I have a question

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

About Ro bin , he started drifting away from the church, and then he started criticizing the church non-stop. I told him that I didn't want to talk to him if all I would hear is criticisms of the church. He respected that. For a time.

It's one of those things, where he loses respect for the church. Then I realize he has no respect for me. Then I have no respect for his personal choices and behavior. And he has no respect for me. It's not a new phenomenon. People grow apart, they get sick of each other.

I have friends that aren't active. Neither of my brothers are active. It's not being inactive that is the deal breaker. It is a further element. We've already discussed that I don't believe it is useful to talk about any details.

I realize that perhaps the most Christian thing would be to try and fellowship him, be nice, try to be his friend, suffer through the crap. I guess I'm just not that Christ-like.

I don't think you need to be nice to anyone that has no respect for you and mocks your beliefs. You did the right thing by getting rid of him.

[RockyBalboa]

Mike, I don't think you've not been a Christian towards him. On the contrary, sounds to me like you've given him umpteen chances in the friend department.

Robin is a manipulative psychopath ass. I've never met the guy and it's very easy to tell that about him.

I weep for his wife and child.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

About Ro bin , he started drifting away from the church, and then he started criticizing the church non-stop. I told him that I didn't want to talk to him if all I would hear is criticisms of the church. He respected that. For a time.

It's one of those things, where he loses respect for the church. Then I realize he has no respect for me. Then I have no respect for his personal choices and behavior. And he has no respect for me. It's not a new phenomenon. People grow apart, they get sick of each other.

I have friends that aren't active. Neither of my brothers are active. It's not being inactive that is the deal breaker. It is a further element. We've already discussed that I don't believe it is useful to talk about any details.

I realize that perhaps the most Christian thing would be to try and fellowship him, be nice, try to be his friend, suffer through the crap. I guess I'm just not that Christ-like.

Very well said Mike. I don't know how on one hand we can be accused of shunning people who leave The Church, and then on the other be accused of not leaving them alone. If people are always picking a fight, be it about religion or the best cornbread recipe, the interaction gets tiresome. Contact less active folks and you're harrassing them. Don't contact them and you're shunning them.

As an EQP I would go through our rolls calling people who no longer came to church. From time to time I ran across those that didn't believe and didn't want contact. I begged them to send "the letter" in order to stop the insanity.

What's wrong with setting boundaries in a relationship? My wife has with me and she's much happier.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

FWIW, I think there is a reason SU still has his membership. Furthermore, I think there is a decent chance he will restart active membership. Perhaps not for many years. But I think there is a decent chance.

God may make His presence known to him. He works in mysterious ways.

Waters trolls his own board.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Waters trolls his own board.

I can see it now.

E. N., testifies tearfully but timidly, "if it weren't for the home teaching efforts of Elders Waters and Goatnapper, I would't be standing here today."

"Thank you Bishop Nonsequitur for allowing me to speak about my reactivation."

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Waters trolls his own board.

I sense the good in you father.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by All-American

And to speak on Non Sequitur's defense-- I have found him to be quite tempered. He does not shy away from the discussion nor compromise his beliefs in engaging in discussion, but neither does he take deliberate potshots at the beliefs of others. He helps keep a lot of us honest, and I've got nothing against him or anything he's said on this board.

Besides, his moniker is Latin. He gets points for that.

I also find him tempered and enjoy his input. However I too will not shy away from the discussion. His comment was a mischaracterization of our beliefs.