O Be Careful Little Hands What You Type
On the subject of blogging again, I had an interesting and sobering comment posted from someone who I assume is a non-Christian regarding the "love" he sees displayed on the Christian blogs. Skepticus Maximus said this in response to my Blogospheric Beatitudes:
"Tiber Jumper, I find it interesting that you don't provide a URL or link to this conversation. The snippet you provided hints at a more volatile history in the conversation than you let on. Anyone can cherry-pick the rare civil comment. Yet anyone who looks at xtian blogsites knows that xtians can't help but damn one another faster than their god can."
Perhaps we could be doing a better job of preaching the gospel on the blogosphere. I don't suspect this particular person would be drawn to Christianity based on the commentary that he describes. Let's remember to say prayers for Skep Max too.
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 8:07 AM
7 Comments:
T.J.:
I must protest your using my image in this blog article. As soon as I finish randomly typing out Romeo and Juliet, I shall hurl feces at you.
Sentiently yours,
--Theo
Dear Skepticus Maximus,
Touche. Ouch.
--Theo
Theo:
I thought the zoo keeper pulled your internet access for bad behavior, you weren't supposed to see this!
I do agree that Christians could be much more like their namesake; however, I also find that those who oppose Christians will insist that Christians roll over and take no end of invectives, etc. This, of course, proves nothing to the non-Christian except that Christians are either unable or unwilling to defend themselves and their beliefs--and it allows the poor soul to abuse with impunity.
Jesus did not hesitate, in certain instances, to call a spade a spade (or snakes, hypocrites, whited sepulchres, etc). The question to ask ourselves, is, what are we trying to accomplish? Are we evangelizing? Are we debating? Are we defending the faith? Different circumstances require different responses. And sometimes, it is wise to not cast one's pearls before swine. The individual who refers to Christians as 'xtians' is certainly disrespectful, which right there precludes a fruitful give-and-take conversation.
St. Paul, one of history's greatest evangelizers was open about his failings as a follower of Jesus, yet to this day he no doubt continues to win converts. I believe it is because Paul talked about Jesus Christ and His transforming impact on his own life. This was Paul the evangelist.
Paul the defender of the faith would get pretty rough with his fellow Jews, perhaps not unlike the arguments today's Christians often engage in. I think a lot of non-Christians (and Christians) have some impossible ideal of Christianity that no one could live up to. And, of course, they see Christians failing to live up to it, and it makes them both bitter and angry toward what they understand (or misunderstand) of the Christian life.
I guess the antidote is for Christians to know, to really know, their Redeemer, and to be able to communicate that to non-Christians. We aren't expecting perfection in the material realm--and if we are--we are greatly, heretically, mistaken.
I refuse to buy into a non-Christian's argument that because Christians sometimes treat their brethren and others with disrespect therefore their religion is not viable or true. Ha! I once heard this: Christianity must be true, because it continues on despite the Christians.
"I refuse to buy into a non-Christian's argument that because Christians sometimes treat their brethren and others with disrespect therefore their religion is not viable or true. Ha! I once heard this: Christianity must be true, because it continues on despite the Christians."
Yes Gretchen great thoughts, thanks so much.
Prodigal Daughter has wisely reminded me over the years that we should never judge a religion by those who don't practice it.
I also see a difference between people who may be harsh and confrontational because they are arrogant about their "superior understanding" of God (and they are the ones who tend not to be so accurate in that understanding) and those who are engaging in what I call "salvation panic." We saw both in the recent Beckwith postings. There are people who are furious and condescending because they think they know better and scorn his faith and decision. There are others who may come across very harshly, but at least they are coming from a sincere conviction and panic that he was jeopardizing his salvation. That is why, as Gretchen points out in her great comment, that "Jesus did not hesitate, in certain instances, to call a spade a spade (or snakes, hypocrites, whited sepulchers, etc)." Bluntness and harshness are more understandable when they are coming from someone who is primarily concerned with the other person's salvation than they are about their own intellectual prowess, unresolved rage toward the Catholic Church, and yes, their pride in self. As always Jesus should be the model. Wherever possible preach the love of God and love of neighbor. Where salvation is in question bluntness is necessary. Abortion and its implication for a person's salvation and receipt of the sacraments are an obvious example where blunt talk years ago would have saved millions from grief now and in the hereafter. Once someone truly smells the sulfur they don't go back and thank people who pussyfooted with them about salvation in the past, lol.
"As always, Jesus should be the model" Well said MMF
Thanks
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