| Author | Message | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Thanks, Lynn, No I don't lose sleep over it. And I usually only think about it when I'm on-line at formeradventist.com, reading what people are saying. You seem to have more ego strength than I do, and I like your saying from Lynn Wunische. Thanks for that. And to tell the truth, I'm more worried about the next attacker. Will I be gulled again? And if not, will I be able to act in a truly Christ-like way as you suggest? I guess I'll just have to trust God and wait. Thanks again, Lynn, Jude | ||
| Lynn W |
When someone hurls mud at us, that reveals their character, how we respond reveals ours. Or as our pastor says, When someone bumps into us, whatever is in the cup we are holding will spill out. We will get bumped into again. Let's hope it's grace that spills out. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
But, Lynn, Don't you see, it's not the times when someone bumps into ME that causes my powerful reaction. I feel as though I can handle myself. It's the times when someone seems to deliberately step on someone else with intent to squash. It's like, what do I do as an "onlooker"? Just "watch and pray"? That seems like a copout to me. Jude | ||
| Colleentinker |
Jude, I understand your reaction to the "savagers", to borrow a term! I'm personally grateful to you for the way you've defended the integrity of this website and those who post here. It's jolting to find you've misjudged someone, that the one who presented him(her)self as open and searching was really posing in order to secure a platform. It feels as if we're being manipulated, and the unsuspecting people who are targets of the unexpected criticism are the worst victims. These events sort-of tap into all the shame and embarrassment we've ever felt at the hands of "savagers". I know my personal reactions to these kinds of attacks do not spring out of an emotional vacuum! I personally do not think you've been at all innapropriate in your responeses on this forum. I think we've all appreciated your defending the unsuspecting "victims". I sense, though, that you're internal reactions make you uncomfortable. I don't have a good, quick solution to that problem! I'll tell you what I do, however, and I believe I've read others on this site (Susan and Lydell, I thinkóand probably others) say the same thing. Every time I post, I pray that God will help me to say the right things and that He'll help me know how to say them. I believe he delights to honor our requests to be open to his words and insights! God has sent you to this forum, and I know he uses you. Thanks again for everything, Jude. We're grateful to you! I continue to pray for all of us. Colleen | ||
| Lynn W |
Jude, I for one am very grateful for the things you've written in defense. I also feel the same way when it's someone else getting thrashed. I think it's a good thing to speak up, but when the thrashers ignore you, there's not much left to do but pray & be at peace knowing you've done the right thing. Keep up the good work. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Thanks, Lynn, "I needed that," to quote an old TV commercial. I don't think the thrashers are ignoring us, though. And the best reason for thinking so is that when confronted by people who don't back smilingly down from the flurry of of their threats, all schoolyard bullies show what they really are -- cowards -- and turn tail and start running, which is not the same thing as ignoring at all. We may think they are "ignoring" us from their hiding places. But that's not the same thing as a giant mastiff ignoring the hostile yappings of a tiny chihuahua. Rather, they continually avoid people their own size or larger and continue to prowl for those who appear to be smaller and weaker than themselvs. Along these lines I was thinking recently about the SDA allergy to being called a cult. When never-been SDAs call SDAism a cult (and there have been many books over the years doing so), SDAs cry foul. "You're not an SDA, so how could you possibly know? You just hate us because we have the truth and you don't." But when former SDAs call SDAism a cult, the SDA rebuttal takes on an entirely different tone: "You're just bitter because [a thousand would-be reasons fit nicely in here]." Which leads me to a further conclusion: WE formers are THE ONLY ONES really and truly qualified to call SDAism a cult. Because we've been there. We know. That's why the SDAs hate and fear us so much. We are the greatest threat to their retention of existing members and to their programs of compassing "land and sea to make a single proselyte." They are unwittingly showing us the power that we have. And it is powerful indeed, because it is true witness. What do you think? | ||
| Lydell |
Yes Colleen, I believe that's it exactly. We should always first pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance before posting. And if we are feeling the emotions getting churned up, it's a good idea then to give it an hour or two or a day before posting the message at all. That way you can hopefully set aside the emotions. It can be a very hard thing sometimes to keep in mind that what you are posting should be done with the intent to educate rather than to win the argument. |
