I have been off wandering the Blogosphere over the last couple of weeks and discovered that it was a dangerous place to be. I visited two blogs that were discussing issues related to gender. At just one of the blogs I was told the following:
I must submit
I am skating on thin ice
I must be quiet or I will be commanded to be silent
I was then commanded to be silent!
My thoughts and views are heretical
I was speaking out of both sides of my mouth
My words border on deception regarding the meaning of God’s word
I will not listen to god’s word
I am fundamentally opposed to God’s word and mock it
I only pay lip service to submission to the Word
I don’t like what the Word says and use arguments and exegesis to reject it’s clear teaching
I mimic Satan
I have given into temptation
I continue to promote rebellion
I need prayer (very true!)
I am not a sincere seeker of the truth
I hate the truth…I hate it sir!
If I was truthful I could not make a living as a pastor
I am a wolf in sheep’s clothing
May God bring me to repentance or expose me to my presbytery and flock so they’ll remove me from my pulpit.
My words are heretical and will destroy God’s sheep
I was to be silent…sir!
I distort the truth and devour the sheep
I am not interested in arguments but rather moulding scripture around my own cultural mores
I am a product of the reigning culture
I add to the words of scripture
Throughout the conversation I was polite, even though the very first sentence of the very first comment directed at me attempted to mock me. Being polite did not help. Readers were warned that my polite and nice manner was deceptive, just like the old wolf in sheep’s clothing trick!
I will not direct you to the blog. I do not believe that they deserve the attention. What I will say is this. Whether someone is Egalitarian, Complementarian, or Vegetarian, Christ calls us to love them. The church has been so sidetracked with issues time and again. When will we simply get on with loving others? When will we get on with loving ourselves?
No related posts.
Dave,
You are so right in that there are wolves out there who are ready, willing and able to rip at the sheep. They show their true colors when you disagree with them even if you disagree in a very cordial way. They appear to love the moment when they can command you to be silent! They love the power and hope to see people act in fear.
The fruit of the Spirit is missing in their willful attacks on other Christians. I have seen these same men attack men, women, pastors and even their own “kind” should their comp brothers show any sense of sympathy for the poor egalitarian who has wandered into their den. It is not a coincidence that the comps who follow their blog whisper “yes sir” under their breath as they follow the lead of the “boys” that own that blog. Their followers cannot be friendly to you or any other egalitarian and save their own hide from being ripped apart right alongside you.
For a long time I was distraught at this kind of attitude and treatment until I came to the understanding that these men were predicted in the Scripture. This is why it is imperative for us to be fruit inspectors. We are not able to look inside the heart, but the fruit of their dealings with brothers who disagree with them will always reveal the fangs and getting too close to them will draw blood.
I am glad that you were polite, never fearful and persistent, but I am also glad that you got away. These men will drain you of the joy you have in Christ if they are allowed to touch your soul.
I used to think that we should just keep trying because under that wolf fur there must be a tender sheep somewhere. I got involved with trying to help a particular wolf too sometime back and I was shocked at the amount of hatred I personally was subjected too for merely a disagreement on a secondary issue of faith. When I tried my best to reconcile in a Christian manner, I was attacked in such a vicious manner that I almost became his dinner. It is only by God’s grace that I was not destroyed. I also praise God for the lesson that I learned because “Wolf 101″ was one of the most important courses that I could have taken through a real experience.
Thanks for your wisdom Cheryl!
I am glad that you did not become dinner – God is good.
I am also glad that I got away when I did. I do have much joy in Christ which gives me reason to live!
Praise God!
I have had some experiences like that at SOME non-egal blogs, and at SOME others there is more tolerance.
As a man, I am able to detach myself as it is not a direct attack on my ministry, so I try to “take some heat” for my sisters in Christ, but I also need to know what MY limits in regards to listening to abusive speech are.
I think part of the goal of the abusers is to get the other to lose their cool, thereby discrediting the other in their eyes.
Another aspect is they assert their power, but being in Christ is not about power, it is about serving.
Don, when I was wandering the blogosphere I noticed your comments at a few places. I was struck by how you are always calm and polite. Most of all I enjoyed your insightful comments that so often cut to the heart of the issue.
Thanks fo ryour ministry Don!
Thanks for yours also, Dave.