Hi Everyone,
Please allow me to vent!!! Has anyone else experienced these kinds of things? I am so tired of people trying to manipulate things from me "in the name of the Lord."
Let me give you some examples: people who try to coerce you into doing something (lend or give them money, buy something for them, do something for them, babysit, give them your phone number, go out on a date with them, whatever), and if you decline or hesitate, suddenly, they'll say something like, "Wow. I thought you were a REAL Christian. I guess I was wrong."
And, even when I try to explain, it doesn't help. For example, I've had guys online ask for my phone number within the first four sentences of their contact (they say they don't like typing or chat, which I understand, but...) I try to explain to them that I only give my number out when I feel like I know someone, and that it takes some time, because I've had some bad experiences, and then I get replies such as, "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were a TRUE, mature Christian woman, but obviously, you blame any guy for some loser from the past--guess what, I'm not him!" or, "You know what? You really need help! I'll pray that you get the help you need," and, my personal favorite, "Don't worry, GOD CAN CHANGE YOU and HEAL YOU OF ALL YOUR ISSUES, LIKE FEAR!"
Now granted, we ALL have issues, and I'd never want to deceive myself into trying to claim I don't have them!!! But, where do you draw the line and how do you, as a Christian, respond? I've heard these things from both Christians and non-Christians alike, and frankly, I'm really sick of these kinds of mind games. I've heard even worse stories, such as Christian lawyers who are constantly solicited for free services because they're told, "God will surely bless you for doing this!"
Please don't think I'm speaking against doing good for other people or taking their requests to heart... but c'mon, enough is enough.
The sarcastic part of me really wants to take a verbal swing as an answer... but my spirit says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1).
It's just that... I'm not so sure what the gentle answer should be. Maybe some of you have encountered the same things and have a much better idea of how to respond than I do!!
Please allow me to vent!!! Has anyone else experienced these kinds of things? I am so tired of people trying to manipulate things from me "in the name of the Lord."
Let me give you some examples: people who try to coerce you into doing something (lend or give them money, buy something for them, do something for them, babysit, give them your phone number, go out on a date with them, whatever), and if you decline or hesitate, suddenly, they'll say something like, "Wow. I thought you were a REAL Christian. I guess I was wrong."
And, even when I try to explain, it doesn't help. For example, I've had guys online ask for my phone number within the first four sentences of their contact (they say they don't like typing or chat, which I understand, but...) I try to explain to them that I only give my number out when I feel like I know someone, and that it takes some time, because I've had some bad experiences, and then I get replies such as, "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were a TRUE, mature Christian woman, but obviously, you blame any guy for some loser from the past--guess what, I'm not him!" or, "You know what? You really need help! I'll pray that you get the help you need," and, my personal favorite, "Don't worry, GOD CAN CHANGE YOU and HEAL YOU OF ALL YOUR ISSUES, LIKE FEAR!"
Now granted, we ALL have issues, and I'd never want to deceive myself into trying to claim I don't have them!!! But, where do you draw the line and how do you, as a Christian, respond? I've heard these things from both Christians and non-Christians alike, and frankly, I'm really sick of these kinds of mind games. I've heard even worse stories, such as Christian lawyers who are constantly solicited for free services because they're told, "God will surely bless you for doing this!"
Please don't think I'm speaking against doing good for other people or taking their requests to heart... but c'mon, enough is enough.
The sarcastic part of me really wants to take a verbal swing as an answer... but my spirit says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1).
It's just that... I'm not so sure what the gentle answer should be. Maybe some of you have encountered the same things and have a much better idea of how to respond than I do!!