I wasn't a fan of the comment either, but let's put on our empathy caps. The reality is that both out in the real world, and especially online, there is the very real reality of Christians acting poorly and saying horrendous things. The internet, due to anonymity, gives people the "power" to express thoughts and ideas they hold and to say things they'd never say out in public (usually) and that means the darkness in all of our hearts is more visible when hidden behind the veil of anonymity.
If I wasn't a Christian, my experience of Christians in online spaces would--on the whole--likely be a very negative one. Even as a Christian my experience of Christians in online spaces is, on the whole, not exactly great. It's not monolithic, because of course there are many wonderful fellow Christians who I am happy to know and interact with on here and elsewhere. But I've been engaged in online debates and discourse in online Christian spaces for the last 25 years, that's over half my lifetime. And the things I have read have been absolutely horrific, from people who supposedly read the same Bible I read and follow the same Jesus I follow.
It's been MANY years now since this particular incident happened, but at one point I was subject to death threats from a fellow Christian. They not only told me that they were praying for my literal demise, they also "prophesied" that it would happen, and very much expressed a desire and willingness to see my life canceled. These messages were sent to my private inbox, not said in the public forum. That's a very real thing that happened. And the reason? I expressed doubt that they had the gift of prophecy. That's all, that's it. This isn't said to garner sympathy, this incident happened a very long time ago, and the people in charge of that forum dealt with it appropriately and nothing more ever came of it. The point is simply to provide an extreme example of an experience.
What I wish we, as Christians did more often, was rather than bunker down and act like this is a battle, is instead take the opportunity to engage in some honest introspection. Not every negative sentiment expressed by a non-Christian is a hostility borne of the cosmic forces of darkness which St. Paul talks about; sometimes it's reaping what has been sown. If we sow hostility, then we shouldn't be shocked or clutch our pearls when we get a negative response. Sometimes people have been burned, hurt, and traumatized, and their anger is not only understandable but justified. A Christian response, again, is not to bring out the guns, but to give ear and hear.
Ultimately, however, if we are going to take Jesus seriously, then we have to take forgiveness and mercy seriously. Empathy is a requirement to taking up our cross. As is holding each other accountable as brothers and sisters. This is much easier, and is preferable, in face-to-face relationships which happen within the same congregation, for a people who literally share the same Table. The fractured nature of Christian experience in the modern world, due to a history of division and denominationalism, as well as the peculiar modern experience of non-in-person experiences through the internet creates difficulty and challenges; but nevertheless the central principles of Christian koinonia involve holding ourselves and each other to the standard of Christ, of living the penitential life of a disciple of Christ, and being witness-bearers to Christ--and that means bearing our culpability with frankness and honesty.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
-CryptoLutheran
