Got to respect this kid

[kudzukit]

A story about a student I heard yesterday:
One of our 3rd graders (yes he is 8 years old) is very pationate about his faith in Jesus. There is a Goth 8th grader (she is 14) who rides his bus. They have had a few discussions about how she is a devout atheist.
One day he told her "you are going to go to **** when you die" SHe told him to go away.
He talked to his mother, she advised him to explain to the young lady wy it is so important to "know Jesus".
NExt day on the bus he tried again with the girl. Gave he a very passionate speech, explained eveyrthing his 8 yr old mind could. SHe sat and listened. WHen he finished, she didnt respond for a minute. He waited.... then she said "get your fat *** outta my face!"
His response was "At least my fat *** wont fry in **** like yours will!"

[scrambled]

respect him why?

[kudzukit]

because he has the nerve to stand up for his beliefs
few adults can do that, and this is an 8 yr old kid

[peepspurplejeep]

I'm not sure that I would use the term respect.
I'm glad that he is as faithful as he is, but I also believe he is being a bit judgemental of her.
For him to tell her she is going to ****...... well, that is just not right in my book. I have a hard time believing, at 8 years old, that he FULLY understands God and all He is anyway.
He was wrong for judging her and he is probably lucky she didn't belt him upside the head.
He wasn't standing up for his belief.... he was the one who was egging her on.
Just my opinion.

[scrambled]

I'm not sure that I would use the term respect.
I'm glad that he is as faithful as he is, but I also believe he is being a bit judgemental of her.
For him to tell her she is going to ****...... well, that is just not right in my book. I have a hard time believing, at 8 years old, that he FULLY understands God and all He is anyway.
He was wrong for judging her and he is probably lucky she didn't belt him upside the head.
He wasn't standing up for his belief.... he was the one who was egging her on.
Just my opinion.


you read my mind, very good response...I typed a couple things but everytime I read it, it made me out to be a big azzhole.

[Micah]

Guess you have to be a christian to respect him. I think he did a good thing.

[Marlon_JBT]

I'm not sure that I would use the term respect.
I'm glad that he is as faithful as he is, but I also believe he is being a bit judgemental of her.
For him to tell her she is going to ****...... well, that is just not right in my book. I have a hard time believing, at 8 years old, that he FULLY understands God and all He is anyway.
He was wrong for judging her and he is probably lucky she didn't belt him upside the head.
He wasn't standing up for his belief.... he was the one who was egging her on.
Just my opinion.
I feel the same way.

[laurielyles]

Religion is like politics everyone has their own views. I am glad to see the young fellow is "trying" to spread the word of God, although his tactics may need some work.

[DJEEPER]

well, i personally dont see how he can sucessfully be spreading the Word by cussing back at her. you arent supposed to **** the person you are saving....
just how i see it..... I dont think the kid should have reacted how he did, i can understand trying to help a fellow being find the Light, but when she tells him to go away and uses obscene language, he should not return the language, lowering himself to her level.....

[Steve]

Yea, the kid failed, he tried, but failed. ...take up the full armor of God, so thatyou will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the work of God. The word is our Only offensive weapon, the kid used the wrong sword. Bear in mind we are out of God's will when we turn and run; no armor on the backside. Eph 6:10-18

[peepspurplejeep]

Guess you have to be a christian to respect him. I think he did a good thing.

I respectfully disagree with you Micah.
I AM a Christian and while he was trying doing right, he is also being pushy of others.
As I stated above, I don't believe at 8 years old he understands what God and all He
is about yet. I'm happy to see that he is willing to do his part, but I don't believe he
was doing it in the correct manner.

[hylyf]

These are two kids doing what kids do, that's all.


The thing I'm reminded of reading this thread is how many adults act just like those two kids, often blatantly so. I'm right, you're wrong, kiss my *** if you don't like it. Christian, athiest, buddhist whatever....you don't believe like me so kiss my ***, you're going to **** anyway.

Time to grow up.

my .02

Tommy

[BillM]

I don't believe at 8 years old he understands what God and all He is about yet.

But isn't this being judgemental also? I agree he shouldn't have cussed though.

[JeepinDon]

All this PC crap is killin me! If you're a good Christian and are worried about the souls of others than pray for them. Then believe that God will answer those prayers because no matter how hard you try, you are not going to be able to save anyone or teach them the truth.. only God can do this. All you "Christians" trying to do God's work... well God's work for us is to believe in Him, trust Him, pray! He can handle that little goth girl.. tell that boy if he's really worried about her to pray for her. Don't tell her you are prayin' for her either.. just do it and know that God is listening.

Donny

[countryjeep]

The kid knows what he says. He did the right thing. And if that's all that Goth *** can understand, then fine. He did what I would have done, and IMO, he did great.

But if I speak SANELY...

The kid's faith in Christ might be 'testeable', since when I was 8 years old, I thought I understood the meaning of being "saved" but didn't until I was 14. He shouldn't have cussed, this I would know if I wasn't pissed right now. What he should do, and might be doing, is pray for her. JeepinDon is right.

But I'm too out of it right now to agree with him, or Him...

[JeepinDon]

The kid knows what he says. He did the right thing. And if that's all that Goth *** can understand, then fine. He did what I would have done, and IMO, he did great.

But if I speak SANELY...

