Brothers and Sisters in Christ............?

Question

Recently I asked a question on R&S
( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylc=X3oDMTE1MmI4N2IyBF9TAzIxMTU1MDAxMTgEc2VjA2Fuc19ub3QEc2xrA3N1YmplY3Q-;_ylv=3?qid=20071217200918AA2M6IN )

Since then the # of atheists and non-believers has dropped markedly. In the last 7 or so questions (with approximately 10 answers each) I have checked out or answered there was only 5 answers by non -believers (and they weren't all that ugly).

My question: Do you thin this is a good thing; keeping their ugly comments out or is it a bad thing; stopping them from reading Godly answers? Or is it just coincidence?



Thank you for your answers. All thumbs up! No thumbs down.





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Deac:
I agree. That is why I posted this question. I didn't realize it at the time I posted the other question how harsh it sounded. I didn't intend it to sound 'mean' as one answer said.

Carl B:

That's the point of this question. The other post had an effect I did not intend when I asked the question. I wanted them to look within themselves, but apparently it came of as more aggressive than I meant it to.

Mecajunboy:
Hey I'm in Louisiana, too.

Email me.

Phoebe:
Your words are comforting.
Thank you. I will check out the site.

A True Christian:
Good point.
Thank you.

Answer 1

lol.. sometimes tough love works haha.. sounding mean gives you respect with these people and they will not even read your writings unless you speak their language haha.. well sometimes..

ok.. I think that everyone has the right to free speech.. we do not have to be upset by comments for they are just that comments.. they do not hurt us.. we can only be rebuked with truth--that which is intended as a rebuke yet has no truth carry with it no meaning--therefore, if they say mean things to you so what? considered yourself persecuted and rejoice as the bible tells you to do..

I say let the bulk of nonbelievers come.. for the harsher the comment the better. Those who have listened to your question and were affected enough to lash out have lent themselves to the seed you planted.. why? because those who get upset with you listened to what you had to say and thought about it--otherwise what you wrote could not strike a nerve with them..

It has been the experience of those in the mission field that if one person is angry with them THOSE people are the closest to being led to the Lord.. those people who are angry are closer to acceptance than you realize.. even though it may not seem the case with yahoo answers..

Do not be scared with atheist comments instead rejoice--God says to rejoice because they have listened to what you had to say.. and thats the most important part..

thank you for at least reading this :)

thanks

Answer 2

It's both. I don't think anybody should be giving ugly, nasty answers even if they completely disagree with the questioner. But it is also nice to have the perspective of those who aren't Christians, and even those who don't even believe God exists. It's kinda like taking the temperature of the world around you, know what I mean? I like a varied perspective rather than being surrounded only by people who agree. It's good for us.

Answer 3

Probably more coincidence than not. But I will pray for many of the lost souls tonight. An even better question I like to ask them is, "What if this God you reject is for real and what HE says in the Bible is Truth? What if all you have to do is Believe in HIm and follow HIS commands throughout your life and you will be rewarded the Kingdom of Heaven for an eternity ? Would you live for God then? Now, what if you are wrong to believe that God does not exist? Sounds like a pretty pathetic reason to gamble on life and eternity to me.

Answer 4

Some people are just plain mean you cannot get around that. But trying to "edit out" the voices of people who do not believe in God is just as much as sin as vulgar attacks and coments. I can see you do not believe in the American belief system where all men are created equal and therefor have the same right to profess a creed and speak freely about thier beliefs (even in a vulgar way). This makes me sad for you as you take away any voice of fairness I would have granted you in reading your post. Lack of a faith in God (I consider myself Christian as well) is not a sin but simply a lack of faith. "Ugly coments" are simply a sign of immaturity about thier beliefs. I have a freind who is a true Aetheist and buy that I mean does not dwell on God or on God's exsitance at all. He is a good friend and man, frankly I know of quite a few Christians (and I think we all do) who do not deserve the name. With out the exsistance of God he lives a good life and is mentaly and moraly strait. If he fails to enter an after life a "heaven" I think it would be a worse place without him.

You on the other hand have a duty and obligation as a Christain to share the word of God with everyone do you not? Why would you at all stop them from reading Godly answers? If there is one chance in infinity of giving some one pause by something you have said to save them are you not failing God? I know you know as I do and know of his forgiveness and love but did Christ not hang out in his life with the "ugly" people of his life. Leppers, prosistutes and theives are still today using "ugly" speach. Love them as yourself, turn the other cheak and pray not for them, not for yourself but that you both may understand eachother and move toward the peace of Christ believer or not.

Answer 5

I think open dialogue is the best. After all the apostle Paul did some really heinous things before he had his encounter with the Lord. Oftentimes the people who are the most vehemently opposed are closest to accepting God's truths. Its's a matter of passion.



Deac

Answer 6

I understand your point, Molly, but this is a totally open forum. There are Christian forums where honest discussion among the brethren is more appropriate. I do not think that the taunting I see here on Y!A (both directions) is at all helpful to anyone. Whoever wants to follow the discussion among believers, fine. I think we need not answer remarks that are not honest objections but mere insults, etc.

Remember that Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.' " ~ John 15:18-25

Answer 7

Well I have the notion that some people who say they are non believers are still searching for answers within themselves. You never know when even a brief sentence or something impacting written here will help them see the light they are searching for :-)

Answer 8

What are you talking about? We're still all here. We probably just have better things to do than keep a tally of who's responding and who's not.

We also tend to respond more to intelligent or stimulating questions than to dull ones. So perhaps your informal survey says more about the questions you are asking than about the answers you are getting.

Answer 9

As a Christian, I understand your point; however, perhaps they are waiting for unity amongst Christians presently. Perhaps they see the division in USA Christianity as funny (at best) presently.
Christian Apex; text of Col. 3:17.

Answer 10

Sometimes I wish they wouldn't be so mean to people who are asking questions not directed toward them. But in general I like the fact that they are here and I welcome their opinions.

An example of what I'm talking about: Question: I would like some uplifting Bible verses...
Answer: Your sky faerie isn't real grow up!!