Rapists Cannot Be Saved

[NotmebutHim]

That's why I tried to not be harsh with my responses. But I still wanted to say what needed to be said.

 

[PennEd]

Do I? Or is it just a heart that grieves with the oppressed and wishes they could take it away and see justice is served?

Now reread your 1st post. Everyone thought a terrible thing had happened to you, and we wanted to ease the pain of that. I mean how could someone write such a brutally harsh post if this didn't happen to them or someone close to them?

OF COURSE people are outraged and disgusted at what people do. And of course we want the consequences of their actions held to account.

But there is a difference between forgiveness and consequences. And we are told that vengeance is the Lord's not ours.

I would urge you in the strongest terms to watch the video of the relatives who forgave the man who killed their relatives in a Church THE VERY NEXT DAY!!!

He is still going to face the death penalty or life in prison, and ultimately face God. But these people were able to forgive him in light of what Jesus forgave THEM OF.

 

[Didymous]

Look everyone, I know I have a lot to learn, and I say things I probably shouldn't have. I often feel like I don't have a voice, or that it doesn't matter since I don't come from money and influence. Prayer alone just isn't enough sometimes.

You have a voice, and I have listened with great interest to you. I've watched you get more and more calm as you expressed yourself, and I know how hard that can be. You obviously have great passion and empathy for the downtrodden, and I'm sure God loves that about you. Please forgive me if any of my responses to you were hurtful or seemed uncaring. I have no doubt that God both hears and is moved by your prayers-which are probably both fervent and effectual.

 

[Didymous]

After reading this thread, including my own posts, I’d say we’ve all just contributed in making this the thread of judges.

God bless you for helping us to remember how to treat one another. Even if some responses weren't harsh or judgmental, they could be interpreted that way-as written communication is one of the least effective for clarity-at least when we humans are doing it.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

Now reread your 1st post. Everyone thought a terrible thing had happened to you, and we wanted to ease the pain of that. I mean how could someone write such a brutally harsh post if this didn't happen to them or someone close to them?

OF COURSE people are outraged and disgusted at what people do. And of course we want the consequences of their actions held to account.

But there is a difference between forgiveness and consequences. And we are told that vengeance is the Lord's not ours.

I would urge you in the strongest terms to watch the video of the relatives who forgave the man who killed their relatives in a Church THE VERY NEXT DAY!!!

He is still going to face the death penalty or life in prison, and ultimately face God. But these people were able to forgive him in light of what Jesus forgave THEM OF.

They should've prayed he came to repentance.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

You have a voice, and I have listened with great interest to you. I've watched you get more and more calm as you expressed yourself, and I know how hard that can be. You obviously have great passion and empathy for the downtrodden, and I'm sure God loves that about you. Please forgive me if any of my responses to you were hurtful or seemed uncaring. I have no doubt that God both hears and is moved by your prayers-which are probably both fervent and effectual.

After hearing about what my friend across the Atlantic was going through, I felt so mad that there wasn't much I could do beyond prayer.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

And I now realize I should've been clearer earlier by saying none of this personally happened to me.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

Thank you for this, Susanna.

I'm actually grateful for this thread because it's been a good opportunity for my own personal self-reflection. I realize I've come across exactly the same way in many of my threads and posts and it's something that I definitely need to work on in my own heart.

History Princess, I want to apologize to you for being so harsh in this thread.

I understand what it's like to need to be heard and I thank you for being gracious enough to allow me to be heard as well.

I hope you'll keep on talking to us.

I'm sorry too. I'm usually shy and soft-spoken in public.

 

[Didymous]

After hearing about what my friend across the Atlantic was going through, I felt so mad that there wasn't much I could do beyond prayer.

I hope you realize that you have a voice here, and that there are many who hear you. I admire your passion about injustice, and have often felt-and sometimes still feel-as you do.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

I think I now realize where my anger is really coming from: feeling powerless and insignificant.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

I often wonder how much good prayer really does when I can't see its results. And sometimes people will use that as an excuse to not do anything.

 

[Didymous]

I think I now realize where my anger is really coming from: feeling powerless and insignificant.

I empathize with feeling powerless. I grew up in a violent place, and my youth and great physical strength were what I relied on to stay alive and protect others. Now I have to(get to) rely on God to do not just some things, but all things, and it isn't always easy to remember that His strength is perfected in my weakness. Faith only increases when we realize that we can do nothing more but lean on Him. I hope you will continue to share your heart, and know that your thoughts and opinions will be carefully considered by most of us here.

 

[seoulsearch]

I'm sorry too. I'm usually shy and soft-spoken in public.

Thank you for this. And, I'm sorry as well (I know I said it earlier but I certainly don't mind saying it again.)

I think I now realize where my anger is really coming from: feeling powerless and insignificant.

Ah, now THIS is a breakthrough!! Many of us get angry and don't even know why. This is very insightful and might give us an idea of how we can help?

I often wonder how much good prayer really does when I can't see its results. And sometimes people will use that as an excuse to not do anything.

Is there something you'd for us to agree with you in prayer about?

I understand what you're saying, HP--I honestly think I do. I used to live in a neighborhood where I was usually up and driving to work while everyone else was asleep, and as I drove past, I used to wonder how many people were recovering from being beaten or abused the night before. And I know what you're saying when you feel powerless to stop it or help anyone.

