Over at the Pro-Life Views Delphi forum, there crouch quite a few of that creepy species of troll. Not internet trolls. Old-fashioned, crouch-under-a-bridge, make-sure-that-only-those-you-deem-worthy-are-allowed-to-pass Trolls.
Tonight I've lost my patience with them. Again.
One of them sneers at "common ground" efforts, citing Scriptures about not being yoked with unbelievers. Well, nobody was saying that we have to marry prochoicers. Duh! But why not allow them to participate in activities that reduce the number of abortions, or even spare a particular woman the trauma of abortion? The trolls can cite Scripture (as can Satan). But Lord, have mercy! How the darkness pours out of them!
Another world-class smartass replied to a post on a Muslim convert to Christianity who is being condemned to death. This troll actually postulates that this hideous persecution is an example of the kind of "common ground" I advocate!
Another little bundle of love contemplates gleefully, "WWJD?" Not "What would Jesus do?" but Who Would Jesus Damn?
Right now, I'm managing to be glad that they're at least not in leadership positions. But how I hate it when I look around me and my heart cries out, "God, help me! I'm surrounded by 'Christians'!"
It's a lot easier to be patient with abortion advocates, because by and large most of them don't commit blasphemy. Their rhetorical sins are against logic, not against Christ Himself.
Sigh.
God calls us to reach out to those in the darkness:
Matthew 9:13
Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Matthew 9:10
And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
Mark 2:17
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
And this, the most straightforward and to the point:
Matthew 23
13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in." .... 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. 26 You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
Trolls keep people from even approaching the door, much less walking through! They stand with sharpened sticks, poking away anybody who tries to even approach Jesus!
How many Christians have been won to the Kingdom, as I was, by the love of those who let me close while I was yet wallowing gleefully in my own sin? And is my sin any worse than that of anybody else? There are, after all, Ten Commandments, and they're not ranked. Bearing false witness is right up there with murder.
How I hate when somebody picks one sin -- abortion and homosexuality are popular ones right now -- and acts as if that sin is the only sin, and that since they, themselves, do not indulge in that sin, they have no sin!
Mark 7:6
And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.'"
When I stand before my Maker, I hope that I don't have a slew of lost souls that I drove away from Christ because I didn't think they were good enough. Even as His people did for me, I'll do for others. And if the trolls don't like it:
Matthew 5:11-12
11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Hit me with your best shot!
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