The good man that turned bad out of necessity

[Lambano]

Because I don't like it. The only aspect that I ever enjoyed was the community, being around other people. I can't stand the music or listening to some pastor regurgitate the same tired sermon over and over again.

I found that hanging out with my church friends afterwards was much more fun. So it might not even be church that I need, but friends I can hang out with. The lone wolf lifestyle isn't as romantic as it's portrayed in media.

I hear you. (I think.)

When things started breaking down, I started attending bible studies that were in people's homes, not part of the regular church service. I learned some things about the bible, I might've learned a few things about God and Jesus - but those weren't the most important things I took away from those studies.

 

[Matthias]

 

[Riven]

You know you’re depressed. The devil wants you to put a gun in your hand.

”You are not following Jesus if you aren’t armed, ready to kill.”

Jesus isn’t telling you that; the devil is. Don’t do it.

Please don’t do it.

What are you talking about? I'm not a lunatic, Matthias.

 

[Matthias]

What are you talking about?

Depression, guns, alcohol, and the devil.

It’s not just a coincidence that he showed up when he did in the conversation.

I'm not a lunatic, Matthias.

Despite you thinking that I am, neither am I.

 

[Riven]

Depression, guns, alcohol, and the devil.

It’s not just a coincidence that he showed up when he did in the conversation.

What do you mean he "showed up"? Do you mean the subject matter?

Despite you thinking that I am, neither am I.

Fair enough.

 

[Matthias]

What do you mean he "showed up"? Do you mean the subject matter?

I mean he popped into your thread with his false teaching this morning. You didn’t recognize it. He wants you dead.

Go ahead on your present course: depressed and drinking; not praying and not reading the Bible regularly.

The devil offered you nothing to help with your depression and drinking.

If you want to be a follower of Jesus - says the devil - put a gun in your hand, and be ready to use it.

You’ve been targeted. You’ve been set up. By the evil one.

A person in your condition is in no condition to deal with the next step the devil will eventually urge you to take - use it. Use it. On yourself, if not on others.

 

[Matthias]

No.

You don’t think you’re a Christian. Do you think you’re a good man? Do you want to be a good man?

Take a good look at the man in the mirror. What do you see?

A few hours ago, the devil told you how to be or become a good man.

 

[Matthias]

It beats the alternative. Have you taken a gander at the Christian section? I made a meme thread about the Iran war and nobody even bothers with it. No one wants to have fun. They just want others to pray for them because they stubbed their big toe this morning, or whatever. *Doctor please don't amputate* and the like.

How active have you been in the “Christians Only” forums? Have you given the members there good and frequent opportunities to have conversation with you?

Part of what you need is conversation with Christians. Those forums are designed for that very purpose. You won’t get that with atheists, agnostics, members of other faiths, and certainly not from members divorced from reality.

 

[Mancunian]

You don’t think you’re a Christian. Do you think you’re a good man? Do you want to be a good man?

Take a good look at the man in the mirror. What do you see?

A few hours ago, the devil told you how to be or become a good man.

I wasn't ever going to reply to you but I feel compelled to.

What gives you the right to ask this young man to look in the mirror? I think that you should be doing just that.

Riven is a good person and knows in his heart what's right which is more than can be said for you.

Stop filling his head with this devil nonsense. You and I know that the devil doesn't exist, it's the same old nonsense that comes out when you don't have a clue how to answer a question.

Be honest Mr FBI pastor... You're as much in the dark as the rest of us on this planet, admitting that is a strength not a weakness.

 

[Mancunian]

How active have you been in the “Christians Only” forums? Have you given the members there good and frequent opportunities to have conversation with you?

Part of what you need is conversation with Christians. Those forums are designed for that very purpose. You won’t get that with atheists, agnostics, members of other faiths, and certainly not from members divorced from reality.

He needs to stay away from the Christian only forums..To learn anything, he needs to stay here.

 

[Matthias]

I wasn't ever going to reply to you …

Why not?

… but I feel compelled to.

What gives you the right to ask this young man to look in the mirror?

That’s part of what pastors ask people to do.

I think that you should be doing just that.

I do too.

Riven is a good person and knows in his heart what's right …

That’s why he‘s depressed, drinking, not reading the Bible and not praying to God?

... which is more than can be said for you.

I don’t expect you to say that I’m a good person who knows in his heart what is right. I am a little bit surprised at how quickly you’ve gone from congenial to hostile.

Stop filling his head with this devil nonsense.

It’s not nonsense.

You and I know that the devil doesn't exist …

You’re mistaken about me. I know that the devil exists.

... it's the same old nonsense that comes out when you don't have a clue how to answer a question.

Do you say that to all pastors? Or am I special in your sight?

Be honest Mr FBI pastor...

I’ve never been an FBI pastor. I received intensive training from the FBI on how to conduct interviews during criminal investigations and I’m a retired pastor.

You're as much in the dark as the rest of us on this planet…

Followers of Jesus are in the light, not in the dark.

… admitting that is a strength not a weakness.

