalonians 5:15
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.1 Peter 2:17
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.1 Corinthians 10:32-33
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;Romans 12:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.Luke 16:10
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.1 Timothy 3:11
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.Galatians 5:13
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.James 1:26
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.Proverbs 10:12
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.Philippians 4:5
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:Hebrews 12:14
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.Titus 2:5
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.Romans 15:2
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.1 Corinthians 9:22
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.1 Corinthians 8:12-13
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.Proverbs 11:13
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.Ecclesiastes 10:1
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.Romans 12:18
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.James 3:2
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.Matthew 5:7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.Proverbs 25:19
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;2 Peter 1:6
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.1 Timothy 5:13
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.1 Peter 4:8
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!Matthew 18:6-7
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.Proverbs 18:8
All great scriptures to direct our paths in the ways of righteousness, amen sisters?! There would be so many more but those are a blessing. Glad to have them to help us make good discernments with the help of the Spirit in this modern age of technology! Let us strive after all His ways and be pruned by Him to bring forth more fruit for His glory! I hope this can be encouraging to all us Titus 2 sisters to be 'good' and 'discreet' (self controlled) and everything else pleasing to the Lord our holy God.
I hope that all makes sense sisters (or any other woman reading) and feel free to contact me if you have any questions on it or anything else I do and I will test all things to the Word. God be glorified.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.1 Thessalonians 5:21
Sometimes I'm very wordy in my writings just to try to explain something quite simple and straightforward...so thank you for bearing with me:-) God commands us to be forbearing and I hope to be with you also! We are all human and sometimes we need to be with one another don't we. Thank you sisters:-)
Let's all keep striving on after the Lord in all good works! Rejoicing in hope! He is our hope!
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;Romans 12:12
Much love to you in Christ,
Sister Chayil
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