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When I started this whole “God kick” a few years ago, I was “on fire,” as Christians love to say. Seriously, though, my life almost immediately turned 180 degrees. I couldn’t get enough Christian stuff! The music, the Podcasts, the small groups, the friends, you name it!
My church holds a weekly service targeted to singles in their 20’s and 30’s called Every Tuesday. Every Tuesday was THE event of the week for me. I saw my friends who were quickly becoming like family, I heard a great message geared to people my age, and most of all, I got some face-melting, guitar-driven modern worship.
It was here at Every Tuesday, no more than 6 months after my big conversion to Christianity that a Christian “friend” uttered these words to me:
You’re not gonna last. Nobody does. I give you a year.
Well, first thing’s first, friend: it’s been over two. You were wrong.
Look guys, the truth is, I’ve forgiven this person. I doubt they even remember saying that to me. I consider that moment to be a very defining moment in my life…my Christian life to be more specific.
An honest struggle of mine is that I value what people think of me too much. When a person tells me, a brand new Christian that I’m “not gonna last,” or when another Christian passes judgment on me be stating that I am “confused about what I believe,” I should just brush those comments off and move on.
But I can’t. Not just because my little feeling are hurt. No, there’s a much more significant reason.
It’s comments like these, my two friends, that turn people away from YOUR faith for an eternity. I’m not mad at ya. I just think you ought to be a bit more careful with your words. You never know if your one chance to say the right thing might be your only chance to say the right thing. You never know who’s watching/reading. I’m just glad I’m buckled down and armed up.
I’ve been wanting to post on this subject for a very very long time. Truth be told, I’ve chickened out a few dozen times before. This is an extremely sensitive conversation to me. And I’d be lying if I told you that these judgmental, deflating, Satan-inspired? comments didn’t motivate me to keep pushing on, day in and day out.
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Bill, honestly, there have been times on this blog that I’ll see what’s being said and what’s going on and think to myself “Who is he working for”? I know your heart, and what you are trying to accomplish, but there have been times when your neglect of the brethren has raised some questions.
I could start quoting scripture like 2 Corinthians 6:14, but I’m not going there. All I’m saying is that you have made it very clear to people that you are a Christ follower…just be careful that your actions line up with that. We all choose to be here, and comment…and I’m not nervous anymore about our atheist friends…I always thought maybe they could sway me. But, my faith has been tested and gotten much stronger…and now I’m able to really care about them because all of the pre-tenses are gone.
I wouldn’t completely lay the blame on our friend tho for the comment made. The other one, well, sounds like they have a little growing to do. Don’t we all?
“…just be careful that your actions line up with that.”
What are you referring to, Gods Gal?
Bill’s post was honest and from the heart. He’s simply writing from his experience, dealing with “negative Christians.” Frankly, I’ve had similar experiences in my life.
Being a Christ follower doesn’t exempt you from dealing with harshness from other people. Yes, even from other Christians!
Judgey-wudgey was a bear….
Judgey-wudgey had no hair…
Who the HELL is/was this guy to make such pronouncements?!
Clearly, he wasn’t the paying attention to the admonishment of Matthew 7:1.
(Even though I’m an atheist, I know my bible
)
Robert
@Nathan:
Believe me I know. You can’t be a Christ follower for very long before learning that. I wasn’t referring to yesterday’s post…all I was saying is that sometimes when I am talking to non-believers I get wrapped up in the not wanting to offend anyone more than this is what God says, that’s the way it is. If you stay in line with God’s word, you’re going to eventually offend someone, but to me, to the best of my ability, I have to stay there. No, I’m no better than anyone else, it’s just something I’m aware of because of past experiences. If I were forced to make a choice between compromising God’s Word and what He says as opposed losing a reader, I would offend.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Thanks GG, I think you’ve just made Bill’s point for him.
Hov, probably did, but given the choice I will always follow God.
Yikes! I’d forgotten that one. :-s
But does imply that it might be OK to be equally yoked together.
GG, what’s your interpretation of this?
Robert
Hey Robert…the original Greek translation actually says “Become not yoked with one alien in Spirit”. All I can speak for is me. I have friends who are non-believers that I have had ongoing and wonderful relationships with. But when it comes to really close personal relationships, they are with believers. Believers and non-beleivers can never really, in my opinion, be as close spiritually, emotionally, etc. because most of the time non-believers don’t have a clue what we’re talking about or mean. That’s not meant to sound pompous, just that unless you know and experience God, you can’t understand. Also, if you aren’t super charged in your walk, it can cause you to stumble…which is a whole other topic. That’s the last thing any believer wants for their life.
Hov: You have made it clear that you would no more become part of the believer community than I would the atheist….why would that scripture bother you so much?
I take no offense.
I speak in the language of Science and Reason all the time and sometimes YOU have no clue what I am speaking of.
I don’t think any less of you for it.
We approach matters from different angles.
Robert
Exactly…like I’ve said before, there is no gray area with God. You’re for Him or not. That doesn’t mean you don’t care about people, any less than an atheist would. Thanks Robert..
