Annoying Christian Help...

[Scarecrow]

Ok I wasn't sure where to post this but I guess this is the most appropriate place.

Basically I was asking... well I'm a member of another, much smaller message forum made specifically for Christian men. Its a great little group, not too many members actively post and its a nice way to learn and grow. Anyway about a month ago this one dude joined up and he's cool and all, all fired up for God and all but I find him to be one of the most annoying posters I've ever encountered on a message board. I mean he gets me soooo frustrated by his little remarks I wanna throw my computer out the window sometimes. You know like the little teachers pet in grade school who tries to be super perfect and make little comments about everything you post or say that isn't exactly what the teacher said or whatever and you just wanna punch em? Hes like that. I change my avatar and he tells me how "ungodly" it is while he has a picture of a parrie dog for his avatar... what exactly is "godly" about a parrie dog?? He told me glorifying pirates (treasure hunts, Pirates of the Caribbean etc) is not godly. He got bent out of shape cause we started a "Yo Mamma" board and says "I dont think those are very godly". He thinks metal/hard rock is from the devil and wheather or not the lyrics are good the music is evil, Harry Potter is witchcraft! etc etc etc etc etc.

To no end this guy comments on every stupid little thing like this and then posts on all these other boards "Praise God" "God will pour out His blessing on you" "Casting Crowns... very effective ministry!!" etc etc etc which gets on my nerves even more. What do I do?? I've already snapped back at him a couple times which I guess I shouldn't have done and I dont want to start some kind of rift between us good grief! And its such a small community and I really liked it before he showed up. Any suggestions? I don't want to attack him, thats not right and I don't want to hurt his feelings... its a Christian site for men to grow in God, not tear each other down. But ARRRRGGG!!!

[GhostontheNet]

Ok I wasn't sure where to post this but I guess this is the most appropriate place.

Basically I was asking... well I'm a member of another, much smaller message forum made specifically for Christian men. Its a great little group, not too many members actively post and its a nice way to learn and grow. Anyway about a month ago this one dude joined up and he's cool and all, all fired up for God and all but I find him to be one of the most annoying posters I've ever encountered on a message board. I mean he gets me soooo frustrated by his little remarks I wanna throw my computer out the window sometimes. You know like the little teachers pet in grade school who tries to be super perfect and make little comments about everything you post or say that isn't exactly what the teacher said or whatever and you just wanna punch em? Hes like that. I change my avatar and he tells me how "ungodly" it is while he has a picture of a parrie dog for his avatar... what exactly is "godly" about a parrie dog?? He told me glorifying pirates (treasure hunts, Pirates of the Caribbean etc) is not godly. He got bent out of shape cause we started a "Yo Mamma" board and says "I dont think those are very godly". He thinks metal/hard rock is from the devil and wheather or not the lyrics are good the music is evil, Harry Potter is witchcraft! etc etc etc etc etc.

To no end this guy comments on every stupid little thing like this and then posts on all these other boards "Praise God" "God will pour out His blessing on you" "Casting Crowns... very effective ministry!!" etc etc etc which gets on my nerves even more. What do I do?? I've already snapped back at him a couple times which I guess I shouldn't have done and I dont want to start some kind of rift between us good grief! And its such a small community and I really liked it before he showed up. Any suggestions? I don't want to attack him, thats not right and I don't want to hurt his feelings... its a Christian site for men to grow in God, not tear each other down. But ARRRRGGG!!!

Complain to the administration, leave, or hold your peace on these subjects.

[uc pseudonym]

Obviously there isn't any real authority on this, so I can only give my personal opinion.

In regard to issues that he objects to, I would recommend calmly responding to him. If he is willing to engage you in dialogue as to if something is appropriate or not, good. If he refuses to listen to anything you say, ignore him. You might also consider speaking to him (or asking someone else to, if there is someone who is also annoyed with him that he respects more) about discernment: even if you think Harry Potter is witchcraft, you don't have to say it every single time the subject comes up and you certainly don't go to Harry Potter boards to post that.

However, I'd also encourage you to look at this as an exercise in patience. There are many different members of the body of Christ, and chances are whatever your vocation in life you'll have to deal with them.

[termyt]

Consider this: That life is a long and treacherous path we all walk along filled with many pitfalls and snares. Two of the pitfalls on this path that tend to attract those who are young in their faith (and you can be a Christian for decades and still be young in faith) are very common. Those who have fallen into one are usually incensed that anyone could ever fall into the other. There is no shame in falling into one trap or the other and a lot of us fall into both. Repeatedly. That’s the thing about being a Christian. If it were simple, the Bible would be an instruction manual with step by step instructions instead of a book full of all-too-vague examples and stories.

The first, I’ll call the Legalism trap. Legalists embrace the commands God has given us as the right way to live. In order to please God, we must follow these rules. While that is not necessarily wrong, it tends to minimize God’s grace – without which we are all doomed.

The second, I’ll call the Freedom trap. Those who fall into this trap quickly embrace the freedom we find in the worship of Christ realizing that it is God’s grace and nothing else that saves us. This is also not wrong, however, it minimalizes the distinction between right and wrong and that it is God who decides which is which, not man.

As Christians, we are free. God’s grace is great – greater than all of our sins combined. Nothing will condemn us. However, to truly follow God, we must throw away our own desires and seek the desires of God. We learn the desires of God through the rules and examples He gives us. Only then, when we are bound to God, can we truly be free. That’s a paradox, I know, but life is full of them – it actually is one. That’s why the Bible is a story book and not an instruction manual.

