What to do with the biblical responses

[threejs]

What do you say to family and friends who keep throwing bible verses at you?  

I was up in the middle of the night last thinking about Stephen Bannon and how there is going to be a to be a white nationalist in the White House.  I can't shake the notion that this is all going to get so much worse. These groups are emboldened and gearing up.  And with Rudy Giuliani as Attorney General?  It feels even more dangerous to be black in America.  And I live in a blue state, in a black neighborhood and work in a city that is 70% black.  I can't seem to shake the sense of worry and dread.  

In response to my angst, a couple of my closest friends have been hitting me with bible verses, and it's making me madder, though I'm struggling to articulate to them exactly why.  Maybe because plenty of republicans are praising God they won? I did not go to church yesterday - I couldn't get it together enough to get there.  My church is probably one of the few black mega churches with a pastor openly supporting gay rights and other socially progressive issues, but I just wasn't in the mood to hear how we're gonna overcome and how we need to stay strong in our faith.  I mean, where has it gotten us?  

[kicks]

I don't know, I've mostly been ignoring them.

Also, I know church has been a foundation of our culture and I do cherish the cultural aspects of the black church, but is it slowly fading as a foundation to our culture? Because Jesus clearly hasn't fixed it in the past several decades.

I can't think of any of my close back friends that regularly attend church.

Anyway, I think the only response can be something along the lines of understanding wanting to keep the faith and pray, but there also has to be outward action to affect our communities. You can pray all day long, but don't let that take away from action.

[redwino]

I've been having a hard time with this too. I've basically been ignoring it and I'm already done talking about this election with my group of friends. None of them seem to care as much as I do. I'm a Christian and absolutely believe in God's power but the idea that we're supposed to just sit back and wait bothers me.

[05heel]

Honestly, I ignore it. I'm an atheist gospel singer who attends church very frequently, which probably means you should ignore me. Lol. However, it's interesting to me that being a regular churchgoer has made me far less of a believer than I already was, but has given me a renewed respect for the role religion plays in people's lives. At least to the extent that people use it as a means of comfort.

I'm not really any help here other than to say that I just let this one go. I state that I don't believe in God, but other than that I know that I'll never convince anyone that their religious views shouldn't be of comfort to them. In fact, I think it's very real, and I'm happy for them in a way.

[hisno1girl]

I've said this:

As a devout Christian, I put my faith in God to carry me through the good and bad.

Having said that, I trust in the Lord, but the Lord isn't entrusted to run the United States, #45 is.

I do not trust a racist, bigoted, hateful, sexual predator, nor those that think as he does.

- - - -

BTW - I refer to DT as #45. I will never refer to that sonofabitch as Mr. President while there is breath in my body.

Very Christian of me, right? lol

Well I'm Catholic, so at least I can go to confession

[andwhat]

Nov 14, 2016 16:09:46 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

I've said this:

As a devout Christian, I put my faith in God to carry me through the good and bad.

Having said that, I trust in the Lord, but the Lord isn't entrusted to run the United States, #45 is.

I do not trust a racist, bigoted, hateful, sexual predator, nor those that think as he does.

- - - -

BTW - I refer to DT as #45. I will never refer to that sonofabitch as Mr. President while there is breath in my body.

Very Christian of me, right? lol

Well I'm Catholic, so at least I can go to confession

This including the not calling him president.

I find comfort in church and putting my faith in God. and I think the people telling you this jut want to try to pass on comfort.

[Black Lavender]

Nov 14, 2016 13:38:07 GMT -5 kicks said:

I don't know, I've mostly been ignoring them.

Also, I know church has been a foundation of our culture and I do cherish the cultural aspects of the black church, but is it slowly fading as a foundation to our culture? Because Jesus clearly hasn't fixed it in the past several decades.

I can't think of any of my close back friends that regularly attend church.

Anyway, I think the only response can be something along the lines of understanding wanting to keep the faith and pray, but there also has to be outward action to affect our communities. You can pray all day long, but don't let that take away from action.

YES! Someone else said (and I borrowed-paraphrasing here) that faith, prayer and God being in control did not prevent despicable acts from being committed against our fellow man and many times those acts were committed in the name of God, so they can miss me with that foolishness. Another friend (black) today told me how terrible it was that I was unfriending people on FB that disagreed with me. We've long passed the disagreement stage, I absolutely refuse to knowingly associate with anyone who had anything to do with electing him. If that makes me wrong, so be it. 

[Black Lavender]

Nov 14, 2016 17:52:11 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Nov 14, 2016 13:11:08 GMT -5 threejs said:

What do you say to family and friends who keep throwing bible verses at you?  

I was up in the middle of the night last thinking about Stephen Bannon and how there is going to be a to be a white nationalist in the White House.  I can't shake the notion that this is all going to get so much worse. These groups are emboldened and gearing up.  And with Rudy Giuliani as Attorney General?  It feels even more dangerous to be black in America.  And I live in a blue state, in a black neighborhood and work in a city that is 70% black.  I can't seem to shake the sense of worry and dread.  

In response to my angst, a couple of my closest friends have been hitting me with bible verses, and it's making me madder, though I'm struggling to articulate to them exactly why.  Maybe because plenty of republicans are praising God they won? I did not go to church yesterday - I couldn't get it together enough to get there.  My church is probably one of the few black mega churches with a pastor openly supporting gay rights and other socially progressive issues, but I just wasn't in the mood to hear how we're gonna overcome and how we need to stay strong in our faith.  I mean, where has it gotten us?  

