I know how you feel
Submitted by Heather on July 23 1999 at 23:57:55
In reply to Clarification Submitted by Some guy in the NW (aka Jesus lover) on July 23 1999 at 23:42:35
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I did exactly the same thing when I first came onto the boards, talking about sin blithely, while assuming that everyone would understand that I considered myself a sinner. But aside from the problem I mentioned – that I don't think it's our place to judge others (even though I did) – what you have to understand is that the people on these boards, whether non-Christians or Christian, are used to Christian non-boylovers coming here and saying, "You are going to hell!" without any of the qualifications that were in your mind when you wrote your post. So I think you should realize that, for people who don't come from a Christian background, or for people who have been badly hurt by their Christian background (as Jim was; he suffered from religious abuse as a child), the very word "sin" is enough to make them explode, because it brings up all those memories of hateful people telling them that they're sinners. I don't classify you as a hateful person, by the way. :) I just think that your actions weren't very loving, because I think that you were more concerned with explaining your viewpoint than with considering whether your viewpoint, as expressed in the way it was, would be at all healing to Jim. And again, I've made that mistake too; I actually had to leave a boylove board because I was too busy clarifying my views to notice the effect that my words were having on others. So the primary lesson I've learned is to do more listening than talking. :) And I think you understand that now, so maybe you can keep your eye on me, to warn me when I start acting Pharisaic. :) Heather |