persecution? or just a joke??

[imoss]

On facebook today a friend of mine from back in the day posted her status as Shelly is: going to church. She has so much turmoil in her life including drugs & sleeping around and I dont know if this was a joke on her part or not as she posted it at noon & most are home from church unless its cowboy church but thats the last sunday of the month. Anyway she was flooded by posts of disbelief & people requesting proof from 2 witnesses that this in fact occured. I was very disheartened with the YOU dont go to church posts & stuff like that. I posted: Go figure all of these comments would have probably been on my wall 20 years ago. Bless your heart Shelley.

then I got mad at the laughter that was before me people joking about my faith so i posted this:

I'm also amazed that the love of God that is in Christ is somehow a bad thing... guess I'm not so amazed cause I used to think Christians were wacked too, that is, till I received the Lord and every single bad thing i'd ever done was gone in an instant, hard to explain that in meer words.

Then I received this:

Noone here was saying it was bad to be christian nor saying they are wacked it was a joke at a freind not a joke that she went . . . Can someone tell me how funny went to serious here? Sheesh lol

how would you people recommend I respond. I want to show the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus but dont think that I should avoid responding to this.

 

[phil36]

Wow, I feel for you imoss. People who are not saved don't realise that they are being used for wicked pruposes, but the fact that you are saved, will draw this type of stuff. take heart that people know that you are in Christ

I find sometimes people who do these things maybe are being convicted of their own wicked ways. yur words back obviously pricked their conscience.

I would just post back with something very calm and loving. using a bit of Scripture... give them John 3:16. keep stirring their soul.

I find that those who mock the most are the ones being convicted by the word most and a darkened soul fights this.

Phil

 

[imoss]

thanks Phil I posted John 3:16 <3 2 u all. & that is it as a reply. after that the friend who posted validated that this was in fact a joke she did not in fact go to church. I feel very alone & know they are all laughing at me as they are all my old party girls. Thats ok though cause I so love the Lord & pray one day they will receive this. what is the saying a profit has no honor in his own town... something like that... not that i'm a profit lol!

 

[phil36]

thanks Phil I posted John 3:16 <3 2 u all. & that is it as a reply. after that the friend who posted validated that this was in fact a joke she did not in fact go to church. I feel very alone & know they are all laughing at me as they are all my old party girls. Thats ok though cause I so love the Lord & pray one day they will receive this. what is the saying a profit has no honor in his own town... something like that... not that i'm a profit lol!

Don't be discouraged imoss. remember the world hated Christ first.

Just keep praying for your friends.

Phil

 

[QuestionTime]

I wish I could offer some advice, but I don't know what to say. So I'll offer encouragement!

If Keith Green was called a prophet of love, then you are a prophet of love too Imoss! Keith Green didn't give prophecy, but he was used by God to show His children that they were loved, and to encourage them to seek Him. You seem to do the same... just not with a Piano...

Quest

 

[DinoDillinger]

Blessed are you for being shamed for His name sake.

Maybe you could say something like... Well I'm sure Jesus is praying for you all like He prayed for those who pointed, laughed and spit in his face as He carried His cross to be crucified.

That might be a bit blunt but I'm not much for sugar coating.

 

[pickles]

Im so sorry that this was done to you. It has been my expeariance that those that do this see no offence because the see no real truth in your love for Jesus. To them it is all a joke or just a quirk you have.
I like that you simply returned a witness of love in Jesus.
I know for now it may not affect them, but I do know that a time will come where it will blaze the love of Jesus opon their hearts.
Hugs and God bless, pickles

 

[Gabriel777]

Wow, I feel for you imoss. People who are not saved don't realise that they are being used for wicked pruposes, but the fact that you are saved, will draw this type of stuff. take heart that people know that you are in Christ

I find sometimes people who do these things maybe are being convicted of their own wicked ways. yur words back obviously pricked their conscience.

I would just post back with something very calm and loving. using a bit of Scripture... give them John 3:16. keep stirring their soul.