I’ll acknowledge that you are in the dark but I can’t go any further than that.

 

[Matthias]

He needs to stay away from the Christian only forums..To learn anything, he needs to stay here.

The devil, whom you don’t believe exists, couldn’t have said it better himself.

***

The spirit of the devil is the spirit of the world @Riven. It’s the devil, not God or Jesus, who doesn’t want you to speak with Christians in general, and pastors in particular.

 

[Mancunian]

Why not?



That’s part of what pastors ask people to do.



I do too.



That’s why he‘s depressed, drinking, not reading the Bible and not praying to God?



I don’t expect you to say that I’m a good person who knows in his heart what is right. I am a little bit surprised at how quickly you’ve gone from congenial to hostile.



It’s not nonsense.



You’re mistaken about me. I know that the devil exists.



Do you say that to all pastors? Or am I special in your sight?



I’ve never been an FBI pastor. I received intensive training from the FBI on how to conduct interviews during criminal investigations and I’m a retired pastor.



Followers of Jesus are in the light, not in the dark.



I’ll acknowledge that you are in the dark but I can’t go any further than that.

I doubt that you ever look at yourself and question your beliefs.
I doubt that you ever look at yourself and question what gives you the right to question anyone else's beliefs.
I doubt that you've ever had a rational thought.
Anyone who would talk to an obviously depressed person with such stupidity needs to look closely at themselves and their beliefs.
The devil? Seriously?

 

[Matthias]

I doubt that you ever look at yourself and question your beliefs.
I doubt that you ever look at yourself and question what gives you the right to question anyone else's beliefs.
I doubt that you've ever had a rational thought.

You’re a man characterized by doubt.

Anyone who would talk to an obviously depressed person with such stupidity needs to look closely at themselves and their beliefs.
The devil? Seriously?

This is spiritual warfare. I’m no stranger to it. I’m wearing the armor of God.

What do you say, @Riven?

 

[Mancunian]

You’re a man characterized by doubt.



The unbeliever has spoken. What do you say, @Riven?

You're a very bad man Mathias. You're lying to yourself and others.

Stop making Riven feel guilty. Riven has a mind of his own.

Why don't you just answer my questions instead of deflecting them on to someone else?

You know that evolution by natural selection is the accepted theory. Why fight against it?

Why are you obsessed with the devil?

Why are you still in the first century when almost everyone else has moved on and more importantly grown up?

 

[Matthias]

You're a very bad man Mathias. You're lying to yourself and others.

Stop making Riven feel guilty. Riven has a mind of his own.

Why don't you just answer my questions instead of deflecting them on to someone else?

You know that evolution by natural selection is the accepted theory. Why fight against it?

Why are you obsessed with the devil?

Why are you still in the first century when almost everyone else has moved on and more importantly grown up?

You let your mask slip.

***

He isn’t here to learn about Christianity @Riven. He doesn’t want you to speak with Christians. He wants you stay away from Christians. See again post #990. He wants to teach you.

He can’t harm me. He can destroy you. Talk to the non-pastor Christians who are advising you.

 

[Mancunian]

You let your mask slip.

***

He isn’t here to learn about Christianity @Riven. He doesn’t want you to speak with Christians. He wants you stay away from Christians. He wants to teach you.

He can’t harm me. He can destroy you. Talk to the non-pastor Christians who are advising you.

Are you insane?

I'm a normal person from the North West of England.
I'm a father of four, I have a job, I live a normal life.
Can't you see how stupid that you are making yourself look?

You have been brainwashed Mathias. I don't know who did it? Parents? Schools? Pastors?

I feel sorry for you, I genuinely do, what a waste of your one and only life believing total nonsense and spouting it to vulnerable people on this forum.
I've tried to be polite to you but now that boat has sailed.

I think that you're a very sad individual and you should take a look at what other reasonable people who have faith are saying.

 

[Matthias]

Are you insane?

@Riven thinks that I am, and has plainly said so.

I'm a normal person from the North West of England.
I'm a father of four, I have a job, I live a normal life.
Can't you see how stupid that you are making yourself look?

You have been brainwashed Mathias. I don't know who did it? Parents? Schools? Pastors?

I feel sorry for you, I genuinely do, what a waste of your one and only life believing total nonsense and spouting it to vulnerable people on this forum.
I've tried to be polite to you but now that boat has sailed.

I think that you're a very sad individual and you should take a look at what other reasonable people who have faith are saying.

 

[Matthias]

@Riven do you think “reasonable people who have faith” believe the devil exists? Have you asked them? If you haven’t, you should. My advice is go to the “Christians Only” forums and engage them in conversation on the matter. The unbeliever wants me to look at it. Do me a favor: look at it for me and let me know what you find out.

 

[Mancunian]

I know lots of people who believe that Jesus is their lord and saviour. I very much doubt that they would believe that the devil exists in the present day and would be on an obscure internet forum trying to persuade Christians to not listen to Mathias while posing as a middle aged man from Cheshire.