A question aimed at fellow Christians - Are we casting our pearls before swine?

Question

(To those not familiar with the Bible, the 'casting our pearls before swine' remark is not calling anyone a swine, it is a reference to an instruction given by Jesus in the form of a metaphor).

I refer specifically to our usage of this site.

I've only been using this site for a couple of days but I'm already suprised at the sometimes vitriolic responses to us from certain sections of this community.

I realise that we should be prepared to expect trouble for following Christ, He warned of this specifically, but I guess I'm wondering if we actually manage to reach anyone with His message via this medium?

I would especially appreciate responses from those Christians who have a great amount of experience of using Yahoo Answers.

Answer 1

As one of the swine, I'd like to respond. Maybe you'll hear what I have to say, and maybe you won't.

Firstly, if your role on the site is to convert people, then you should continue. If one person is 'saved' then what does it matter about the thousands who were not?

There are some nasty things said, but all religions (and atheists/agnostics) are treated pretty equally in that respect. You have to remember that some people are pretty unpleasant.

On to specifics, this site is about questions and answers. The holier-than-thou responses (and I am not refering just to the Christians) that you frequently see tend to leave me feeling the need to respond. When an answer does not even try to answer the question (which is generally either a pointless insult or an irrelevant religious/anti-religious statement) I give it a thumbs down. If someone gives a good answer, whether I agree or not, I give it a thumbs up.

You do have to remember one important thing. If your job is to throw pearls to the swine. You have to know that you are someone else's swine, and will get pearls thrown to you, too. The answer is to debate it reasonably.

For me personally, I love the religious section of Yahoo Answers as you often get real argument. To you this is about spreading your religion. To me it is to debate. And I debate to learn.

So throw me some pearls. But expect me to question them.

Answer 2

No. If you are casting pearls before swine, you are wasting your time showing or offering something very helpful or valuable to someone who does not understand or appreciate it.

As an athesist, I however understand your argument, and reject it out of intelligence, not because I do not understand the message. I have read the bible, and the quote in Matthew 7:6, so you did not have to translate it for me.

I suggest that your pearls are nothing but imitation pearls.
Maybe - but there are some real swine on this site.

Answer 3

Hm. You actually bring up a good point. I think each question should be a case by case basis. I take it there is at least one reader of each question, if not multiple, so in writing responses, I would suggest that we do so with care. Several times I've been able to contact people directly and start up further dialogue. Also it's always good to go to where the people are to share the Gospel. So I would suggest this...

1) When answering a question, check out other questions that the person has posted to see if he/she is serious or mocking. (using the profile)
2) There are quite a few people who could potentially read what you wrote, so salt your writing with kindness and gentleness whenever possible.
3) Use wisdom. Say in public what would be ok to say in public and keep certain "jewels" for private conversations.
4) Testimonies, experiences, and stories or analogies are often good for this format.

If anything, I'll keep these things in mind for my own answering.

God Bless!

Answer 4

Well, I would answer your question with another question... Have you ever seen a bumper sticker that made you smile?

I know it sounds stupid, but have you? How about... have you ever seen one that actually changed life?

No? well, guess what... I know of people that have. First, you never know when there is a lost or hurting person out there that will read a post that you put up, even if you have thought of it flippantly, or forgotten it quickly after you hit the submit button. Secondly, you never know the residual effects that come from what you do. Think of the parable of the sower. Some sow the seed, but do not reap. Some water it, but never see the fruit. Some reap the fruit. Unfortunately, we have come to think that the reaping is all there is to the faith. Truthfully, it is everything that comes before thtruly matters, for without that, the reaping never happens.

hope this helps

Answer 5

The problem I think is there is a lot of Christian Fundamentalism on the site and there is a need for a more thoughtful approach otherwise all Christians get tarred with the same brush. For example, probably a majority of Christians around the world accept that the world wasn't created in 6 days but you wouldn't necessarily get that from the responses on this site

Answer 6

Based on some of the email I receive, I would have to say yes, some are reached. Then there are those that just like to argue. There are also those who will not hear and listen nor open their eyes to truth. As for myself, I have had the opportunity to learn a great deal from this site. I must say though, I am amazed at the number of people who do not have any respect or love of God or that do not even believe.

Answer 7

I was thinking a lot about this last night.

Does it benefit the Gospel for us to get involved in an Internet slang-ing match?

Probably not.

Are you going to help anyone.... possibly, but only a tiny minority of people.

I figure that we're probably better to get out there into the world and show Christ's love and compassion and deliver the message of hope through our actions and lifestyles rather than through what we think are cleverly constructed posts on a message board.

(I'm still a little bit addicted to Yahoo Answers though ;-) )

Peter
http://www.nabitunics.com/life

Answer 8

You're probably right, and although I used to think that maybe people can be reached this way, the two problems that come up are either 1) you can never be sure, and 2) nobody can change their beliefs except themselve.

So for now, I'll just enjoy myself, and I do learn bits of advice from people and enjoy being open and expressing my opinion which can not always be done with other people out of fear of potentially pissing them off.

Answer 9

It is best to be somewhat selective, for there is no shortage of swine. For the most part, I think it is good to shine a little light into a dark corner and so I think all this serves a purpose, even if there seems to be no immediate result.

Answer 10

I would have to say, "YES!" This is definitely NOT a site for respectful disagreement, questioning, or discussion. I, for one, do not understand why so many of us Christians bother to respond to some of the idiocy inherent in the questions and comments of the athiests, and others, who deliberately insult us.

If there is a question posted that is not in the vein of being a legitimate query about what we theists believe, why do Christians in particular, respond to it? It only encourages more of the same, and this site becomes nothing more than a garbage dump.

Ignore those juvenile posts, and they will eventually die out, as the posters will not be getting what they really want: outraged
Christian reaction.