My sister is deleting me on Facebook because of a post about homosexuality

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Holly3278 said:
Hi everyone. I am somewhat upset right now. My sister is going to delete me from Facebook because of a post I made about homosexuality and “gay marriage”. I made this post as a way to evangelize. Here is exactly what I made in my first post:

I am quite upset with the fact that she’s considering deleting me from Facebook and I would appreciate some advice.
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Holly,
I think if your desire is to evangelize on FB, I would stay away from devisive political statements and post prayers and thougthful religious saysing or Bible verses. Those will plant more seeds than trying to make some “statement” for truth.
 
It’s your Facebook account, so you should be able to post whatever you want on it. If others don’t like it then tough. Don’t let it bother you. But having said that, I think if you want to have a chance of evangelizing I’d recommend not eliminating but minimizing the politics and religion posts to no more than one or two shares a week so that people don’t get overwhelmed. If your sister has put your posts on ignore it’s possible that one of your other Facebook friends might see what you shared and be interested. It’s usually the ex-Catholics who are the most hostile and bitter about the faith. Someone who was born a non-Catholic could be more open to it than your sister. Even Jesus was rejected in his own home town, and he said that he would be a cause of division in families.
 
First off, I’m sorry this is happening to you, especially with such a closer family member. 😦

I don’t know her social/political affiliations (although she sounds to be more liberal-leaning), but below is just my 2 pennies.

It’s easy for well-intentioned Christians to post things about morality (or lack thereof) among the worldly people, but the post you wrote does seem a bit one-sided. Meaning, sins of promiscuity are not limited to gay people, and to focus only on gay people misses the point that we are all sinners. Chastity is for everyone, and if Christians (as a whole) gave out a more balanced approach that everyone is called to repentance, gay/straight/whatever, the intent of the message would not be lost.

If all Christians do is point fingers and say, “Look at all these sinful statistics of those kinds of people,” it sounds hypocritical when sins that heterosexuals commit are seen as “normal” sins and thus not as grievous. To be effective, we have to be as harsh, if not more, to ourselves.

I hope you and your sister can have a meaningful discussion so that your relationship on Facebook, however not-in-real-life it is, can be mended.
 
stephe1987 said:
I would avoid making posts about religion or politics on Facebook. When people make such posts (usually anti-religious and very liberal) I just hide them from the feed. I don’t think we’re at a point where talking about these issues is going to win any souls. We need to change our lives and lead by example in the way we act (be kind to everyone, volunteer, etc.) because people are so used to immorality being accepted that they become angry at anyone who follows Christian morality.
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Well said. 👍
 
I haven’t been on facebook for over 3 years. My 15 year old cousin decided that it would be appropriate to post revealing pictures of her cleavage for fun on facebook. All her friends which included teenage boys started to laugh at her and encourage her behavior. She was basically positioning the camera looking down her shirt. And other cleavage pictures. On facebook she was enjoying all of the extra attention she was receiving. So on facebook I told I told her that it was not appropriate to be posting revealing pictures of her body especially online. All of her friends came back to attack me on facebook to tell me that it was I who was inappropriate. I still dont understand their reasoning. I got fed up with the juvenile behavior and cancelled my account. Im really happy I did.
 
I admire people who are openly pro-life and pro-family on FB. That is brave these days. (Having said that, I never post on FB and only use it to private message people who are too lazy to email.)

All the suggestions to keep sensitive topics away from FB suggest that Christians have accepted auto-censorship as normal, even required.
 
1ke said:
Regarding FB, I personally do not ever post religious or political items to my FB, nor do I respond to those who do (although I haven’t thus far “unfriended” anyone over anything they have posted).

I choose to use FB as a place to see cute pix of my nieces and nephews, connect with old friends, enjoy pix and stories of friends & family’s goings-on. My FB world is a peaceful place of puppies and sunshine and I want no part of religious and political debate there.

FB is not where I choose to engage in religious discussion nor where I care to see any of that stuff from friends/family. Perhaps your sibling has a similar approach to FB as I do, but she takes it from ignoring to removing those who consistenly post on those topics from her field of vision. I don’t know, you will have to ask her. But, ultimately, that is her perogative.
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1ke has, as usual, nailed it succinctly - the rest of us just expand on what she said.

FB is where I connect with friends, old and new, some I have not even met; keep up with family too, although immediate family and I, even though half a world apart, have other primary ways of sharing news and pictures.

