I know what I'm gonna do but want to see what others reactions are:

for context this is a good friend who was my college roommate for 4 yrs. we knew each other before that. I'd consider him a brother. Since he lives down in ga we don't speak as much but its the type of relationship if I'm in town I stay at his place no questions asked and vice versa.

In fact last year he came up and stayed at my house and that's the last time we really spoke in depth. He was just coming back to Christianity then, but something triggered it. He never told me the full story - but something happened in his personal life that made him seek this out.

It's all good I respect that and have no beef. I respect everyone's choice and this dude is like a brother.

Either way yesterday I posted This www.samirchopra.com
(First post) on my timeline re: marriage equality. He responded with some christian snark. I ignored it.

Today I get hit with this text

http://i.imgur.com/7iatw5k.jpg

Poll question: How would you deal with this christian friend?

Poll result (32 votes) tell them to fuck off (19 votes) Vote respond with snark (1 votes) Vote ignore (6 votes) Vote respond with a invitation for dialogue (6 votes) Vote

Christianity alone.

Straight up saying, "Fuck Jesus' feelings."

Which I can see your boy feeling hurt about if y'all supposed to be cool.

Like, "If that's what you really think about me..."

none of that was pointed just at Christianity its equal opportunity.

It wasn't posted on his timeline. It was posted on mine.

It's sad but the only people in all my timeline hating yesterday were my more house brothers- and not all of them. But if there was any hate it was from my morehouse associations.

No, the whole article wasn't directed only at Christianity. The whole of 'Hit Em Up' wasn't directed at Biggie. But you take one line to tell a guy you fucked his wife and he's gonna take issue with it.

Your boy loves him some Jesus. And you're cosigning something that mocks that. He's in his feelings about it. Understandably.

Up to you to decide if you're tired of catering to his feelings or not.

It's mocking people who pretend to know what makes Jesus weep, to justify their own bigotry.

edit: which might well be the category that Shawn's friend finds himself in. I'd have a hard time staying friendly with such a person.

Just say you are not interested. If he does not like your posts on Facebook he can hide or block them.

or he'll leave me alone about it?

He talking about leaving you and the friendship behind.

I'd let him calm his shit first, though, before returning fire.

Thanks. I figured as much knowing his personality. He's always been a take my ball and go home type of cat who is stubborn. Despite him de friending a number of our other friends over the years- him and I have personally not been close to it- and I've helped him cool off in these situations with others a number of times - because that's more my personality.

I was actually happy when he found Christianity and made a blog post about Christianity helping him become more patient in these types of situations in friendship and business- but I guess no matter what it's hard for people to shake who they are at their core.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” ( Mark 6:11)



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson


"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're

talks about being a friend to sinners and Jesus himself shows the ultimate act of friendship by not getting upset at judas. Though I'm neither a sinner or traitor- I find that a bit interesting.

thats joke gold waiting to happen....

if someone feels otherwise....might need to just ignore it

if his last sentence means the former, and I ignore him our friendship seems like it's over? It might be anyway but I'd prefer if a 20 yr friendship mutually respectable dialogue.

HAHHAA

1. Tell him I respect his choice and he should respect mine

or

2. Have the discussion

BTW, there are Christians who agree with the decision, it's all in how you interpret the gospels and the constitution

the gospels to us

then we would realize how we've been so so so very wrong

It's hard to explain
But when you first get deeply involved
In church, you think that you have
To fully immerse yourself
Because you are trying to be different
And you think that those not Christian
Will taint, your walk
But that's just in the beginning

He will get better
I'm sure of it
He just needs time
To get used to his new life as a Christian

Then i'd tell him to stfu.

-->

If we could just read a few passages from their mythology book it would change our lives forever, approaching you like some fool who just discovered heroin, talking about how its the greatest thing in the world..

Like we dont have 2000 years of history, abuses and the denigration of women to gauge their mythological, hypocritical bullshit with...

I didn't vote in the poll. But as a Christian, this is some cold ass shit to do to a friend. Basically, he's saying accept Christ or move on from your friendship. I don't know what brand or sect of Christianity he's into but Jesus hung out with all types. To put it ebonically, Ya boy is sniffin some glue. Screw that dude.

