PALO ALTO, Calif. (BNC) — In two separate incidents in recent days, the social medium facebook.com, has removed posts by brothers in Christ who spoke against homosexuality.
Jamie Suiter reported today that on Mar. 12 the popular brotherhood Facebook Page, “Added to the church of Christ,” was asked to remove a post on homosexuality. According to page owner Stephane Maillet and editor Tony Brewer, they were told it classified as “hate speech” under the Facebook guidelines.
Before being deleted from the page it had reached over 60,000 views.
Facebook threatened to remove the entire page and shut it down, Jamie said. The post reported to Facebook was a meme/chart with scriptures shedding light on what God thought of the gay and lesbian lifestyle. It said that people are not born gay and called for repentance and a new life as Christians.
The page “Added to the church of Christ” has over 10,300 users signed up to receive notifications on new posts. Behind the page is a website called AddedSouls.com. Stephane Maillet is administrator, Tony Brewer, editor, and Paul Mays, moderator.
Stephane commented on the incident:
“Friends, Facebook has removed our post quoting homosexuality as a sin (violation of their terms, “hate speech”), and has warned us this page may be removed forever (a work created 2012). This is a result of the gay community taking “offence” at the truth. They came to OUR page (a well known Bible page) to attack and shut us down.
Let it be known that none of the MANY who cursed at us, threatened us, mocked us and the God of the Bible, have had any discipline from Facebook. We are free in Christ, but no longer free in the western world, we are slaves to the intolerant homosexual agenda, hateful bullies raging murder on all who disagree with their perversion.
Pray with us that God allows this work to continue. May peace remain in our minds as darkness grows around us.”
In a separate incident, Kevin Key, a graduate of East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions and a minister in McMinnville, Tenn., remarked Mar. 17 that Facebook had also forced removal of a post of his about homosexuality.
Facebook removed my post from yesterday on homosexuality and the Bible due to a complaint by a liberal reader. Where is my freedom of speech? Why are ungodly views permitted, but not biblical facts? Where are we going in this country? If our views aren’t politically correct, then we’re mistreated by those who have made themselves the judge. Sad, very sad, people! Prayers for an awakening and return to God.
In a note to BNC, Kevin further said,
Their exact statement to me says, “We removed your post because it doesn’t follow the Facebook community standards.” They go on to imply that my post somehow created a safety issue. Yet, they also state in their rules that everyone is free to post their opinions (mine was biblically, scientifically and medically supported) which some may disagree with others. They then say, “Which we believe can lead to important conversation about difficult topics.” Well, I guess this doesn’t apply to posts or conversations about the Bible and homosexuality.
Facebook is a company known for its promotion of liberal causes and for tracking its users. As a “walled garden,” as some call it, the company is free to impose its rules upon users as it sees fit. Users must abide by its rules.
Some have recommended other, more friendly, social media, either those hosted by faith-friendly companies or software produced by the open-source movement.
Thanks to Jamie Suiter and Kevin Key for providing information for this report.
2016-03-19 at 8:45 am
Like it or not, Facebook has the right to censor. Anyone who hosts a blog has the same right. I’m guessing that Facebook’s management would not have censored these posts if not for someone objecting. And it certainly seems unfair that people who object can curse, threaten, belittle, etc. without any repercussions from Facebook. But, folks, we need to remember that our Lord never told us the world would treat us fairly. He actually told us it would be quite the opposite–with persecutions. We need to stand for Truth in spite of the persecutions and hate from the world. It may be that some of us will need to stop posting on Facebook and use other media. Many years ago I wrote a newspaper column in question and answer format. Occasionally, the paper would “lose” a column and just print an ad with our service times and location. Usually the “lost” column was controversial. (They had refused to print anything from another person who wrote articles critical of certain denominations.) So, basically I’m saying we should not be surprised when we are criticized, censored or persecuted for standing on the Truth. In some cases it may mean we can’t use a particular medium. BUT we much continue to preach Truth to this lost world.
2016-03-19 at 3:45 pm
Very well put Ted. There are those who want to hear the Word and will accept it. Those who disagree with what the Word has to say about salvation, how to obtain it, how to live, etc. are already lost. We should spend our time and energy on those who want to hear about the Truth. The majority of people know very well what the Bible says about homosexuality. Especially those in the church. It is my humble opinion that we tend to agitate, upset and further push away those who we are trying teach are in that sin (or any other sin for that matter). If they know something is biblically wrong and are willfully practicing whatever that is, then being told they’re going to hell (or something similar) because of it only exacerbates the situation, regardless of how good intentioned one may be. They either already know or don’t care. One should never back down from the Truth as you have stated. If someone asks about what God teaches on any subject we need to teach what He teaches. And then leave it at that. But I think it would serve the church better if we would focus our time on saving those who want to be instead of continually reiterating what is already obvious. Thank you for your comment. Respectively submitted.
2016-03-19 at 11:28 pm
A Progessive agenda will not exempt the sinner from sin! This world embraces sin Facebook is full of degrading and hate filled speech u find a must censor many pages because I no longer can just ignore them it may be time to unfollow the adds also of course this is my choice. This is true ” Do I make them my enemy because I tell them the truth”
2016-03-20 at 2:19 pm
Very well stated Ted and Tom!
2016-05-19 at 4:13 pm
I think it’s warped to say the very least to censor quotes from the Bible on grounds of “hate speech”, but let those who would use outright profanity and say truly hateful things get a free pass. I think all members of the Lord’s Church (The Church of Christ) should boycott facebook altogether as well as any others who recognize homosexuality as the perverted, unnatural sin it is.
2016-07-06 at 9:55 am
If we backdown and back off from the words given by the Lord and the message given to us to pass on to the lost….we are nolonger doing the Lord’s work. We must press on into places that are still very dark in the world because the Light is shinning even now. We must preach when nobody wants to hear the truth anymore. Let us pray for new outlets!
2016-08-22 at 6:34 pm
Amen. Nowhere does the Bible promise that evangelism will always be bright and pleasant.