So here we are – most of us, anyway – on YouTube, facebook, and other social communities. We commonly interact with people that we know use an alias—a user name that is anonymous. We know nothing about the identity of the person, yet most of us freely interact with them. Is it really o.k. to interact using anonymous user names? No. Is it really o.k. to interact with people that won’t disclose their identity—including their personal names? No. Are names really important? Yes they are. Here is why.
In Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus said:
“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”
Pretty clear. People that want to preach, teach, rebuke, and wax holy should not have difficulty associating their name with the name of Jesus. So…. are they sent from the enemy? Perhaps, but just as likely these people are only immature and in need of discipleship. They are simply infants in their relationship with Jesus.
This week I have had anonymous “prophets” attempt to impart prophecies, anonymous “brothers” offering Apostolic correction, and anonymous ”saints” supposedly on order from God dropping by to offer suggestions on how my wife should dress. Pretty average week really. Not surprising, they each insisted on their “right” to privacy. What they are really protecting is their “right” to be abusive without taking any personal responsibility, or facing the consequences of their actions.
So Christians, please do not be offended if I ask you to identify yourself. It is for your own good. An anonymous profile is a practice of “private” behavior. Are you afraid to have your name publicly identified with Jesus? Remember Jesus’ response to such people? He will deny you to His Father in heaven!
I understand that not everyone is a Christian. And this is even more of a reason for Christians to disclose their identity, and to act with honest, open behavior as an example to the world.
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin”. 1 John 1:6-7
I encourage those that visit our sites to use their real names just as we do. If you want to continue to use your alias name, then please put your real name on your profile. And if you find that you do not want to disclose your identity, I do understand. Likewise, I hope that you understand that refusal to identify yourself will result in the loss of your communication privileges.
I also encourage you to establish a culture of protection on the social community profiles that you have responsibility for. Do not allow the enemy to come in and anonymously slaughter sheep on your pages. If you start requiring that people identify themselves in order to have communication privileges, many of the offenses (and offenders) will disappear.