But depending on how much you value the friendship, you could try to convince him that friends don't try to convert friends. After that, you could maybe show him the way to some more 'liberal' interpretations of Christianity (I'm sure a few folks on here could help with that).
From what you're saying, I'd wager a discussion where you take a fully secular/atheist position will only alienate him.

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson


"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're

a) you don't know his personality
B) he was spitting some fire and brimstone - repent sins theology. It was next level.

I'm a christian and I would not be able to listen to that mess.

He renounced us all and stepped off. Time went on and we didn't turn out to be as bad as he thought we were. We all got married settled down had children. We had a death among us and it brought us all back under the same roof. Dude confessed it was wrong to write us off and wanted to restart friendships. Of course people were glad to have him back.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson


"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're

first he plays victim.. that's the thing that cracks me up the most about this. the narrative that christians are the true victims in this. because they have thin skin and a few people might have to bake a cake..

then he talks down to you like you simply just don't know any better, and shoves an ultimatum in your face, because, really, fuck your side of this. "i love you and i completely understand you're too ignorant to get it so allow me to sit you down and educate you... hopefully you're not an idiot, or too brainwashed by these weirdo heathens to realize the difference between right and wrong.. but if you are, fuck you you're not worth my time"

that's how i read it anyway. condescending and hostile.

rebuking you is some off the wall christian fundamentalist obsessive bs

instead of trying to come together and still be friends etc

just crazy smh




>I know what I'm gonna do but want to see what others
>reactions are:
>
>for context this is a good friend who was my college roommate
>for 4 yrs. we knew each other before that. I'd consider him a
>brother. Since he lives down in ga we don't speak as much but
>its the type of relationship if I'm in town I stay at his
>place no questions asked and vice versa.
>
>In fact last year he came up and stayed at my house and that's
>the last time we really spoke in depth. He was just coming
>back to Christianity then, but something triggered it. He
>never told me the full story - but something happened in his
>personal life that made him seek this out.
>
>It's all good I respect that and have no beef. I respect
>everyone's choice and this dude is like a brother.
>
>Either way yesterday I posted This www.samirchopra.com
>(First post) on my timeline re: marriage equality. He
>responded with some christian snark. I ignored it.
>
>Today I get hit with this text
>
>http://i.imgur.com/7iatw5k.jpg

on some "never would've thought our differing opinions on marriage equality could cause u to give me an ultimatum like this. this a huge let-down."

i'd also make it clear i don't need his batty-ass explaining shit to me, gospels or otherwise. nigga.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Dear friend;

I have no need to hear your "gospel", since I've probably researched the subject longer than and more than you. We don't agree on the subject in question. I see no need for our friendship to change because of this disagreement, but if you feel differently, peace be with you.

would you really want to be around that cat now that he's got the jesus bug?

sounds fucking tedious

As someone who unknowingly proselytizes at times, he likely isn't aware of how his words appeared. His words if said to a Christian would make sense, but to everyone else they come off as condescending.

If you tell him how made you feel awkward and doubt the sincerity of his friendship, he probably will accept what you have to say.

As a Christian who does agree with the decision, I get annoyed when non-Christians think all Christians are either like Huckabee and Ben Carson or 'love the sinner, hate the sin'.

It's possible that he read the post your Facebook friend made and felt slighted that he is a more progressive Christian and had his faith belittled.

If you have a discussion about his frustration at the blog post and he isn't accepting of your explanation of how you felt by his text, then you may have just put the friendship on hold.

---------------------------------------
it's true what they say...people are strange, when you're strangers.

not compassionate....only polite.

I am not like you at all and i cannot pretend.

They make me want to force the other person's hand.

I'd be tempted to tell him to come get his dusty-ass shoes and be on his way. If you can't discuss the differences in our viewpoints respectfully, shake my hand and move on that's your problem.

The more I read this the crazier it is. But yea at the end of all this we just were texting about life (he just had another kid) and joking around. So maybe I need to just not engage the religion and talk the normal shit.


So I called him our on his text and pointed how in Matthew (one of the places where the dust off shoes reference is) Jesus shows an example of friendship. Also said I was happy to see him find christianity because I thought it would show his growth, but unfortunately he was still in his whole "taking my ball and going home monde" that has always been a weakness of his. I sent him a sermon another (non-mutual) friend gave who is a Unitarian - so connected liberation theology.



