I was scrolling Twitter and came across this meme, which features Leighton Flowers, who is an outspoken critic of Calvinism and proponent of what he calls “Provisionism”, suggesting that Provisionists mindlessly follow Leighton.
Are memes like these Christian?
Let’s hear the Lord’s commands:
John 15:12 (CSB) — 12 This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.
Luke 6:27–28 (CSB) — 27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Nothing speaks more to the essence of the Christian faith than how we treat one another. And the very center of the Christian ethic is love.
Unfortunately, no word of Christ can simply stand on its own anymore. Theologians have become so skilled there’s no doctrine of Christ that they can’t stand on its head. “Love your enemy?” No! “Shoot them!”
In our so-called knowledge, we’ve justified disobedience to Jesus’ direct commands.
Learn this lesson:
1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (CSB) — 1 …We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.
1 John 4:20–21 (CSB) — 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.
I’ve heard all the arguments (and have even read the books written) to justify this kind of behavior. But, despite our best theological gymnastics, Jesus’ command speaks to those who have ears to listen: “love one another“.
So how should Christians contend for the truth? By boldly proclaiming the truth! “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)! “Insults” are not the truth. “Mockery” is not the truth. But rather, “speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
So, is it okay for Christians to mock, insult, and ridicule others on social media? Absolutely not!
Christians have normalized behavior that’s contrary to the very way of Christ. Jesus really did mean that we should treat other Christians the way he treats us. He really did mean that we should love, bless, and pray for our enemies. So who is standing in the gaps against this worldliness? Who is preaching the good news of Jesus with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth? Why are we standing by while the way of truth is maligned (See 2 Peter 2:1-2)? Why?
Insults, mockery, slander are among the very attributes that compose the darkness of hate.
So, Christian beware:
1 John 2:11 (CSB) — 11 But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
You will find books written by famous theologians designed to justify disobedience to Jesus’ way. You will find sophisticated theological arguments that try to use Jesus and the prophets in their respective divinely ordained roles of judgment as templates for why it’s okay for us not to live by Jesus’ teachings in how we treat others. Don’t listen! All who teach such things are false teachers and ravenous wolves who malign the way of truth! You can know them by their fruits! Does their teaching agree with our Lord’s teachings of godliness? If not, mark and avoid them, for them are leading you astray.
Treating one another like this is not the way to know God!
May God grant us repentance from the heart!
A Dedicated Faith 