"Read Matthew 25:40" is grumbled in passing if I'm having a bad day. However, I enjoy making a game of their shunning. I circle around to be unavailable, cheerily greet the Shunner, ask about their life, and compliment them about something. Their attitude sometimes changes, sometimes not. I don't go away upset and the look on their face after these encounters is priceless.
Welcome to RfM. I'm pleased to know that you're finally getting some decent reading material.
If you recognize me, understand that the door you closed is now locked. Some words can't be forgotten, some deeds can't be undone. The price you wanted to charge me is yours to pay. Free minds and hearts heal; caged ones do not.
I'm growing, living my life in freedom and joy, while you are a lurker of life, waiting to die so that you might finally "live." Good luck with that.
Dear shunners, It's ok. I was both surprised and upset when you first started shunning me, but I'm over it. Mainly because I wouldn't want to be around people who would "shun" someone anyway. In fact, your actions were a real "revelation" -- they showed your true personality, where love is conditional, tolerance is non-existent, and honesty is absent. Which gave me the opportunity to distance myself from such despicable traits, and the people who have them.
So...shun away. It sort of pains me that you'll never have any real friends, and never feel the pure joy of unconditional love from another human being, but that's the path you've chosen. You're free to continue on it, I simply want no part of it. Of course, if you ever come to your senses, I'll be there with open arms...
Thanks a lot for the scam... you shunned me by "forgetting" to confirm my baptism (twice), and were so petty, you even shunned me because of the name on my car license plate (the same as my board name). SO glad I NEVER went back.
Um, lurker here. Not a shunner, though. I imagine it must feel a lot like what you are communicating to lurkers. "Since you're not like me, I'm going to tear you down." Let's assume I'm transitioning out, your group is no better at showing acceptance or kindness over what seems to be constantly communicated about non "non-believers".
There's quite a difference between "I don't agree with you, and here's why," and "You cannot be here or communicate with us or be part of us unless you conform to our wishes."
The former is what goes on here (mostly). The latter is "shunning."
You, for example, are welcome to lurk, post, and disagree with me or anyone else here. And me with you. But nobody is going to tell you that you aren't welcome unless you agree with someone.
Consider that if board members didn't feel anything but acceptance and kindness from the TBMs in their lives while transitioning, then leaving the church would be a whole lot easier, wouldn't it?
I'd tell them to breathe deep, I welcome them into my fold, I feel most everything here is infallible proof, where as they can only hope that what they believe is true. If they are here they may need support, support this community could provide. Besides, if they are just here to bear witness to their church, I can be just as ignorant as they are... By ignoring them.