His response with my commentary in { }
I think I know where youre at Shawn. This world is jacked up. Your passion for justice is noble but social justice void of the Gospel is a band aid and (sometimes acid) on a gunshot wound.

Your friend's sermon was a drill in on Jesus as an anti-establishment radical (when he was a tax paying, law abiding, sinless soul saving radical) and Not the risen God. {WTF?}

It was void of the Gospel that I want to tell you about. A Gospel that's free to accept but calls for you to look at yourself in the mirror, confess and repent. A Gospel that saves souls. {Is this dude reading off a script card?}

Liberation Theology essentially promotes social justice with no righteous accountability to doctrine. And the issue of sin gets totally glossed over which makes it appealing to those who are simply down for the cause (by any means necessary - legal or illegal - believer or non-believer) It's easy to promote that theology because of teh aforementioned reasons. {I called him out and pointed out that this was not true later}

While the Gospel of Grace is a harder sell in our results now world. I choose not to discuss my involvement in justice isolated from the Gospel because seeking justice is simply part of the job on my Christian walk...and speakingabout social work void of any acknowledgement of being a sinner made new through Christ's finished work and faith in Him by grace is a no go. Accepting Status as sinner is the first step, which seems to be an impasse for you. I'll pray on it because ut seems like there's some divine pride work needed on the other side of this transmission.
{WTFFFFF is he trolling me? Is he just acting like he's a member of the Faith from Game of Thrones? This shit reads like some medieval bullshit someone like Case wouldnt even clap to. all I hear in my head is "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME"}


we had another exchange and I threw in some shit about the Rockets (were both Rockets fans to see if he was a full zombie, but he was normal when talking sports lol) He also made a comment about his text getting snipped and I threw in a joke on circumcision which he responded to like old times before going back into Christian cue card mode:


He also said this:
"before you continue Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship with God through Christ. {LMAO I called him out on this semantics BS}

There's one true Christianity if you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and your life shows signs of repentance and godliness as outlined in the Bible, youre a believer...There's no man defined routine to remain in God's good side in Christianitu (like in Islam). Our Jewish brothers (non Messianics) almost have it right, they are still hardened on accepting jesus christ as King though....God has a great plan fbased on His promise to the jews though. God is Awesome.
{SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME}

>Your friend's sermon was a drill in on Jesus as an
>anti-establishment radical (when he was a tax paying, law
>abiding, sinless soul saving radical) and Not the risen God.
>{WTF?}
>

to defend or justify any and everything.
---------------------------------------
it's true what they say...people are strange, when you're strangers.

not compassionate....only polite.

I am not like you at all and i cannot pretend.

There was a blog post someone guest authored on his blog, that seemed to criticize a Christian promoter for bringing Lecrae and some other big Christian musicians I dont know to a big festival.

The festival brought a lot of young people and I thnk was considered a "success"

This author criticized that for making Christianity "cool" because Christianity is not supposed to be cool. its not the cool thing to do and if youre a Christian youre not gonna be cool--youre going to be made fun of and mocked.

Like this shit sets up an automatic plea cop so no matter what when people turn them down, they feel theyre doing the righteous thing and they have this whole "us the world mentality" that allows them to hunker down into.

I liken it to when you first cross a Greek-lettered organization and you feel the need to "witness" for example.
*****************************************
. . . If I have something to say when there is a reason involved, I am perfectly willing to talk. Katherine Hepburn

I tend to put the ball in their court. I'd tell him, I don't owe him any explanations for my opinions and I certainly don't owe anyone the opportunity to impose their opinions on me. If he has to do what he has to do, so be it.

scheme ass Gospel offer, homie.

Thing is I would say there's a chance he comes back around, but those type of people just get more sour with age.

you super bone up on your knowledge of christianity and paganism and how the two connect and you spend the next few years annoying the shit out of him by being on team #actually by dropping all sort of religious history on his ass

which was how I was able to keep him at bay during our text convo.


