"Odd in response to your feelings of persecution you persecute to validate your own statements somewhat."
Quite the contrary. I am not persecuting, I am only speaking the truth about the deceitful things that are done behind people's backs. In other words, I'm only bringing to light what has been done in darkness. There is too much gossip and backstabbing (as if any of it is acceptable!). I mean look at the people who have been fighting. People who have been friends!! And what is in every arguement? "You private messeged this person this, this person private messaged me and their in agreement with so and so." Geeze man, am I and a select few the only one's who see this? Wake up, the coffee's done brewed and is caked like mud in the bottom of the pot.
To clear up this Christian thing...
If being passive means being a good Christian, then count me out. I'm not passive. When people have mentioned that I'm not a good Christian, and the reason why Christians have a bad name is because of people like me, I take issue with it. Especially when people use my beliefs to fire back at me because they have no other ammunition. This has nothing to do with you Steve. This has been something has been ongoing for a long time. The only person that I have to please is God, and of course my wife. I've never boasted that I'm a good Christian, nor have I ever asked for anyone to judge me on whether or not I am. I just don't care on that level, in this setting. I have no regrets.
When you publically affirm your belief as a Christian around here, even in the appropriate setting, your judged from that day forward. Anything you say or do will be judged and sentence passed on whether or not you live up to what you believe. If I say I think it's okay to trade bootlegs with other fans, people question my Christian beliefs. There's no end to it and I accept it. Fine with me, but don't expect me to sit here with my hands folded praying about it.
In my eyes, people are people whether they are Christians or not. Religion should not be brought into the picture to try and prove that someone is being mean, like me!
Then judgements are made and sentence passed on whether or not I'm a good Christian. For me, that sh*t don't fly. Yes, I said sh*t, the bad, bad Christian boy that I am.
It's okay to mention God, occasionally, in passing, but if someone mentions anything personal about God, all Hell breaks loose, literally. Why? Because people get offended. This is where my reference to fragile egos also comes into play.
To me, the worst kind of Christian is one who does not stand up for his/her beliefs when they are trampled on. People who are afraid to talk out of fear of offending someone. I have never pushed my beliefs, I've only defended them. I respect other people's beliefs more than many of you could ever comprehend, but I'm not going to act like a monk tending to my garden pondering the beauty of butterflies either.
As far as being angry, I am not. I'm irritated at some of the accusations about myself and some friends, but far from being angry. I care enough to take time to post about it, but not enough to consume the necessary energy to be angry.