- Apr 30, 2013
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Yesterday my brother just confronted me after church with something rude. He started asking questions about our church, in a way that was attacking the character of the people there and telling me "your church is obviously failing to be relevant to young people".
It really made me upset. He is irreligious, and the things he said were very hurtful.
First, I pointed out that yes, we do have young people at our church, but older people often attend on wednedays during Lent. Then he asked why we only have additional services during Lent, and we pointed out that the additional expense of keeping the doors open all the time couldn't be justified given Florida's climate. Then he started attacking the "business" of our church, that obviously we were not making money like a real business, that the people were just lazy Christians (which I found extremely hurtful).
Then, I told him that was my religion and I didn't think it was a good idea to discuss those issue in that manner because he obviously did not understand what we believe, and the very good reasons we do what we do. That he did not understand our ways, it would be spiritual confusion and cheapening grace to run our church in the way he suggested. That it was God's job to draw people to the church ultimately (this bit really bothered me because I knew hew would not understand this, but that's the exact way I became part of the church- people do show up as guests without having to have external inducements or manipulation). Then he said, well, you all are obviously failing then (at this point I became completely frustrated).
On reflecting on this, it seems like he just is being a troll at times. I confronted him about it, but he acted like he was doing me a favor in engaging in such a confrontational conversation. Which just seems like something a sick mind says. So, it bothered me a great deal.
It really made me upset. He is irreligious, and the things he said were very hurtful.
First, I pointed out that yes, we do have young people at our church, but older people often attend on wednedays during Lent. Then he asked why we only have additional services during Lent, and we pointed out that the additional expense of keeping the doors open all the time couldn't be justified given Florida's climate. Then he started attacking the "business" of our church, that obviously we were not making money like a real business, that the people were just lazy Christians (which I found extremely hurtful).
Then, I told him that was my religion and I didn't think it was a good idea to discuss those issue in that manner because he obviously did not understand what we believe, and the very good reasons we do what we do. That he did not understand our ways, it would be spiritual confusion and cheapening grace to run our church in the way he suggested. That it was God's job to draw people to the church ultimately (this bit really bothered me because I knew hew would not understand this, but that's the exact way I became part of the church- people do show up as guests without having to have external inducements or manipulation). Then he said, well, you all are obviously failing then (at this point I became completely frustrated).
On reflecting on this, it seems like he just is being a troll at times. I confronted him about it, but he acted like he was doing me a favor in engaging in such a confrontational conversation. Which just seems like something a sick mind says. So, it bothered me a great deal.
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