Part of the thing that saddens me most is hes pretty well read too. He was always a Christian but respected other religions. That's part of the reason we connected. He was a Christian, he believed in God, would attend church sometimes, but was always cool with everyone else.


In fact, He was part of a group in college called Bodhisattva, which he purposely named. Funny enough I laugh at the image of him confessing to Jesus and repenting for ever using that name as a music group.

he also had a music label which had a name that was very non-christian/ almost pagan.

if y'all are cool and have been cool for many years your friendship may survive in time.

I know that's your friend, but he's being a dick.

>I know that's your friend, but he's being a dick.


I mean in the sense that youre being a dick just to be a dick. It really seems to me almost as if he's brainwashed. Im not sure if thats the right word here. It's hard to explain because it seems like if he's in some mode where he really believes all this shit and thinks its his duty + to my benefit that he saves me.

I mean if they reject it, they reject it. We're still good friends. I'm a Christian who's friends with people of other religions and atheists. They know where they stand, I know where I stand. Would I like for them to believe what I believe? Yes. Will I impose my beliefs on them? No. But we can still kick it. Just don't attack my religion and I won't attack yours or your beliefs. Facebook and social media over the last week has been a mess on the subject lately.

>I mean if they reject it, they reject it. We're still good
>friends. I'm a Christian who's friends with people of other
>religions and atheists. They know where they stand, I know
>where I stand. Would I like for them to believe what I
>believe? Yes. Will I impose my beliefs on them? No. But we can
>still kick it. Just don't attack my religion and I won't
>attack yours or your beliefs. Facebook and social media over
>the last week has been a mess on the subject lately.


From what I gather with the type of christianity he's dealing with - a lot of it is about not being complacent and actively seeking to evagelicize and bring people to Christ. Like that shit is his duty and if he werent doing it - he'd be a bad Christian.

Aside from taht I think as a friend his duty is to "save" me.

But I think you're doing a bit more. Not sure I'd want to be your friend if you posted a private conversation you and I were having on the text on a message board and asked everyone how to deal with me.

That's Me though.


Download my new mixtape featuring Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Christon Gray and more. Positive Hip Hop: http://www.noisetrade.com/wadeoradio

where can you?

You have a conversation with them and tell them how this dialogue has made you feel. Not sure why that is even a question.


Download my new mixtape featuring Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Christon Gray and more. Positive Hip Hop: http://www.noisetrade.com/wadeoradio

>But I think you're doing a bit more. Not sure I'd want to be
>your friend if you posted a private conversation you and I
>were having on the text on a message board and asked everyone
>how to deal with me.
>



I've done all the above - private but I'm not airing him out or who he is on here at all. Some okps might even know him but I've kept him pretty anonymous so you wouldn't know unless you KNOW him.

Like I said in the og post I've had a good idea of what I was gonna do- going in I just was interested to see what others thought. Looking at the overwhelming results of my poll, if I were to listen to okps I woulda brushed the dust off my shoes at his door.

>That's Me though.
>
>
>Download my new mixtape featuring Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Christon
>Gray and more. Positive Hip Hop:
>http://www.noisetrade.com/wadeoradio

is going to get them a pass on their sins. It's really strange. Like you can commit adultery....fornication...steal...lie.... do whatever..... but Oh those Gays over there...THAT is what is ruining America...lol.

You check your news feeds and people who have done all sorts of dirt ..created all kinds of mayhem.... feel obligated to talk about Gays and God... but what about YOU my n*gga....lol. You know... it's crazy...

I'm starting not to trust folks like that ....

but yeah dude was on one with that...probably should just tell him you don't need him to explain the Gospel to you, but thanks...and keep it pushing

they made gay marriage the end all while doing all types of ignant shit.

not gonna lie, I used to be in this boat but my wife has so many gay friends due to being in the dance community I dodnt have a choice. You have a few conversations, get to know a person and realize it isnt that deep.

my wife in college came to visit and hear us throwing all kinds of f words around and talked to me about it. She went to a progressive NYC private school and was a part of a group of students who led diversity/inclusion groups. But when I moved here I met her friends and yea you get to know someone and it's a lot deeper.

This friend of mine prolly doesn't know any out gay people. It's hard to come out in that church environment so you never have to meet anyone and you can stay jaded I. Your own hate.