Would you like to give us some ideas of what we might be able to help you with, or pray for you? Maybe you'd like to get involved with some kind of victim's advocacy work, and the people here can give you some ideas of where to start? Or maybe there are people here who can PM you because they've felt the same way, and they can give you some ideas of how to put all the things you're feeling into something constructive?

I apologize if I'm sounding pushy at all--I certainly don't mean to be--it's just that I know when I have the feelings you're describing, it helps me to connect with people and to try to start moving in a positive direction.

I realize different things might work for you or maybe you're not sure what DOES work for you.

How can we help you on your journey?

 

[JustEli]

I have been obsessed with things beyond my control, to the point of living in constant anger. Justifiable anger
or not. The only thing it accomplished was to cause strife with the one person I love the most.
And I miss her dearly.

Not judging.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

Thank you for this. And, I'm sorry as well (I know I said it earlier but I certainly don't mind saying it again.)



Ah, now THIS is a breakthrough!! Many of us get angry and don't even know why. This is very insightful and might give us an idea of how we can help?



Is there something you'd for us to agree with you in prayer about?

I understand what you're saying, HP--I honestly think I do. I used to live in a neighborhood where I was usually up and driving to work while everyone else was asleep, and as I drove past, I used to wonder how many people were recovering from being beaten or abused the night before. And I know what you're saying when you feel powerless to stop it or help anyone.

Would you like to give us some ideas of what we might be able to help you with, or pray for you? Maybe you'd like to get involved with some kind of victim's advocacy work, and the people here can give you some ideas of where to start? Or maybe there are people here who can PM you because they've felt the same way, and they can give you some ideas of how to put all the things you're feeling into something constructive?

I apologize if I'm sounding pushy at all--I certainly don't mean to be--it's just that I know when I have the feelings you're describing, it helps me to connect with people and to try to start moving in a positive direction.

I realize different things might work for you or maybe you're not sure what DOES work for you.

How can we help you on your journey?

Thanks again for understanding.

I don't know if I want to get involved in advocacy. Like I said, I value empathy, but when I experience too much of it I start to get depressed. And now I just feel like an idiot for saying those things.

 

[JustEli]

obsessed to the point where I saw most people as ignorant slobs at the least. Anger was a part
of me. Confrontation did nothing. Nothing but hurt me and my marriage.

like screaming at the driver next to you on the freeway, the only ones that hear you are the
people in the car with you. Thereby making the explosion of anger pointless.

 

[HistoryPrincess]

Believe it or not though, sometimes my worst anger is reserved for myself. That I'm not doing enough, that I should know better, that God will get mad at me for demanding that he be just when I should already know his.

 

[seoulsearch]

Thanks again for understanding.

I don't know if I want to get involved in advocacy. Like I said, I value empathy, but when I experience too much of it I start to get depressed. And now I just feel like an idiot for saying those things.

It's ok, HP!

Trust me, we all get in modes where we have feelings that overwhelm us and we don't know why or how to express them. Many of my posts are just me bumbling along and trying to say something!

We're glad you felt that you could share with us.

It sounds like maybe you need people to pour some love and understanding into your OWN life first, because as you've expressed, you need to know that you have a voice, and that your voice is both heard and really means something. I truly hope our CC community can help you with that.

May I ask, what things make you feel joyful, or positive? What kinds of hobbies, interests, activities, or Bible passages make your spirit feel replenished?

I'm asking these things because I was wondering if maybe concentrating on things that make you feel depressed and overwhelmed have depleted your soul.

How can we help you find what will replenish it?

 

[HistoryPrincess]

It's ok, HP!

Trust me, we all get in modes where we have feelings that overwhelm us and we don't know why or how to express them. Many of my posts are just me bumbling along and trying to say something!

We're glad you felt that you could share with us.

It sounds like maybe you need people to pour some love and understanding into your OWN life first, because as you've expressed, you need to know that you have a voice, and that your voice is both heard and really means something. I truly hope our CC community can help you with that.

May I ask, what things make you feel joyful, or positive? What kinds of hobbies, interests, activities, or Bible passages make your spirit feel replenished?

I'm asking these things because I was wondering if maybe concentrating on things that make you feel depressed and overwhelmed have depleted your soul.

How can we help you find what will replenish it?

I have a melancholy personality. And like I said, I also have Aspergers and it's sometimes frustrating because I view things differently from others. Ironically I have a hard time emotionally connecting with others, so I often feel lonely.

Ever since I was a baby I've had a heart for people in pain. My sister knew it and she would sometimes pretend to cry and I'd try to make her feel better. Mom of course didn't like it and got mad at her, and my sister has apologized since then, cause I think she was only 6 then.

Ever since I became a Christian over 7 years ago, I've noticed that a lot of the things that usually comfort people just rub me the wrong way.

 

[Didymous]

Thanks again for understanding.

I don't know if I want to get involved in advocacy. Like I said, I value empathy, but when I experience too much of it I start to get depressed. And now I just feel like an idiot for saying those things.

I don't believe you're an idiot-just very passionate about your convictions. Would that we were all so passionate about the things of God!