Do you share or receive posts from friends that say things like “If you love God, share this post with your friends”? Some of those even come with a challenge or a dare to bring guilt or shame upon you if you don’t share it. If it is an otherwise good post, I will like it or love it, but I will not share it. Certainly if it is something I don’t agree with, I will totally ignore it. But I simply do not share those types of posts.
God says in John 14:15 of the Message translation, “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.” One of things he told us to do was to share the Gospel, but I’m sure that doesn’t include sharing a Facebook post simply because someone shared a post that someone else shared because they were told to share it by someone else. I share things that the Holy Spirit prompts or inspires me to share. If you post something that speaks to my heart, I may share that directly or share what it was that I was inspired by about your post, but I will not share it if you put a statement like, “If you love God, share…”
I believe that cheapens the message and the effect the post could have on the reader. I never ask my readers to share these blogs with any kind of stipulation attached. It thrills me when I get a notification that one has been shared and the person sharing indicates to the recipient that it is something they should read. My blogs are meant to build up and encourage people, with an occasional corrective tone (like this one perhaps).
If you read my blogs and are encouraged or uplifted by them and never share them, I am perfectly okay with that. I have made my goal for the day if you have enjoyed it and especially if it spoke to something you are going through. Share any of my blogs with someone who could be encouraged by something I wrote. But if you love God, show it by doing what he tells you!
John 14:15 (NLT) - “If you love me, obey my commandments.”