God hates Nerds?

[morganlbusse]

My husband showed me this article: gizmodo.com/5588219/god-hates-nerds
and it made me realize how unreached the gaming community is. And this is definitely NOT the way to do it.

I've already shared that my husband and I play World of Warcraft together and have had many opportunities to share with people God's light in a way that was non-threatening. We even did pre-marital counseling with a couple who played the game and in discussing the game allowed us into the young man's life (he is not a Christian).

The people who play these online games are lost, lonely, and in search of true fulfillment. This is a definite mission field. One that I am passionate about.

[torainfor]

Please don't take anything the Westboro church does seriously. They are the deluded, brainwashed family of a very sick man. They picket the funerals of soldiers killed in war, they did horrible things when Mathew Shepard was brutally murdered in Wyoming, and they picketed the ballet in Topeka when I went with my husband an in-laws.

But watch what you do and say around them--most of them are lawyers.

For an inside look, checkout the story of Nate Phelps, Fred Phelps's son, who managed to escape:
natephelps.com/

[morganlbusse]

Wow, just read about the poor guy. No wonder people want nothing to do with God when the one they've heard about and seen lived by their family and the church are like this

[marshwriter]

Good grief!

When I first saw the "subject" I thought it was some kind of joke! Sometimes I'm really shocked by the hatred I see around me - and yes, I would also shun Christianity and God if I thought that was what the religion is all about!!!

And am I missing something? Romans 9:13 says: As it is written: "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

I think I need a cup of tea...

[tris]

I think we're seeing more of the "wolves in sheep's clothing" syndrome. Which is why Christ encouraged us to "let your light so shine when men revile you so they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

[Spokane Flyboy]

The word "NERDS" on the sign looks suspiciously digital.

[Grace Bridges]

Yes, I also thought the sign had been tampered with. Don't know who's trying to rark up a fuss over a lie, but it's not worth bothering ourselves with!

[Divides the Waters]

I always think of that line from the introduction song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney): "Judge Claude Frollo sought to purge the world of vice and sin. And he saw corruption everywhere except within."

[beckyminor]

Jul 19, 2010 19:54:16 GMT -5 Divides the Waters said:

I always think of that line from the introduction song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney): "Judge Claude Frollo sought to purge the world of vice and sin. And he saw corruption everywhere except within."

Somebody knows the lyrics to music from that movie besides me?

Too true, however, that religion (as opposed to faith) can very easily make a person into a self-righteous antithesis of what the Lord wants us to be. There's a continual challenge for us as Christians to remain sensitive to what God finds offensive without becoming holier-than-thou bad testimonies.

The blanket condemnation of a group of people, no matter what their affiliation, is a sad thing indeed. And one the press is quick to point out in order to vilify Christianity.

[metalikhan]

I have to wonder how organizations such as Westboro can justify their hate doctrines in light of the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, 1 Cor 13, or Gal 5: 22,23, or any other Scripture concerning love, forgiveness, or mercy. Galatians in particular places hatred, wrath, and strife in the same grouping with idolatry, witchcraft, sexual impurity, murder, etc. — works of the flesh and not of the Spirit.

In other posts, I've mentioned the wiccan coworker who was so stunned that I was a Christian; he said others he had grown up around stood on the Bible to look down on him. The Bible is not a pedestal for self-righteousness or for disdain/hatred of everyone not standing on the pedestal. It's not a bludgeon for beating acceptable behavior into anyone.

I've heard the word Churchianity bandied about recently, but the concept is really nothing new. Satan is just as active in choir, pew, and pulpit as he is in a bar, whorehouse, or (ahem) comic book convention; he just tries to be more subtle. The sin in the heart is just as grievous to God as the outward display of sin. We need to remember to pray as much for the unsaved and the doctrinally deceived attending churches as we do for those who have never crossed a church threshold, for those wounded by others claiming to be Christians, for those still tangled in sin, and for those who have never given their hearts to God. Religion is not the same as a relationship with God through Christ our Savior.

[waldenwriter]

The people known for picketing against homosexuals and at the funerals of soldiers who died in combat in Iraq strikes again, I see. Oddly, I was at Comic-Con and I didn't even see these people. Then again, the article you linked to says they planned to picket on the least busiest day of the con, which was probably Sunday, the one day I didn't go.

I don't know what to think of these people. It's like, yes I don't approve of homosexuality or idolatry, same as them, but the extremes they take their beliefs to also disturbs me a lot. No wonder people are turned off by Christianity.

I agree, the gaming community is largely unreached. That's great what you did with the people on the WoW server, Morwena. I have been considering starting a blog about my experiences as a female gamer (like about what games I'm playing and stuff); maybe I could use that in a missions way as well.

[newburydave]

God doesn't hate people. He loves us all enough to die for us and make us His bride. That Applies even to Nerds. People may be captive to sin, but while we were in that condition Jesus loved us enough to die to free us.

What he hates is Sin and what it does to us. The kind of sin he rebuked the most forcefully was Division, judgment and Hatred. These are the works of darkness and He is the Light; polar opposites.

Our pastor preached a sermon a few weeks ago that I though was very illuminating. He said there were three types of professing Christians.

1. Nike Christians - the just do it variety who try to "do" Christianity in their own strength. This approach lends it self to being judgemental "He if I can do it why can't you?" This type can become very self righteous and hatefully judgmental.

2. Jellyfish Christians - drifting through life. They renounce their own wills and just sit there doing nothing waiting for God to move them. They don't judge (too much except when they see someone else doing something) but they don't accomplish anything either.

3. Wind-surfer Christians - They get up and catch the Wind (Pneuma (gr) spirit/wind/breath) and use "His" power to ride the waves, way faster than they could go by themselves. Our pastor recommended this as the correct approach. Lived filled surrendered to the Spirit in every area of our lives and let him carry us.

I guess those poor deluded people must be a form of Nike Christians. They sow judgement and division instead of the living Message of salvation in Jesus.


SGD

dave