How Do You React When Christians Assume You're An Unbeliever?
- Thread starter seoulsearch
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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...
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...
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!)
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!
)
S
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
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
Well if you don't like the zombies, you'll have to write some new "Solve This Puzzle" and "Be My Girl" threads, Wise!
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.
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.
J
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.
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.