That probably seems more like a sermon than an answer to your question, so let me get to the point. We are all somewhere on that path – none of use has perfected our faith. Most of us are either in one of those pits or teetering on the edge of one. We must approach each other out of love and a desire to both teach and be taught. Trying to “helpâ€

[Evangelion]

He told me glorifying pirates (treasure hunts, Pirates of the Caribbean etc) is not godly.

Perhaps you should make a distinction between treasure hunts and Pirates of the Caribbean as opposed to practicing actual piracy for him. He seems to go on the extreme a lot, and maybe he just needs to know its ok not to get worked up over benign things. Also, just because you like a treasure hunt doesn't mean you're promoting piracy -- the act itself has nothing to do with pirates. That's like saying you like ice cream so you want to spite people who are lactose intolerant by enjoying it.

He got bent out of shape cause we started a "Yo Mamma" board and says "I dont think those are very godly".

That would depend on the context I would say. If they're rude or derogatory jokes then that may be so.

He thinks metal/hard rock is from the devil and wheather or not the lyrics are good the music is evil

I think that's personal preference. As long as the lyrics aren't offensive or carry questionable content I think it would be fine. It's individual judgement too, what you think is appropriate for you to be exposed to and what isn't.

Harry Potter is witchcraft!

You mean it's about witchcraft -- well, sorcery anyway, which is to the same effect.

To no end this guy comments on every stupid little thing like this and then posts on all these other boards "Praise God" "God will pour out His blessing on you" "Casting Crowns... very effective ministry!!" etc etc etc which gets on my nerves even more. What do I do?? I've already snapped back at him a couple times which I guess I shouldn't have done and I dont want to start some kind of rift between us good grief! And its such a small community and I really liked it before he showed up. Any suggestions? I don't want to attack him, thats not right and I don't want to hurt his feelings... its a Christian site for men to grow in God, not tear each other down. But ARRRRGGG!!!

It seems to me he's just a little over zealous and hasn't really got a handle on things. He seems young to me, so maybe he just needs to learn not to preach things in such an exasperating and superfluous way. I would let him know that he comes across in a way that is very aversive and that he should have some tact and reasoning before starting a calamity.

[Scarecrow]

These posts have been very helpful Thanks alot.

As far as the Harry Potter thing... no I was right... Harry Potter IS witchcraft according to him. Actually, "a training manual for witchcraft and the author is a witch of a very high degree"

But anyway we've been getting along pretty well. Some times it irks me but I just come back when I know I'm not going to say something I shouldn't

[termyt]

You know, I've often wondered if people view my thoughts/advise as "annoying Christian help."

[EireWolf]

Termyt, I don't think you came across as annoying at all. When someone asks for your help (such as in this thread), then it isn't annoying when you give it.

Likewise, if Scarecrow were in a voluntary accountability group with this guy, in which they gave each other permission to hold each other in check, then it might be a different story. But when the morality police come barging in uninvited (especially concerning gray areas), it tends to irk people.

I thought your words were very apropos. When I look back on the kind of Christian I was in high school, I shudder. I might have been a lot like this guy that Scarecrow is talking about. I just hope I wasn't the only kind of Christian some people encountered.

We are on a journey, and many of us do fall into the traps you talked about. Thank God, He eventually pulls us out of them if we let Him -- if we don't get too comfortable in our hidey-holes and decide to stay.

[uc pseudonym]

I'm glad to hear we've been somewhat helpful, at least. Good luck as this situation continues.

You know, I've often wondered if people view my thoughts/advise as "annoying Christian help."

That was how I interpreted the title of this thread at first as well. But regarding your post, I would say that I doubt it. Generally speaking, your advice seems timely and helpful, being neither overbearing or presumptious. As for this thread, I only wished that I had had the foresight to take the matter from the angle you did.

[Scarecrow]

Lol... well I guess annoying Christian help was not the most appropriate title I didn't mean it like THAT. More like Annoying Christian... help needed.


And termyt you're post on this thread was excellent. I don't want to pick favorites as far as "most helpful" cause they were all helpful but

And I just noticed I called "prairie dog" a "parrie dog" o_O And not once but TWICE!

[Destroyer2000]

Well, it's like the story of meat sacrificed to idols. Some can eat it, without caring, as it is only meat and idols are man made harmless items with no real power. To others, however, it bothers them, and it would be a sin for them to eat it. Those of us who CAN eat the meat sacrificed to idols are not to look down on those who can't.

[termyt]

Thank you all. I was mostly kidding, but your comments are incredibly edifying to me.

And I just noticed I called "prairie dog" a "parrie dog" o_O And not once but TWICE!

That's all right. I apparently can't figure the difference between giving advice and the one whom I advise.

[Ratrace]

As for the music (and things like that) you can take the scriptural rute with your annoyingly christian friend(that might not quite come off how I mean it, but its in the bible too), and tell him "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."Romans 2:8. You can also tell him the devil can't create things, only pervert them, so if christians like christian rock/metal that's fine. The only other advice I can think of is to pray for him to use his ferver for something constructive insted of bugging people. Until that happens you could always ignore him as a last resort.

[Myoti]

The others here have already given great advice (especially what termyt and uc have said). Honestly, you can't escape these kinds of people. There's even some like that here (won't say who), and yes, the best way is just to try calming talking to them. Don't "argue." In my experience, that never seems to turn out well. :/