“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will REPROVE the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” John 16:7-11, KJV
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light . . . And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE them.” Ephesians 5:8, 11, KJV
“Them that sin REBUKE before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20, KJV
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2, KJV
“This witness is true. Wherefore REBUKE them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” Titus 1:13-14, KJV
“These things speak, and exhort, and REBUKE with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:15, KJV
“As many as I love, I REBUKE and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19, KJV
“Open REBUKE is better than secret love.” Proverbs 27:5, KJV
Please be advised that the Bill’s Bible Basics Facebook ministry is a public ministry. What I mean by this is that everything I have to offer to my Facebook friends can be found by visiting my timeline. In fact, to take full advantage of everything that I have to offer in the way of the Scriptures, you should also click or tap on the links which I include with many of the posts that I make. These links will lead you to even more information, and deeper Bible studies, concerning what each of my graphics is about, on the Bill’s Bible Basics website.
The reason why I am stating this, is because I have too many friends — particularly from Asian, Middle Eastern, African and other Muslim countries — who seem to only be interested in engaging in private text messaging. These people show very little interest — if any at all — in commenting on my posts, liking my posts, or sharing my graphics on their own timelines and pages.
Why is this?
I will tell you why. With over 14 years of Facebook experience — as of September 2025 — behind me, I know for a fact that in a large number of these cases, these people are ultimately only after a few things: money, clothing, Bible supplies, etc. Now, I recognize that some of these people may be honest and sincere in their requests. They may indeed be real, Bible-believing Christians who have given their lives to Christ. However, with so much fraud, deception and outright lying occurring on Facebook, how can we know for sure?
Trust me when I say that some scammers can create a website or Facebook page that looks very convincing and very legitimate. That is to say, the website or Facebook page will give the impression that they truly are Christian, or that they truly do run a Christian orphanage or similar Christian ministry. When such people do start sending you private text messages, they will start off innocent enough with a simple hello, how are you, God bless you, etc. But eventually, they will get to the main point: they want your money, or something else. I have been through this enough times over the years to know. Trust me on this.
Personally, I can’t help but wonder how many gullible, naive Christians — particularly American Christians — on Facebook are sending money to these people, not realizing that they may very well be funding some Muslim terrorist organization, or just giving money to someone who doesn’t even believe in Christ, and who simply knows how to say the right things, and milk Americans for all they are worth in a financial sense.
It is for this reason that whenever I do accept a new friend request, I let the person know right off the bat in my welcome message to them, that I cannot help them in any way, other than by sharing the Word of God with them. If secretly they want more than that, then they are barking up the wrong tree, and their friend request is wasted on me. And they are wasting my time as well.
In short, I like to keep everything above board and out in the open. In other words, if I do accept your friend request, let’s keep it public. Engage with my posts by commenting on them, liking them, and sharing them on your own timeline or page. Now, if you do none of these things; and if you are silent for a long period of time; and then you suddenly start sending me private text messages, naturally, I am going to be suspicious, and I am going to wonder what it is that you really want. Many scammers start out this way.
For the record, I private text with very few people on Facebook on a regular basis. These are normally people I have known for at least a few years on Facebook, if not longer, and who I have grown to trust. I know that they are sincere and legit in their faith in Christ. Currently, I can count such people with whom I text on a regular basis on one hand.
“And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.” Genesis 11:28-31, KJV
“And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.” Genesis 15:7, KJV
“Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;” Nehemiah 9:7, KJV
“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 144:15, KJV
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:” Psalm 146:5, KJV
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding . . . She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” Proverbs 3:13, 18, KJV
“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” Proverbs 14:21, KJV
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken . . . All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:13, 15, KJV
“He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” Proverbs 16:20, KJV
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22, KJV
“Happy is the man that feareth [meaning the Lord] alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 28:14, KJV
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18, KJV
“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.” Ecclesiastes 9:5, KJV
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:17, KJV
“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:10-11, KJV
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” 1 Peter 3:12-14, KJV
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:14, KJV
IS IT WRONG TO WANT FOLLOWERS? — a Bill’s Bible Basics article
#IsItWrong #Followers #SocialNetworks
This Bill’s Bible Basics 1-part article can be read at:
https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/is-it-wrong-to-want-followers.html