Thursday, October 11, 2012
Meet in the Middle?
Well, it had to happen eventually. I've encountered my first angry atheist. And I'm not sure how to handle it. I had recently posted a link to a video that my church posted on YouTube. This person made a comment that was mildly rude but I brushed it off. Another person, who is agnostic, commented that she liked the video and it made her curious about my church. Then the first person kind of went after her for wanting to go to a church to learn about God. He felt that was the last place she should go and when I said I was offended and felt he was disrespecting my choice to be a Christian he quoted Psalm 14:1 at me and said the book disrespected him. Not wanting to drag the argument out I haven't responded. Should I have? Isn't this the opportunity many Christians live for, that chance to "convert the nonbeliever?" I guess I don't work that way. I've never felt I should push my religion on anybody else. I feel we all have the right to believe what we want even if it's nothing. All I ask in return is that they do the same. I have a coworker who is atheist but we're very respectful of each others choices. When I decided to go in to ministry I made sure she knew I wouldn't be all preachy at her and she assured me she wasn't worried and was excited for me in fact. I must be incredibly naive to think everyone would be that way. I feel personally hurt because my relationship with God is so personal. And I'm angry that this first person is so close minded that he can't see beyond his own emotions and opinions. I read the psalm he quoted and I can certainly understand where he's coming from. But dude, I didn't write the Bible and keep in mind this was written in ancient times for a group of people who felt nobody was on their side but God and needed to hear that. Maybe I should've said that? I don't know. For now I'll just back off. You can't win them all I guess.
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First off: Your sermon was as wonderful a first sermon as I've ever heard! You said what's in your heart and it was a great testimony to your faith and interpretation of scripture.
ReplyDeleteSecondly: Right now, when you have just made such an amazing commitment for your future by saying "yes" to your God, everything is going to seem a little more vibrant and meaningful than it might at another time.
There is nothing wrong with naivete ... unless you allow that to get in and hurt your heart.
The arguments about God's existence have been around since the beginning of time. It doesn't change the reality of it at all. I kinda think of it like radio waves. They are all around us. They pass through us all the time. But we don't know about them unless we have a receiver that picks up those vibrations and translates them into things that we can hear and understand.
Sometimes it's worthwhile to say something in response ... sometimes not. You can always bring it up again if you feel so inspired, but don't feel like you HAVE to. You may be a voice for God, but you're not the ONLY voice. :-)
As one of my mentors told me at my ordination: "Hold tight to the reins, but ride loose in the saddle."
Deb