I fight back with MLK quotes. I have posted Letter from a Birmingham Jail seventy-leven times. You got Jesus, well I got Martin Luther, the King. AND I'll throw in some Malcolm if you make me real mad. LOL

By any means necessary!

Sent from my XT1096 using proboards

[bugandbibs]

I'm Catholic, and my people aren't really into quoting the Bible. I look to God and my faith to take care of me after I die. I don't expect God to do anything about this shit show here on earth.

I'm actively praying for #45 to die. God knows what's in my heart, so why pretend?

[hisno1girl]

Nov 14, 2016 20:18:05 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I'm Catholic, and my people aren't really into quoting the Bible. I look to God and my faith to take care of me after I die. I don't expect God to do anything about this shit show here on earth.

I'm actively praying for #45 to die. God knows what's in my heart, so why pretend?

I feel you. You aren't the only one.

[threejs]

Thanks all! Most of the religion comments are coming from my BFF. 05heel, you know I am fascinated that you're an atheist gospel singer. lol. I think in large part I agree with you, though I've never gone so far as to say I'm an atheist. I grew up in the church and still attend, but that's because it brings me comfort. Not in a Jesus will fix it way, but in a feeling the warm embrace of home kind of way, if that makes sense.

I think I am older than most here. My closest group of friends is pretty heavily church-involved, but will also cuss you out and cut a bitch as necessary. lol

1234FIF!, Martin Luther THE King cracks me up every time. I need to beef up my arsenal of MLK and Malcolm X quotes.

andwhat - you are right that people are just trying to bring me comfort. I just get inwardly irritated to keep hearing/seeing that we've got to put our trust in God. Especially as I'm also reading #45 supporters talking about God answered their prayers.

redwino, I also feel like others are starting to move on while I'm still up in the middle of the night thinking about how a white nationalist will actually be a presidential adviser.

[05heel]

Nov 15, 2016 12:28:08 GMT -5 threejs said:

Thanks all! Most of the religion comments are coming from my BFF. 05heel , you know I am fascinated that you're an atheist gospel singer. lol. I think in large part I agree with you, though I've never gone so far as to say I'm an atheist. I grew up in the church and still attend, but that's because it brings me comfort. Not in a Jesus will fix it way, but in a feeling the warm embrace of home kind of way, if that makes sense.

I think I am older than most here. My closest group of friends is pretty heavily church-involved, but will also cuss you out and cut a bitch as necessary. lol

1234FIF! , Martin Luther THE King cracks me up every time. I need to beef up my arsenal of MLK and Malcolm X quotes.

andwhat - you are right that people are just trying to bring me comfort. I just get inwardly irritated to keep hearing/seeing that we've got to put our trust in God. Especially as I'm also reading #45 supporters talking about God answered their prayers.

redwino , I also feel like others are starting to move on while I'm still up in the middle of the night thinking about how a white nationalist will actually be a presidential adviser.

Oh, I have no chill.  I come from a singing family though, so I just decided to take the good with the bad.  Plus, I actually like attending church.  I get the best of both worlds - food, music, black folks, and gossip, without the guilt. 

[redwino]

threejs, the people around me weren't paying attention before the election and they're not paying attention now. That is why they appear to have moved on. People have no idea what's happening. That's one of my problems with my "God is in control" friends and family. They fall back on faith and do nothing else. Not even read a damn paper. I mad all over again.

[andwhat]

H and I were having a disagreement because he feels like people being racist has always been and we just need to keep on keeping on and God will provide. I always feel like the parable of the man drowning in a boat and God sending many things to help, but the man saying I am waiting on the Lord. And when he drowns he says God why didn't you save me. God replies I sent you all these things and you ignored them. So I feel like I have to take action, speak out, get involved. H is more passive. He thinks that if he keeps doing what he is doing, being a good person, taking care of his family, God will take care of everything else in the end. I can't get down with that.

[bugandbibs]

Nov 15, 2016 8:54:07 GMT -5 @natariru said:

Nov 14, 2016 20:18:05 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I'm Catholic, and my people aren't really into quoting the Bible. I look to God and my faith to take care of me after I die. I don't expect God to do anything about this shit show here on earth.

I'm actively praying for #45 to die. God knows what's in my heart, so why pretend?

I have very similar (& uglier) thoughts but I'm an atheist so I don't really feel bad, lol.

I don't feel bad.  Apparently, I didn't inherit any natural Catholic guilt.  ::shrug::

[threejs]

Nov 15, 2016 12:56:50 GMT -5 redwino said:

threejs , the people around me weren't paying attention before the election and they're not paying attention now. That is why they appear to have moved on. People have no idea what's happening. That's one of my problems with my "God is in control" friends and family. They fall back on faith and do nothing else. Not even read a damn paper. I mad all over again.

Girl, you just made ME mad.  lol Hang in there!! 

[DesertMoon]

God is in control? Does that mean we are like his Barbies and he just a plays with us? If you believe in god you know the free will thing and that means God is super hands off and doesn't touch our business with a 10 ft pole, so for fucks sake people help yourselves the invisible man isn't going to save your country, just like he never saved any other.