Yes, friends know I’m Catholic and pro-life, they also know I’m a teacher, a doting grandmother, love wildlife, care about the plight of rhino, and many other things I post or connect to. Do I try to change their views via FB? Not at all, it’s like having coffee with a large, diverse group of people, and very serious stuff belongs elsewhere. I do limit posts from those who keep posting things I find irritating and I will unfriend those who post things I find offensive, for whatever reason.
NeedsMercy said:
If I post something remotely religious, it’s on my own timeline only.
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Except that, as far as I know, posts on your timeline are visible to all your FB friends, or only some if you have a particular set of privacy settings, but why post things that are only visible to you anyway? Anything like that I save as a photo or document; If I put it in a public area, I want to share it with someone.
 
Book_Worm said:
FB is not the place for this type of evangelization. What do you hope to accomplish by it? You do realize that you don’t win any hearts this way, don’t you? Actually, you do more harm than good.

Perhaps you could listen to our Holy Father who has advised that we stop dwelling on sexual matters and concentrate on spreading the gospel that Jesus preached, one that tells of God’s love and forgiveness and exhorts us to help those in need.
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actually it does work constent propaganda has made gay marriage a reality, this is also why advertisement industry is so big putting your message forward works.
unless you have some evidence that states otherwise.

if your embarrased to proclaim the faith on face book maybe you shouldn’t have a facebook account.
 
That’s why I hate FB! I have it because I like sharing photos and staying adrift of family and .friends. I have family all over the country and it does help you stay in touch. But why do some people have to post every single detail of their day or their lives? Or every thought or opinion you may have? When people on mine start posting too many political rants or religious rants, they either get unfriended or taken out of my newsfeed then I don’t have to see all the **** they post. Like those stupid cards that read, “Like and share if you love Jesus, if you don’t share means you don’t love him.” I want to comment so bad, “I’m sure Jesus has better things to do than waste time on facebook.” I like this website better because it actually is educational and the moderators seem to filter out most of the crazy stuff. If I were you I wouldn’t try to evangelize on facebook, keep religion and politics out of there. Go volunteer at a soup kitchen, go visit some lepers in Calcutta, or even just visit a nursing home, do something productive. Don’t talk about being a Christian, be one. The internet isn’t always the best venue for communicating your beliefs.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
I admire people who are openly pro-life and pro-family on FB. That is brave these days. (Having said that, I never post on FB and only use it to private message people who are too lazy to email.)

All the suggestions to keep sensitive topics away from FB suggest that Christians have accepted auto-censorship as normal, even required.
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As a PP pointed out, it is difficult to understand the tone and context of messages posted on an internet site. Is it brave to drive people AWAY from God’s message through FB posts? There’s nothing wrong in censoring yourself, not because you are afraid of others’ reactions but because you realize it is ineffectual, if not harmful.
 
Just one word here… PRUDENCE
  1. Was it the right time to talk about gay marriage and homosexuality
  2. was it the right place
  3. was it the right audience?
  4. was it done in a rigt way or tone?
Fraternal correction with prudence is only done where a scandal won’t happen.
 
I haven’t been on FB in a couple of years because of incidents similar to this. I found FB to be pretty superficial. There is a lot of internet tough guys, trolls, and looseness that wouldn’t occur in real life. The upside to it is that in some cases it will reveal the true quality of a person. The Truth is hard to preach. The majority will turn away and that includes family. There will be problems anytime you attempt to evangelize. Good luck in the future with it. If the Truth hurts their feelings, why would it bother you?

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When I talk to another about an issue, I tailor what i say based on a lot of things about the relationship between me and that individual. I may end up saying the same basic things to different people, but how I present it will usually be different.

And that is what I do not like about facebook. I feel like I am going to a party with everyone I know in attendance - and then speaking my mind to every one of them in the same way at the same time.

And then I have to deal with all their reactions publicly.

No, you don’t have to stop telling others what you believe in. But, if you hope to change peoples’ hearts and minds, then you need to do so in an environment where they may be receptive to what you have to say.

I’m happy that you and your sister made amends.

But, I would refrain from using facebook to make such blatant statements to a broad audience. To be honest, Facebook usually makes me think less of people than more of them - which is why I rarely post at all - and I try to read the best into what others may be trying to say (even if it makes my blood boil)
 
Sorry I disagree with a lot of the responding posts. THANK YOU for having the guts to post about that sort of thing on Facebook. You’d better believe most of my friends are NOT shy about posting pro-gay, anti-religious stuff (yes, I have a very diverse “friends” list!) so why would you be shy about posting your side?

