The irony is inescapable. Some so love the Prince of Peace as the embodiment of compassion and gentleness they’ll try to hurt as much as they can anyone who says anything with which they disagree. Candour. I’ve had to hold on to Jesus more than ever before, because some of His followers have hurt me very much indeed.
His crime? Michael Coren didn’t like Mel Gibson’s movie.
According to relapsed catholic, the site that dismissed him was LifeSite.
The method was crass. Not a phone-call, but an e-mail. No notice, just a short explanation my services would no longer be required from that point on. Immediate dismissal. Gosh, even the nastiest of employers usually gives one or two weeks warning. As I say, though, surely a coincidence.
Kind of ties in with this and this, or this, doesn’t it?
Why are people who call themselves Christian (Christ-follower) often the most angry and verbally abusive and so unaware they are?
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom–it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. James 3:13-16 (The Message)
Hinduism
Casting Tina Turner as the goddess Shakti in an upcoming movie, The Goddess, is causing anger and consternation in the Hindu community. Turner is a Buddhist, but that isn’t the issue for Hindu religious leaders.
“Why don’t they get a rock star to portray the Prophet Muhammad and see the wrath of Muslims? They wouldn’t dare. Casting Tina Turner is insensitive and we won’t stand for it.”
The Thinklings are taking some personal time.
Being in a group blog is hard.
A Thinkling or two will put in a lot of comments under one post, and a hundred comments or so later the discussion seems to ease up. It’s a bit like evesdropping in a southern US theology school dorm, or finding an exclusive usethread. All that commenting must take a lot of effort.
Birds
Drat.
There are about 9000 bird species.
All I want to know is what those grey-round-fat-fluffy-ones with the-rusty-red under-their-tails about the-size-of-robins were, flocking high in a birch tree today. They sort of cheep-sing.
I spent about 1/2 hour watching them rest, guard, scout, feed. Entertaining fellows, got quite taken with them, and now I want to know what their name is.
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Actually, just a brief correction:
The Thinklings are not taking some personal time. This Thinkling is, especially from my solo site, Mysterium Tremendum (http://www.thinklings.org/jared). And another Thinkling has mentioned easing off a bit. But we still have 10 or so other blogg-able Thinklings who aren’t going anywhere. And the one or two of us who are taking a break will likely be back.
Just wanted to point that out, because the Thinklings group blog is not taking a break at all. Blogging will continue.
It’s Myst.Trem. that is on official hiatus.
I also like what you have to say about how believers online treat each other. That is almost exactly why I’m taking a break. Another blogger called me “a pig of Satan,” “a bull**** artist,” “a hypocrite,” “a backstabber,” and “a fake Christian.”
Sing it with me now:
“And they’ll know we are Christians by our vicious rhetoric . . .”
Hi Jared:
Thanks for clarifying.
The ‘vicious rhetoric’ is a personal choice isn’t it? I know we come from all kinds of backgrounds and levels of maturity, but when we tell someone their word and tone is hurtful and they don’t/won’t stop the abuse, it’s hard to shake the dust off and move on.
I guess all we can do is remain determined to keep our own speech and behaviour honouring to God, others and ourselves.
I am sorry you’ve been subjected to verbal harm.
Thanks, Bene.
What made it worse was that the guy came back to comment on my announcement that I was taking a break (which didn’t mention him at all) just to get in one last little jab. I find that not only rude, inappropriate, and unChristian — but downright evil.
I’m in the process of reevaluating my presence online and to what extent, should I resume blogging, I will participate in my comments threads and others.
I have a healthy need for debate, and I also have a gift for prophecy (not prescience, just declaring the truth firmly), but I’m learning that the exercise of these things is not always prudent in a community pretty much built on anonymity. People can hear things incorrectly and are more tempted to say incorrect things when they don’t have the immediacy of face-to-face contact.
Hi Jared:
Sometimes people say things just because they can.
I hope your friends have rallied around you and helped this fellow understand he is being hurtful and needs to stop.
If it appears he can’t then you have to be the one to move on. I’m speaking from sad experience on that point, and remain grateful for the common sense I found in the blogging world when I encountered abuse.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. When we believe people are created in the image of God we don’t abuse them.
I respect you for re-evaluating your boundaries.
You bring up a great point.
We all have gifts.
There are seasons, times and purposes.
If some of your personal gifts and needs don’t fit well into the blogging model, then what can you bring?
I have seen you bring fruits of grace, mercy and encouragement many times Jared. I’ve seen you stand in defense of others with gentle and patient meekness. Perhaps it is time we give some of back to you, eh?