I find that those who mock the most are the ones being convicted by the word most and a darkened soul fights this.

Phil

I concur. Same thing happens to me at my job. They get into a bad mood when i start discussing the Bible

 

[Kuroko]

how would you people recommend I respond. I want to show the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus but dont think that I should avoid responding to this.

I'd just tell them the truth, I'd tell them you weren't trying to make things serious but for some reason there's a lot of negativity out there towards religion in general and that you were just encouraging some one to find happiness and peace wherever they like to.

I'm not going to go over ALL the reasons why I would say that but psychologically it removes a big area of angst in your average anti-christian/anti-religious person because suddenly some one doing what they like and doing some thing that brings them happiness is a LOT harder to argue than believing in some thing that does or does not exist

There's a few other reasons I'd say that but it really lets them search their own soul for a moment before they reply

 

[nanabean]

imoss.......I'm having a hard time starting this post. I guess first of all, I just want to say I am sorry this happened. Jokes should be fun/funny and this was NOT either one. It is never funny to be ridiculed for your faith, nor is it funny to make light of maybe making a change and going to church and trying to understand the Lord's ways. I can only pray for "Shelley" as a coupla of different "scenerios" cross my mind. I wonder....might she have gone to church?? and then in light of all the "teasing" said she didn't?? orrrrr maybe she was throwing it out there to get a reaction to see if maybe she SHOULD go to church before she really did so?? I feel it so so strongly just to pray for her right now, that if she is trying and/or thinking to change her ways....that you and others close to her, can be a positive re-enforcement for her to find her way. Set aside anything the others have posted, what matters is Shelley..... if any one thing you can say or suggest, can help her even take one tiny baby step towards faith in our Lord and Savior....well..it's worth anyone else's comments. I will pray.

 

[phil36]

imoss.......I'm having a hard time starting this post. I guess first of all, I just want to say I am sorry this happened. Jokes should be fun/funny and this was NOT either one. It is never funny to be ridiculed for your faith, nor is it funny to make light of maybe making a change and going to church and trying to understand the Lord's ways. I can only pray for "Shelley" as a coupla of different "scenerios" cross my mind. I wonder....might she have gone to church?? and then in light of all the "teasing" said she didn't?? orrrrr maybe she was throwing it out there to get a reaction to see if maybe she SHOULD go to church before she really did so?? I feel it so so strongly just to pray for her right now, that if she is trying and/or thinking to change her ways....that you and others close to her, can be a positive re-enforcement for her to find her way. Set aside anything the others have posted, what matters is Shelley..... if any one thing you can say or suggest, can help her even take one tiny baby step towards faith in our Lord and Savior....well..it's worth anyone else's comments. I will pray.

Nana these are wise words we should join in and pray for the lady.

Phil

 

[imoss]

Amen Nana!!! Thank you all for your posts. Dino, I think exactly like you speak and used to speak what I think but found that I dont have the quick recall biblical knowledge to go toe to toe with the unbeliever and would just end up frusterated and do nothing for the Lord in that. I have just loved my friends and prayed for them but this blatant mockery of church was very upsetting to me. Kuroko, I'm absolutely going to take your advice the next time as if I post again it will be overkill I think. They can only handle so much and then think you are preaching at them and no longer receive. Whats interesting is Shelley is one of the ones who the Lord places upon my heart at times. I have been praying for her as well nana so thank you. I'm just going to step up intercession for her. My opinion of the post was that she was just joking and would never go to church but like you said maybe she was just throwing it out there to see like you said. Of my 335 friends probably 20 are Christians with maybe 5 who's faith shows in any way in the forums. The Lord is so much of my life that I cant help but have him come up in discussion. Anyway my point is I suppose, it can be a pretty lonely place being one of the only people I know who will actually say something when people offend the Lord or another of his people. I pray for everyone on my friends list. I prayed also that all friends who would read that have a softening of heart towards the Lord or feel the presence of the Lord in reading. Anyway thanks so much you guys for your support! I love this site.