Well, not to put too fine a point on it I think that it puts you Christians down too much. The idea of yoking two beasts together of equal strength is so that they don’t go meandering all over the field, creating mayhem and extra work for the farmer. By indicating, as you do, that a partnership between Christian and Non-Christian would be unequal it puts you down. I think that’s unfair on Christians, many of whom are perfectly rational and intelligent people, just as many Atheists are.
Granted, there are some who are more limited or more gifted than others but you can say this about both parties. Why put yourself down like this?
It’s more than that though. You are saying that there is no room at the discussion table for Atheists and Christians or even for Christians and Non-Christians. There is simply no way a Christian should work with a non-Christian in that viewpoint. How utterly limiting is that. Don’t you think we have anything to learn from Christians? Just because we base our lives on reason and evidence doesn’t automatically place believers in second place. I’m shocked that you’d even suggest such a thing.
8-|
“You are saying that there is no room at the discussion table for Atheists and Christians or even for Christians and Non-Christians.”
Oops, reversed the box…dang!:d
By saying that we’re unequally yoked the implication is that we shouldn’t mix. If we shouldn’t mix then we cannot discuss our differences. I may have taken 2+2 and come up with 5 here and apologise if I’ve unfairly judged you.
I may not understand the spirituality of your life but that isn’t any reason for me to pretend it doesn’t exist or not to be curious about it. Failure to share the things that are important will leave me with no frame of reference with which to make assessments about your opinions. I’d probably end up giving up and slapping a label on you if that happened.
“Nobody does”? The Christian religion has survived external persecution, internal corruption, dissent, and self-denial over the course of 2000 years. How can you get more false-to-fact than saying that “Nobody does”?
My experience has been that converts to Christianity are some of the best Christians we have, and to say word one against them reveals a lot about the speaker’s cynicism and sin.
If you have ever felt Jesus affirming your salvation, I just don’t understand how you can say something like “You’re not going to last.”
@Robert Fischer…
I agree. I was left speechless. Thanks for the comment!!!
bc
I agree, which is what we’re not about here correct? If anything my “labels” have been removed.
Again, this is about a belief system and spirituality. Not reasoning, debating or being in eachothers lives. Were all human with strengths and weaknesses. No one is “better” in my opinion.
Gain more atheist friends. :d
Seriously, the mentality is opposite for atheism. “Converts” from religious indoctrination don’t need continuous motivation to remain faithless. The liberation itself is such an event that it usually will last a lifetime. Of the hundreds of people I’ve brought to reason, none have fallen back. The atheists I’ve met that have turned, were always people from backgrounds who were never exposed to the meme. I think one needs an experience of faith, and a living understanding of Christianity, to properly and thoroughly reject it on its’ own merits.
Since my conversion to Christianity, I never cease to be amazed at the natural draw all people seem to have to be cynical about anything involving hope, love, joy, etc. When people hear that I’m really involved in Christianity I’m frequently told (by atheists and Christians alike) that it’s just a phase and I won’t be so excited about it in a year or two. I only rarely hear words of encouragement. Weird.
@Jennifer F…
And extremely sad too. On the positive side, it motivates me to be encouraging!
Bill - definitely. It’s so great that there are people like you out there. You’re such a great example of Christian charity and hope.
Also, it’s great that you encourage others, because I think many people are afraid to do so for fear of looking foolish. Have you noticed that in our culture cynicism is perceived to be synonymous with intelligence? I think that a lot of people are afraid to be unapologetically hopeful, joyful, and positive for fear of being labeled unintelligent. Sadly, these days a lot of people think it’s a sign of erudition to be a pessimistic naysayer about everything.
If there were a devil, what a great tactic that would be.
Ha, I’m far from the role model. I’m just a dude trying his best.
Ya know what, label me unintelligent. At this point I really don’t care. To make things even better, I’ve never claimed to be all that intelligent. lol
I wouldn’t say that hope, joy and a positive outlook are mutually exclusive with intelligence.
Let me get this straight. Someone - a Christian - told you that you “weren’t gonna last.” Weren’t going to last as a Christian? This is the most repulsive and ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Two years later, I guess we all know who the genuine Christian is…
Congrats on sticking by your convictions.
I am sorry to say that as a young Christian this happened to me as well. People from my home church no less told me that the excitement that I was showing would wear away and I would end up like them, which they thought was better! God has a funny sense of humor though. He sent me there to my home church as the pastor for 8 good years so they all could see that the excitement had only grown and continues to grow even today!!
@Patrick Craig…
Yes sir, it’s true (and sad). Thank you for the encouragement!
Hey Pastor Todd…
When I was in the military, one of the popular topics of discussion was poor leadership. A common response from the senior leadership was this:
“Work hard and make rank and one day you’ll outrank your boss. Perhaps you’ll even BE their boss.”
I only heard of it actually happening a few times. I still like the principle, though!
Thanks for stopping by & commenting!!