“I am signing off from Facebook for a while, starting this evening, please PM me for my email/cell before 9pm this evening if interested in getting a hold of me. Also, I’m planning to hide and delete all political posts that show up in my timeline whenever I decide to plug back in. I’m on here to stay in touch with friends & family and for my work, not to see hate stirred up or debate controversial issues. *steps off soapbox*”
This was my Facebook post a week and a half ago.
Social media, Facebook specifically has morphed from being simply a social platform, and is now also a political and spiritual soapbox as well. My views are controversial. I am often (silently) offended by what I see posted and shared, and surprised by who is doing posting and sharing.
For the most part I try to only share inspirational posts, but I am often even hesitant to do that. Why do I have such trepidation in sharing or posting about my beliefs, values and political views?
Because I am in the mainstream minority, frequently judged, condemned and blamed:
I am a Jesus loving Christian, fiscally conservative, pro-life adult heterosexual female, married mama of five children. Nothing about my life is mainstream.
I believe there’s only one way to heaven, taxes should be low, government small, babies be born, sex happen in the loving committed union of marriage, and that couples can have as many children they can love, support and nurture. Just to throw in a few other hot button topics, I also think circumcision is fine, vaccines should be given and am a proud member of the NRA.
My views, beliefs, values, etc., are not only unpopular, they are (often) vehemently despised in mainstream media. It comes with the territory I suppose.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Matthew 15:18-19 New International Version
I don’t hate or judge others who disagree with me or have polar opposite views, opinions and beliefs from mine. I don’t want to debate any of the topics listed above, with anyone, especially not from behind a keyboard. If provocation, persuasion and conversion is the motivation to strike up a conversation, I will politely pass. If however curiosity, compassion and a desire to attain a deeper level of understanding are in your heart, then let’s have coffee some time.
