GATLING@SUVM (Keith E Gatling) (02/09/90)
Eric:
The problem with telling people with crazy ideas to keep them off the
list and to post elsewhere is that often they do not realize that
they are crazy ideas. Also, they are not always intentionally trying
to cause trouble, but are merely asking questions that they need
answered. As a teacher, I know that the person who doesn't understand
needs to ask more questions than the one who does. I also know that
this person's questions may be annoying, but that they are usually
based on a desire to know more, to understand better, and to clear up
confusion. We don't gain a whole lot by telling someone, "That
question was not worthy of this list, go away and don't come back
until you can say something that we all agree with." Crazy questions
(and posts) are simply part of the business.
Also, try to remember that a person who doesn't agree with you, no
matter how many times you've explained it to them isn't necessarily
being hard headed, argumentative, or willfully disagreeable. It
could just be that they don't understand. I love math, but in grade
school I spent two whole years not understanding exponents. I spent
three whole years not understanding how to multiply decimals. I
wasn't intentionally disagreeing with the teachers. I just was not
capable of understanding the concept at the time. I made every
effort, but I just couldn't grasp it (of course, the possibility
exists that they might have been able to explain it better, but I'll
give them the benefit of the doubt, and take all the blame myself).
Perhaps the same is true of those who we accuse of sending non- or
anti-Christian comments to the list. They are doing the best they
can with their understanding. They're trying real hard, but they,
through no fault of their own, just don't get it yet.
And while we're on the subject of not understanding, someone
posted the story of Peter's confession of faith. Remember though,
that Jesus said to him that it was not of his own understanding that
he was able to do so, but because God had revealed it to him.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the problem with many people is not that they
are willingly rejecting the information, but that it has not been
truly revealed to them yet. As much as we may run our mouths to
people on the subject, that is not the same as God revealing it to
them. And perhaps we expect too much of ourselves if we think that
through our own reasoning and speech we can convince people. After
all, our talking is all for naught if God has not yet prepared a
place for the words to take root.
keg