How Do You React When Christians Assume You're An Unbeliever?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

CatHerder

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2013
3,551
79
48
#41
[h=2]How Do You React When Christians Assume You're An Unbeliever?[/h]
I tell them that it is wonderful to meet another believer. If they still assume I am not a believer, I spin my head 360 degrees and spit pea soup on them.
 
Apr 15, 2014
2,050
38
0
#42
I was hoping I could just whip out my Believer Badge, but I'm still waiting for it to come. That postal service these days, I tell you :p
Dude. I read that as Believer BADGER.... and I was wondering...
 
D

Donkeyfish07

Guest
#43
Apparently, you need to get an invisible tattoo like I apparently have that says something like, "Pagan Shark Bait. Please. Save Me Now! AND MAKE SURE OF IT!!!"
Pagan Shark Bait eh? You know this is your official new nickname don't you? Lol
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#44
To the OP: seoulsearch where DO you keep meeting these interesting people? I've never, not once been told I'm going to hell. (Well, except for in the BDF. But I think I just caught the shrapnel from a frag grenade thrown at someone else.)

In fact these people never even visit homes on my street. Closest I've ever come is when a couple of guys came down our road once and knocked on every door EXCEPT ours. We were having a family dinner and all the family was over. Maybe the two guys didn't want to deal with a crowd, I dunno. When they went to the house next door and knocked on my uncle Fred's door (he wasn't home, he was down at Grandma's with everyone else) I even hollered out "We're all over here!" but they never did come by.

Now I feel left out. Everyone gets told they're going to hell except me... :(
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#46
*sniff*
Thank you. But it's just not the same...
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#47
To the OP: seoulsearch where DO you keep meeting these interesting people? I've never, not once been told I'm going to hell. (Well, except for in the BDF. But I think I just caught the shrapnel from a frag grenade thrown at someone else.)
As far as the general public situations go, I just happened to be in hot-button environments (Las Vegas, New Orleans) so in some ways it wasn't surprising. In these cases it wasn't directly right at me but rather, I was part of the masses that were being shouted at.

In the other situations I've mentioned, allow me to issue a challenge for anyone feeling left out: starting going to brand-new churches where you don't know a single person and vice versa. And be sure to go by yourself. ("Quick everyone! The Lone Pagan Alarm just went off! Now calling Evangelistic Team to Pew Number 666!!!"

Because I've moved so much in the past few years, and it takes me an average of visiting about 6 churches each time before I find that I feel is a good fit, I've had all kinds of wonderful opportunities for people to assume things about me. And, it's taught me a lot about how intimidating, frightening, and sometimes frustrating it can be for unchurched or new people to try to fit into a new church from scratch. I'm sure most of these people had the best of intentions, but some just came on way too strong.

Another very keen CC regular also pointed out something I'd been thinking of as well--being Asian, many people might also assume I'm from a Buddhist background.

I understand the need as well to "make sure" someone is "really" saved because church attendance does not mean true faith or salvation, but for some reason, I've always been really uncomfortable with actively trying to "make sure" someone is saved unless I've gotten to know them well over a long period of time, not just a chance meeting.

I can also understand why other Christians would tell me I'm going to hell. Although, as I've said before, my life pretty much resembles that of a cloistered nun, I am always drawn to "alternative" people.

At one time during the meetup we stopped at a very artsy coffee shop/cafe where one of the male servers was dressed very effeminately--which included wearing a skirt and his hair in a ponytail. Out of all the people in the room, I would have chosen to strike up a conversation with, he would have been my first pick. I've just always been that way, because I know what it's like to almost always feel like an outsider.

(This was actually a very special treat for me during the meetup--I explained to everyone that I'm used to always being the token Asian of the group, whether it's at school, work, or in an organization... but because of Shour, we not only had just one Token Asian available, but also a Back Up! :))
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
2,111
113
51
#48
Yep, you definitely need to get an 'I am already saved' badge....or carry and extra large bible so that all can see it ;)

Just think of me..I'm a Calvinist....so nearly everyone thinks i'm going to hell :)
 

Pipp

Majestic Llamacorn
Sep 17, 2013
5,536
2,701
113
Georgia
#49
I think I'd just use it as an opportunity to share my testimony of salvation. If they don't wanna believe that then that's their problem. I've never been approached and asked if I was saved but I have been approached and asked if I was Amish or Pentecostal cause I wear skirts not pants. Lol
 
S

Stone5524

Guest
#50
Phase 1 - I would enter into argument with instigator making a mockery of the faith to bystanders and passerby.

Phase 2 - I would politely respond and explain my history and position and attempt to smooth things out.

Phase 3 - I would pretend to not hear them and try to move away from the confrontation without speaking.

Where I'm at now - I would look at the accuser without saying a word and let the holy spirit do the talking. We will see who looks away first
 
C

coby

Guest
#51
I once met a guy from school in a church I once attended. Since almost everyone here doesn't believe and we were quite surprised, we both yelled: WHAAAAT? Are you also a believer? That was funny.
 

Born_Again

Senior Member
Nov 15, 2014
1,581
127
63
#52
I'd be all like "Well, thats like your opinion, man." LOL
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#54
Well if you don't like the zombies, you'll have to write some new "Solve This Puzzle" and "Be My Girl" threads, Wise! :D

I actually revised the notebook I keep for thread ideas a few weeks ago. So far I have about 50 ideas, but some aren't fully developed, others can probably be mashed together, and a few should probably be scrapped altogether, so I need to work on them a bit more... And since I've been working 6 days a week, often in 8-10 day stretches at a time, it'll be a while before I can start cranking them out.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#55
Some zombies are good guys. And some threads should be resurrected occasionally.
 
N

NukePooch

Guest
#56
I actually revised the notebook I keep for thread ideas a few weeks ago. So far I have about 50 ideas, but some aren't fully developed, others can probably be mashed together, and a few should probably be scrapped altogether, so I need to work on them a bit more... And since I've been working 6 days a week, often in 8-10 day stretches at a time, it'll be a while before I can start cranking them out.
Wow...50 ideas for threads? That would likely take up quite a few pages of a notebook!
...and then, of course, there's the additional books full of your polls...
Here's Vol 1:

 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#57
Wow...50 ideas for threads? That would likely take up quite a few pages of a notebook!
...and then, of course, there's the additional books full of your polls...
Here's Vol 1:

Oh wow, look at that...

Not only did we stir up a "zombie" thread... but also a zombie heckler!!! :rolleyes:
 

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
Aug 2, 2009
24,574
4,262
113
#58
When christians assume I'm an unbeliever I just blurt out, "John 3:16!!" Then they apologize for not realizing I was a christian and are impressed that I know that scripture. Then I say, "What scripture? I just remembered I have an appointment today with John at 3:16 ..."
:p
 
J

Jak795

Guest
#59
I'd say, looks can be deceiving.
 
J

jeremyPJ

Guest
#60
I just tell them my testimony, if I have time. Many people don't listen, or act like they don't believe me. Been there, done that. It's why I haven't been to church much lately, and if I do, I do not get involved with other people in meetings like I did after I was saved. Some are just as mean spirited, with the addition of the chip on their shoulder, as they were before they found the Lord themselves. I don't worry much about it anymore, a sign of my age I guess. I got to where I really don't care so much about others' perception of reality.

However I would like to meet with some of the folks here, as I think it would be fun. most of us seem to have an understanding based on reality as opposed to local snootyness.