When I scroll through my news feed, it’s uplifting to see a good Catholic quote or meme, and it’s affirming to see others who are pro-life and brave enough to speak about it even when it’s unpopular. Again, thank you.

I’m glad you and your sister have reconciled. 🙂

When we refuse to talk about religion, we lose to opportunity for honest discussion and mutual understanding. We build walls instead of bridges. When we keep silent about our beliefs and insist others do the same, we breed misunderstanding, mistrust, and contempt!:mad:
I have a friend who posts outrageously virulent memes mocking religion. Do I love it? No. But I’m glad to see it because I understand much better where he is coming from, and what his line of thinking is. I can meet him where he is when we talk about it.

If we use it to argue people down, and feel the prideful satisfaction of “being right,” then yest we’re wasting our time. BUT if we use as an opportunity to engage in respectful, honest dialogue based on sharing information and promoting understanding, then WHY WHY WHY would you hide that? What are you guys ashamed of?

And for you helpful folks recommending that she “actually help people” like volunteering at a soup kitchen, maybe the OP does just that. It’s awful to make assumptions about someone’s charity or lackthereof. At least she has the guts to speak the truth even when it risks becoming unpopular. END RANT.
 
Holly3278 said:
I am quite upset with the fact that she’s considering deleting me from Facebook and I would appreciate some advice.
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It’s only Facebook. Why worry about anyone deleting you from Facebook? Facebook is just irrelevant piffle. Who is, or who is not your friend on Facebook isn’t important.

Your sister has a difference of opinion from you, she’s entitled to her opinion. She doesn’t want to see your opinions on these issues when she logs in to Facebook so she’s deleted you. Fair enough, she’s entitled to do so. If a friend of mine, or even a member of my close family had views that I strongly disagreed with I wouldn’t want to see them when I logged onto Facebook, so I’d probably do what your sister has done.

If I did this I wouldn’t be saying that I wanted to cut real life ties with that person , or that I didn’t love them, I’d simply be doing it because I don’t want to see views I disagree with when I log onto Facebook for a bit of light-hearted conversation with friends.

I really can’t understand why people get upset over Facebook, and what all the fuss is about people being removed from others ‘friends list’ or blocked from others Facebooks. Facebook doesn’t matter, it really doesn’t.
 
Holly3278 said:
Just so you know, I am not going to stop preaching the Gospel on Facebook or anywhere else. I feel like God has called me to do it and I am going to continue to do it.
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You have every right to express your beliefs on facebook (although I would argue that it is unwise to do so).

People (including your sister) who view your facebook posts and take offense have every right to delete you.

I don’t see what the problem is here?
 
Holly3278 said:
Hi everyone. I am somewhat upset right now. My sister is going to delete me from Facebook because of a post I made about homosexuality and “gay marriage”. I made this post as a way to evangelize. Here is exactly what I made in my first post:

I am quite upset with the fact that she’s considering deleting me from Facebook and I would appreciate some advice.
Click to expand...
I guess I’m not sure what the problem is here. It’s just Facebook.

Frankly, if you posted that to Facebook and we were friends, I would delete you. Yes, even if you were my sister. I wouldn’t take action against our real life relationship, but I would think it best that we not be Facebook friends. You have the right to post things like that, and she has the right to decide whether or not she wants to see it.

I do delete people for posting inflammatory things like that. On my friends list I have my friends, family, and people I respect and admire, some of whom taught me and others who I have worked for. The last thing I need is for anyone to start creeping my Facebook friends list and realize that one of my friends (and this would be especially bad if it was my own sister) had that kind of a problem with homosexuality. Honestly, I just wouldn’t want anyone to be able to associate me with a post like that.

Furthermore, if you were my sister and you posted that, I would probably also think it would be better for our relationship if we weren’t friends on Facebook. If we got along well otherwise, and were close, and enjoyed talking and spending time with each other’s families, I wouldn’t want posts like that to cloud my or my family’s view of you.
 
I already posted on this topic at length earlier, but some food for thought: if the shoe was on the other foot and you deleted your sister because she posted something strongly in support of gay marriage/gay sexual activity, people would cry foul at your flagrant “intolerance.” 🤷

Again, at some point we have to be okay with other people having strong opinions with which we do not agree. Intentionally blocking everything out that we find upsetting or disagreeable is incredibly narrow-minded and only serves to further divide us.
 
A delicious meal can be ruined by something seemingly trivial.

Stick to the moral point peppered with charity, not indignation with exaggerated, unsubstantiated stereotypes, which certainly does not come across as “loving”.
 
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