 

[imoss]

I wish I could offer some advice, but I don't know what to say. So I'll offer encouragement!

If Keith Green was called a prophet of love, then you are a prophet of love too Imoss! Keith Green didn't give prophecy, but he was used by God to show His children that they were loved, and to encourage them to seek Him. You seem to do the same... just not with a Piano...

Quest

:0) thanks quest!

 

[imoss]

Im so sorry that this was done to you. It has been my expeariance that those that do this see no offence because the see no real truth in your love for Jesus. To them it is all a joke or just a quirk you have.
I like that you simply returned a witness of love in Jesus.
I know for now it may not affect them, but I do know that a time will come where it will blaze the love of Jesus opon their hearts.
Hugs and God bless, pickles

You're right! Phil did give great advice too. I was thinking just after that i should have also written out 3:17 too that he was sent not to condemn but to save. maybe i'll make that my status today.

 

[Kuroko]

The person you are speaking to is some one who is not very connected spiritually.
There is a barrier that he himself has set on ever getting close to others and through that barrier he studies the world of people around him.
He has studied religion only enough to conclude it is over the top, a lie and some thing that he was probably forced into doing (like going to church on sundays) when he was younger. Because a lot of media he watches encourages making fun of peoples serious beliefs he does as well but he does it with trepidation so as to not make himself look bad to enough people.

He was trying to bait you into an argument over the hard evidence supporting the existence of your beliefs and religion and was going to most probably bring up a point referenced in the zeitgeist movie about Jason of the old testimony being used as a reference for Jesus.

For the most part the way he see's you (and any one else who actively practices a religion) is that you are blind to observation and to thinking for yourself.

I'm telling you all this so that you know next time (there's plenty of people out there like this) it's not a case of proving how much faith you have, to these people your faith is your level of gullibility, the way these people live their lives is by having a reason and evidence to support what they believe (which is hilarious because they SO OFTEN don't use any solid evidence in their arguments) but please be careful because they love to call upon many sources of information that because they are for their argument they themselves automatically believe --_--;

In fact my best advice is to simply not bother arguing a matter of beliefs just let him know that the world would be such a better place if people chose to love one another less than themselves... then go on to tell him that Jesus was trying to teach us to do that. Lets see his logic work a way around an answer for that one

 

[Pete_Martinez]

I'm usually not very... how you say... well I don't take humiliation lightly. But this helps me, maybe it helps you?
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Bless those who persecute you. Keep in mind that was written at a time when Christians were fed to lions and light up as torches to light Nero's garden.
Remember that God will repay all unkind words and all unkind treatment. You are already vindicated because God has already won the victory. Knowing then that they will be punished for their unkindness. Then we are able and open to show them mercy and kindness. Maybe the kindness will lead them to repentance, or lead to more wrath on the day of wrath.

Rom 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
Rom 2:6 He will render to each one according to his works:
Rom 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
Rom 2:8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Now you can feel sorry for people instead of angry.

 

[imoss]

thank you for your posts guys I will absolutely return to this thread for reference as examples of this seem to be happening daily on my facebook. My friend defriended this young man. I thought this was a mistake but its her choice. in the end of all this he admited he grew up in a christian home & his mom is a sheep just like us. Crazy how bang on your assessment of this was kuroko, in fact he did say the bible was a good book for reference to be used intellectually... I told him well then, If your mom brought you up to know the Lord well then when you are old you will not depart from this. I pray you get old and have the opportunity to return to the Lord. In the meanwhile its sad that you choose to break your Heavenly Father & your Mothers heart. Whats funny is earlier i nearly posted this post would break your mothers heart... then i deleted it cause i thought i dont even know him what if his moms a satanist lol... I should have went with the leading of the spirit and wrote that. Its ok though, it likely would not have effected him anyway. These ladies are my aunt's nieces from the other side (my aunt who is a JW & separated from the family at present) They then posted on my wall how my faith helped them in their faith. What an incredible feeling that was to receive something positive about my faith. Praise the Lord. Thank you all for your posts.