No sensible person would come to these conclusions.

There's this particular woman in the Ravelry threads who is just fascinating to me.
She's the same one who mentioned that she thought I was using Nazi recruiting tactics to convert people to Christianity by posting controversial topics and then setting myself up a soapbox. I've now bowed out of the two ravelry threads (there's now one on spanking--- imagine that. ) because I don't feel that they are very productive anymore, but I can't stop thinking about what she is saying. (Wayne assured me that bowing out was a good idea. Upon some reflection, I realized everything he was saying was right-- WWJD on Ravelry's Pinny Porn thread? He would take the time to explain the truth, and if they didn't receive the message, then He would take His own advice and shake the dust of his feet and move on. In fact, sometimes He would eclipse himself under a shower of falling rocks, which is kinda how it feels to just stop posting in there right now. )


I mean, it's really an interesting phenomenon. When you are a person who holds an opinion different than the norm, people get offended. That's to be expected. If everyone liked bananas and then I came in the room and declined to eat a banana, they'd be like... you're weird. I have no problem with that. Where it gets bizarre is that I am forever feeling like people want me to like the bananas anyways. If I say "I choose to submit to my husband," people are like... it's archaic! barbaric! revolting! no way! You must change your mind!

If I say, " I spank my kids using a method that I believe in, never in anger," people are like.... oh my gosh! abuse! Call Child Protective Services!

If I say," I think the UN is evil," people are like no! surely not! you're a dingbat!

Then they try to deconstruct my theories based on either how stupid they can make me look (most try to go the route of accusing me of being a know-nothing hillbilly, based on the fact that I live in North Carolina and am a Christian, which is hilarious.) If they can't make me out to just be "dumb," then I'm a victim. (In this case, for example, I can't tell you how many people think I'm in an abusive relationship and just don't realize it... that I'm manipulated by my husband and my pastor and probably in a cult, etc.)
If that doesn't work, then I'm suddenly dangerous and they get all up in arms. If that doesn't work, then I'm crazy. In this particular thread, one of the posters was trying to deconstruct my psyche (Why were you so violently rebellious in high school?) and I mentioned that I had been diagnosed with BPD. This, of course, sends them into a flurry of Ohs and Ahs.... that's why she's believing all these things! She's totally nuts! Well, no use debating with a crazy person... she obviously can't reason.
As a last and final affront, they accuse you of trolling when you prove that you can create a coherent train of thought. Basically? You're doing all this because you want attention.

I mean, it really shouldn't matter, but it does drive me nuts. The reason is so simple, I can't believe that it makes no sense to them. Why can't I just be a thinking, feeling, reasoning woman like them and still come to these conclusions? Why is the normal and rational train of thought ALWAYS going to lead to what they believe and CANNOT logically lead to what I believe? I'm starting to feel like Ann Coulter, here.... it just makes no sense.

In order to believe the Bible, according to the world, I have to be either a victim of abuse, emotionally unstable, crazy, a liar, an idiot, in a cult, or just plain looking for attention. What?

Of course, this should be my first indicator that God is maturing me.... not only because I've come a long way from the early days of R&P threads where I just hammered on people for not getting it. I've really been amazed at how calm I've remained throughout this entire infuriating conversation-- I haven't even resorted to sarcasm, which is shocking for me. To top it off, I've noticed that God has given me a real heart for a lot of the people in the thread.... people who I normally, to be honest, am just kind of like... "Well, I'm not going to see you in heaven. Oh well. That's why it's Heaven." I mean, I hate to say that, but it's true that I am sometimes tempted to forget that God Himself loves every single person just as much... from Adolph Hitler to Osama Bin Laden and everyone in between. Lord, help me to love people the way you do.

So I've been surprised to find myself genuinely caring about some of the people in there who I normally would be, well, just over. Even some of the ones who haven't demonstrated an ounce of respect during the entire course of the debate. It's amazing, but I really do think that my sobbing, frustrated prayers for more mercy for people as a result of the R&P debates have been answered. I'm not anywhere NEAR as compassionate as I think Jesus would have been towards a lot of these people. But I'm seeing some improvement, and I KNOW that's God's work and not mine. It's exciting.
I'm definitely going to be praying for more of it.

Anyways, that's it really. I'm reminded that being a Christian means the world will hate you. I haven't encountered a lot of situations in life which drive this point home as well as the internets do, but that's really just because when, in life, do you have the opportunity to round table a topic with people from all different backgrounds?
I'm also reminded that the point of it all is to glorify Christ.

The thing that's bizarre is-- how does one glorify Christ by appearing crazy, stupid, angry, abused, etc? Maybe it's better if Christians acted like Latter Day Saints or Jehova's Witnesses, and just went around baking everybody baskets of goodies and doing their laundry for them.

But when I ask God about that, He ALWAYS reminds me that

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

Sure, I could stand to bake an extra cake once in a while and bring it next door. In fact, I think I'll do that this afternoon. But the more I pray, the more I'm convinced that it's OK to be looked at as crazy, dumb, ignorant, evil, etc. by people who's standards of judgement and whose measuring stick is not the Bible, whether they call themselves Christians or not. It's OK, because I know where I stand and to whom my allegiance is. I know the power and the glory of my God. And I know the reality, that this world is but a passing flash, but that His Glory will endure forever and ever. I think if I would have given one inch in that debate, that I would have dishonored my God by saying that there MIGHT, POSSIBLY, MAYBE be a chance that the God of the Bible isn't who He says He is and doesn't mean what He says He means. And the bottom line is....

our God is an awesome God,

He reigns from heaven above

in wisdom, power and love

our God is an awesome God.

And I'm reassured that because His Word does not return void, I somehow, in some way, may have been used to bring His Word to a searching heart.