Our Manner of Conversation Online

I feel compelled to make a post about something that is on my heart more and more these days and that is, our manner of conversation online, particularly on social media such as Facebook.
Something I have learned through sometimes bitter experience is that it is often very hard to judge character online and we can often respond to others with an overly vigilant approach to the truth.
PLEASE, don’t misunderstand me. I am zealous for the truth myself but what I am saying is that often we approach others, who we may see in some form of error, with the attitude that they are hard hearted and unwilling to consider our point of view. In this day and age of rampant apostasy and ‘do what thou wilt’ rebellion, that is indeed often the case but NOT ALWAYS!

It is much easier to make a proper judgement on character (we all do it and Jesus said to judge with righteous judgement in John 7:24) when we are in person than it is online. However, we must remember that our own responses and discussion are read by others who may well be unbelievers. I know some have valid reasons for making their Facebook pages private and only viewable by friends but I have personally chosen to make my posts publicly viewable and see Facebook as an evangelistic tool, as I do everything else in life. 
I have unsaved family who may read my Facebook posts and the sometimes unedifying ‘discussions’ which end up in unnecessary dispute (there IS a time for such dispute though) and this kind of thing does NOTHING to draw them to Christ. 

PLEASE FOLKS, once again, I am NOT against a sharp rebuke when it is necessary and even stern correction but we MUST be discerning about our own manner of conversation. I have put my foot in it too many times and I am making a conscious effort to be more diligent in this area. I am NOT an ecumenist by any stretch and am not willing to compromise the truth in order to have fellowship with others but there ARE areas where we can differ and remain in fellowship (I believe pre/post trib rapture timing is one such area). 
Even in the critical areas, we may well drive someone in serious error away from the truth if we handle our conversation poorly. The way to lead a Roman Catholic into the truth is not to belt them over the head with a theological club!!! Gentle theology is far more effective! I was a Roman Catholic for two decades and honestly, the approach I have seen by some towards Roman Catholics would’ve driven me far away from coming out of that system!
If, on the other hand, someone had carefully and patiently described the serious errors of the RCC, I would’ve taken that on board and studied the facts. The truth is, I actually DID do this and now have the knowledge and tools to help others see.

Please, when you are debating someone online, remember to view them with the patience of Christ who has transformed us. Yes, this can be difficult but I honestly believe we all need to be far more conscious of our own conversation and how it can be construed by others.

We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don’t let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. God says, “I heard you at the right time, and I gave you help on the day of salvation.” I tell you that the “right time” is now. The “day of salvation” is now. We don’t want people to find anything wrong with our work. So we do nothing that will be a problem to others. But in every way we show that we are servants of God. We never give up, even though we face troubles, difficulties, and problems of every kind. We are beaten and thrown into prison. People get upset at us and fight against us. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. We show that we are God’s servants by our pure lives, by our understanding, by our patience, and by our kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by speaking the truth, and by depending on God’s power. This right way of living has prepared us to defend ourselves against every kind of attack. 
2 Corinthians 6:1-7.