Someone must have received one of my tracts recently. I had this two sentence email in my inbox on Wednesday night.
"Evangelicals are going to hell for being dishonest, opportunistic, greedy, fear mongers. You can take your I.Q. Test and stick it up your #%$. - Deren R."
Please pray for this person.
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26 comments:
I am proud of yuou Trish for giving the tract out! And remember what His Word tells us...
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
—Matthew 5:10-12
Praise the Lord!!
Look at it this way. At least Deren acknowledges that it is wrong to break the ninth ("dishonest"), and tenth ("greedy") commandments. And not only wrong, but there is a certain eternal consequence for those guilty of breaking them ("are going to hell for...")
Looks like he has provided an opening for some "opportunistic" Evangelical to share the gospel of Christ with him.
Aren't you constantly amazed by Providence, Trish?
Craig
Anger for anger's sake actually gives me hope.
When I encounter just anger, usually I can still end up having a conversation and then get to witness. Sometimes pride just can't be overcome without God's direct intervention.
When they get angry and then shout out objections that require apologetics, it's harder to get through those layers before pride is even addressed.
The one thing about your email is the God will be glorified one way or the other.
Others are blessed because God works through you!
I laugh at comments like that because they are familiar to me in that *I* used to be just like that. Dog that has been hit yelps the loudest. I worry more about the silent ones that just shrug and toss it in the trash.
God bless you Trish!
Scott makes a good point. I think Deren's reaction indicates that there is good reason for hope.
He could have crumpled the tract up, and said "%#@&* Jesus Freaks," and left it at that. Instead he took the time to give Trish his email address. Right?
Another thing, something he read in that tract touched a nerve. Possibly he was reminded of something that was already bothering his conscience.
If I were in Trish's place I would get back to Deren. (Maybe she already has.)
Craig
Craig, sure have! I emailed him this morning. Let's see if he emails back...
Trish,
The opportunistic part must be all the MONEY and FAME we receive for giving out tracts.
Mike
KEEP UP THE TRACT GIVING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES!!!
All,
Further to the explanations being thrown out here, can I submit the possibility that this guy is just a jerk? There are plenty of them.
While I find the email he sent repugnant and I'm very sorry to hear that you had to read that vitriol, Trish; to label such an event as 'persecution' as Novelist has really does a dishonour to those who are facing genuine persecution around the world.
Within our lifetime Christians have been crucified in China; that's persecution. Getting an angry email with a curse-word in it...not so much.
Thinking about what Craig wrote. It is possible that this individual considers themselves to be Christian already (you'd probably think of them as a false convert, I guess) and perhaps he disagrees with the evangelical stance on certain issues?
Cheers,
"ExPatMatt said...
All,
Further to the explanations being thrown out here, can I submit the possibility that this guy is just a jerk?"
I think there is a spiritual battle going on for every soul, including Christians.
The secular explanation would probably be just that, Matt. The guy is a jerk.
I can speak for myself in saying that I might have been a jerk (and I guess I probably still have jerk-y moments even as a believer) but I was also under great conviction when people would talk to me about Jesus when I was a non-believer. I would attack the Christian and ridicule their beliefs because I was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I knew what that person was saying to me was true. It's the Holy Spirit that saves. Its because of the Holy Spirit that I knew.
I used to think the way that you did Matt regarding persecution. But its getting worse for most Christians that will step out and witness to people, and even mild stuff like name calling is still persecution.
Keep up the good work Trish! By the way we're giving out candy this year for halloween, along with some halloween tracts. It should be interesting..:))
Hey Mr. Matt, nice ta see ya on here :))
The guy is the way he is because he is a sinner just like everyone else in the world. He needs Jesus just as much as you do Mr. Matt. The difference between you and this other guy is you both express yourselves in different ways. You are a respectful citizen living in God's world denying Him. The guy Trish witnessed to seems like a potty mouth. (..didn't know how else to put it) But, in the end it doesn't boil down to "he is a jerk" but, "he is a sinner". Same with you. Same with me. (Except, I'm a sinner saved by grace.)
-Lissie
Ps. I don't know what to write for that post you and Zilch requested. Kind of stalling here. Having a hard time thinking about what to write. (Takes me a while, sorry.) My Grandma isn't visiting anymore. So, I have the time to write it. Just having a hard time getting it down on the blog, y'know?
Melanie,
If you used to attack people for their beliefs before your became a Christian then I'm glad you became a Christian.
Lissie,
That was a very good summary of Christian belief - honestly, and I know I've said this before, you blow a lot of these online apologetics people out of the water sometimes. Keepin' it simple, keepin' it honest; people could learn a lot from you.
Now get yourself over to my blog and write something! ;)
ExPatMatt said...
Melanie,
If you used to attack people for their beliefs before your became a Christian then I'm glad you became a Christian.
Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.
I wonder what y'all would think if someone pointed out the persecution of atheists...
Hey Expatt been sick with swine flu!! Still getting over it but much better. Been ages since I been on your blog I know! My apologies!
Your blogging friend,
Lissie
Lissie, glad you're better!
Lissie,
Take care of yourself, eh? Plenty of fluids and all that stuff.
Swine flu; you're the first person I know who's contracted it - well done!
Get plenty of rest and come back to the blogging world whenever you're ready.
You friend,
Mr. Matt
Thanks Trish, I'm glad I am too. But, my Dad could use all the prayers he can get. When my mom came down this morning she said that my Dad had been coughing up blood.
He's going to the doc's tonight. We think he might have bronchitis or Pneumonia. He's had the flu all last week and still has it, but he's been working through it. Not good. Prayers are needed!!
Thanks much,
Lissie
Lissie,
Please pass on my best wishes to your father - I hope he has a speedy recovery.
Regards,
Lissie, I've prayed to God that he will heal your dad and receive a lot of Glory out of this. Blessings, sis!
Thanks much Trish!! Blessings to you and your family too!
Thank you Mr. Matt.
Lissie
"Lissie, I've prayed to God that he will heal your dad and receive a lot of Glory out of this. Blessings, sis!".
Trish,
Didn't Ray write a book about how true Christians shouldn't seek medical attention for sickness because it might be a 'chastisement from God' and you shouldn't get in the way of that?
What are your thoughts on this matter?
Lissie,
I hope your father is receiving the best in medical attention.
Regards,
My Dad's ok!!
He went to the docs! He had an x-ray and everything. The doctor doesn't know why he had coughed up blood. Everything seems to be normal. He said that his chest is just irritated from coughing so much and so hard.
So he's ok! That was a very quick answer to prayers!
Thank you guys.
-Lissie
I'm glad to hear your dad's OK, Lissie. Please wish him all the best from me.
Regards,
Thanks Mr. Matt. I gave him your best wishes :)) He said thank you, thought it was very nice of you.
His cough is going away! FINALLY. The swine flu is clearing up! And and..my curly tail is finally starting to shrivel up! It'll fall off soon. Thankfully I didn't grow a snout.
Haha. I'm just messin around haha.
Lissie, glad to hear it. Praise God your dad is fine. Sorry for the delay on this.
Matt, as for Ray...I'm not sure which book you'd be referring to. Do you know where you read this?
But biblically speaking, it's fine to seek help from a physican (Matthew 9:12). The sick do need a physican. Even Paul called Luke a "beloved physican".
"Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you". (Colossians 4:14)
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