derogatory neighbour; Christian slander

[Ivee89]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

 

[mkgal1]

For all you know, he may have actually been abused as a child by someone in the church - and that could be where his belief comes from. I'd be careful about expressing your anger to him about what you'd heard. I'd take it as an opportunity to make sure that you are kind to him and maybe one day you'll be able to let him know that you are Christian.

 

[Silverback]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

If he was talking about "you" I would wait and talk with him person to person.

Otherwise, I would ignore him, other than the fact he wrecked your sleep.

In these situations you don't know who else could be listening to this guy, and we have to be careful that our actions do not cause others to stumble.

If after you talk with him it gets worse? Then I would try to follow St. Paul's advice "as much as it is within you, try to live peacefully with one another"

Sometimes though...

 

[gym_class_hero]

Pray for him, it may not change him, but it will change you.

 

[Rescued One]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

Only God can change him. I would just continue to be civil. I think he has some mental issues and could be dangerous.

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

Well it's honestly up to you if you want to talk to him. If you feel God is leading you to talk to him then fine but also if it were me I wouldn't talk unless I felt God prepared an opportunity that seemed natural like an open door.

Just know that Jesus, who is by your side always, heard him too and disliked what he had to say just as much if not more than you did. It's interesting that despite that He still fully loves that man and wants to save him, so whatever you do, whether that be remain silent, wait for an opportunity, or just pray for him know God is with you and supports you.

 

[quatona]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

What is it you want to achieve, in this situation?
Changing his mind/setting him straight?
Peace of mind for yourself?
Something else?
What would be best to do depends on what to goal is.

 

[zephcom]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

Since you profess to be Christian, probably the best advice actually comes from Jesus and is recorded in Matthew 22:34-40.

 

[Ivee89]

Since you profess to be Christian, probably the best advice actually comes from Jesus and is recorded in Matthew 22:34-40.

You dont have to be rude. I dont profess to be, I AM. And Im aware of the verse but under these circumstances...

 

[zephcom]

You dont have to be rude. I dont profess to be, I AM. And Im aware of the verse but under these circumstances...

Under these circumstances, try to imagine if your neighbor was a Muslim and you had, in a loud voice, told workers in the hallway that Muslims were terrorists and Islam was 'wrong'.

How would you like to have him approach you and straighten you out about Islam? Once you decide how you would like him to talk to you about your outburst, you will have guidance on how or if you should approach him.

That is the way that Second Commandment works.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

Don't being it up. Treat him as kindly as possible and pray for him.

 

[Francis Drake]

Hi,

I overheard my neighbour (he was talking loudly and walls are thin and he said it rigjt outside my door) saying that "Christians are child molesters." He was talking to construction workers after asking them if they believe in God and telling them religions are wrong.
He lives across from me and we have been neighbours for 5 years. I see him often. He doesnt know I am a Christian. Im angry with what he said. I cannot decide if I should ignore him because what he said is not only wrong and hurtful but his attitude was gross and the way he badgered the workers was difficult to listen too. (I would have gone out but was still in bed trying to sleep). Or should I say hi and act like nothing happened.
He is not someone you can talk too (he talks over people, gets loud and barks at people) and isnt shy to call someone mean names.
Please give me some advice on how to handle this. Im a new Christian.

Do not feel offended on behalf of God. He has had 6000 years of insults from man, and I don't know how many from fallen angels.

Whenever I get this sort of thing, I tend to let them know I half agree with them. This is because many denominations and so called Christian leaders have provably been involved in child molestation.
But being a real Christian is not about membership of a church, its about a living spiritual relationship with God.
So don't waste time defending the indefensible.

One thing you should do to counter his boastful atheism, and that's to check out the slaughter carried out by avowed atheist states in the last century.
That includes Soviet Russia, Communist China, Communist Vietnam, Polpot in Cambodia. These were all avowed atheist regimes and in their journey to enforce Communism, they deliberately slaughtered multiple millions of their own people, by bullet or mass starvation.

You could also add Hitler's Nazi Party to that list. Although it wasn't communist, Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party. Yes, the Nazis were all Socialist workers.
Hitler turned the German Church and society into anti god paganism. Again the record of mass murder in Germany itself and in the invaded countries is worth adding up.

Basically, atheism rejects God, so life is no more than Darwin's survival of the fittest. That means killing millions of people to fulfil your political vision is no big deal.

Atheism does not produce good results in a society.

 

[Ivee89]

Christians are no different to anyone else, some are good, decent people others are all that is bad, which includes paedophilia. Faith makes no difference to personality.

Tell him that. Not me.

 

[Rajni]

Tell him that. Not me.

Tell him to join CF, so he can be told.
Until he does, it appears you were the one who was
asking for input, correct?

 

[loveofourlord]

To be fair thats the kind of thing you get for any group, I would say maybe let him know about it, but might very well have good reasons to be angry even if misguided.

 

[Ivee89]

Tell him to join CF, so he can be told.
Until he does, it appears you were the one who was
asking for input, correct?

Yeah, Im sure he would love to join this group (being sarcastic). I was asking about how to approach him after what he said because I see him often and he clearly made me uncomfortable and upset. I was not asking if what he said was correct about Christians. Your response implies Im a moron. Im well aware (as a victim of sexual abuse and as someone who is educated) that sexual abuse can come from all kinds of people from all walks of life. Thanks for lecture though.

 

[anna ~ grace]

I would let it be. Pray for him; unless he was addressing you, directly, it's best to stay out of it, pray for him, and ask God to bring him to Himself, through Christ.

 

[Rajni]

Yeah, Im sure he would love to join this group (being sarcastic). I was asking about how to approach him after what he said because I see him often and he clearly made me uncomfortable and upset. I was not asking if what he said was correct about Christians. Your response implies Im a moron. Im well aware (as a victim of sexual abuse and as someone who is educated) that sexual abuse can come from all kinds of people from all walks of life. Thanks for lecture though.

Your snippy response to sarnialass left much to be desired,
hence the reminder that you -- not the other guy -- were
the one requesting input.
Make of it what you will.

 

[FireDragon76]

He sounds like a misguided crank. Pray for him.

 

[FireDragon76]

Christians are no different to anyone else, some are good, decent people others are all that is bad, which includes paedophilia. Faith makes no difference to personality.

It should, but there are tares among the wheat.