The kid's faith in Christ might be 'testeable', since when I was 8 years old, I thought I understood the meaning of being "saved" but didn't until I was 14. He shouldn't have cussed, this I would know if I wasn't pissed right now. What he should do, and might be doing, is pray for her. JeepinDon is right.

But I'm too out of it right now to agree with him, or Him...

Jeeps, the Gym and Jesus.. ALL YOU NEED! oh and to the rest of you.. We're talkin' about an 8 y/o that did what he thought was right in his little heart! Is that so worng? So what if it wasn't " P.C. "? How many times have any of you did something you thought was right only to look back and see there may have been a better way to handle it? Whoever posted this, give that kid a pat on the back for me and tell him the only way to win any battle is prayer and faith!

Donny

[Tomster]

I believe living in such a way that others can see Christ in you and praying for them is the way to help them to come to know the Lord. As the saying goes, "You're the only bible that some people ever read."

Telling someone that they are going to **** is not our job. The Holy Spirit is the One Who must bring conviction.

I hope we can all speak our piece without everyone else getting all bent out of shape, but it might be best to close this thread. We all get along so well, but a discussion on religion is almost guaranteed to get the "fur flying."

Tomster

[peepspurplejeep]

I hear everyone's thoughts on this and know what?
I'm ok with everyone's opinion. We all have thoughts
and feelings on this.
As long as we can all stay respectful in our opinions,
it is all good to me Tom.
But, whatever you think is best. :)

[Landon]

Nothing divide's like religion folks...nothing....too many people are DEAD because of religion...too many...too many conutry's torn apart...too many...too many familiys divided over religion...too many.....the list goes on....

The lesson....respect EVERYONE's views.....and the World will be a MUCH better place.:)

[kudzukit]

I never meant this to turn into a heated thread. I was just glad to see a child stand up for himself. In a way the older kid might hear.
I wonder if everyone would get so upset if I had simply said
"He stood up to a bully who did not agree with him" and lef out the religious aspect of it?
And if this is gonna get so many people upset, maybe a moderator should just lock the thread and be done with it?

[Terry]

I hear everyone's thoughts on this and know what?
I'm ok with everyone's opinion. We all have thoughts
and feelings on this.
As long as we can all stay respectful in our opinions,
it is all good to me. :)
Wow Denise, I could not agree with you more.
But I will add my opinion to it.

Ouch Micah, :eek: that's a pretty strong statement.:confused: I disagree.

I think this young man started off doing a good thing, and turned it into a bad thing. In fact, he has probably decreased the possibility of ever getting her over to our side. That is not how I want non-believers to see Christians.

Spreading the word of God is wonderful, and I believe it is our responsibility to make an effort to do so.
Trying to teach someone information that is valuable in your opinion, is OK too.
BUT.....Pushing your opinion on someone else after they've told you to "go away", is out of line.
I don't agree that he was standing up to a bully. They had already had discussions about it, at some point she said to go away. When he came back to her again after she said go away, he became the bully.

If she was already a devout Athiest, then I'm sure she was already familiar with the reasons that Christians believe it's so important to know Jesus.

soooo........Respect ??? No.

I admire his faith, his desire to share that faith with others, and his courage and assertiveness in speaking with someone who seemingly has already made up their mind.
I do not condone him taking it too far, and even worse, acting in such a way that is soooo very not Christ-like, by cussing back at her, and telling her in an angered situation that she was going to ****.

Forgive my analogy, but it's like smoking while wearing a patch. (Think about that for a second if you need to. I know it's lame, but....:rolleyes: )

I think this young feller is so wrapped up in his own beliefs, that he has no tolerance for the beliefs of others. And he is a apparently a little too young to know how to tactfully, and respectfully, share his opinions and beliefs with others, and accept that not everyone will agree with him. Hopefully as he gains a little life more experience, he will be a better representative for our team, and a more accurate portrayal of Christians.

I will pray that this doesn't stop him from trying to lead others in the future, but that he learns to respect other's boundaries, and can handle it in a mature way, without going too far.

Tom, I think it's an interesting thread, and as long as everyone is tactful with their opinions, then I see no reason why it should be closed or deleted.

May God Bless us all !!:)

[OffCamberTJ]

If have no respect for the kid nor the parents of that kid for teaching him in the manner he has been taught.

Makes me sick that an 8yr old has been taught to force his views onto others instead of respecting others views. That's the biggest problem with religion and what is eventually going to be it's downfall. You don't force it on anyone.

Just last year my youngest daughter was given a choice of electives, one of those being bible study. I ASKED her what SHE wanted to do, she chose another elective. Fine with me. Then I get a phone call from the school asking ME what faith I am, and how I was "going to be ****ed and judged" for not making my child take bible study. I was probably at that school fatser than they recieved the hang up tone. In the end the school board settled in my favor. Teacher lost her job and I won my day in court.

[OffCamberTJ]

I wonder if everyone would get so upset if I had simply said
"He stood up to a bully who did not agree with him"

Your "respected" child became the "bully". The other child was minding her own buisness according to your post.

[hylyf]

Whoah, Tom was right. Landon was right. We need to leave this alone and I'm not afraid to stir the old pot as Landon once put it.

Still, I gotta say, this is a CHILD, an 8 year old and we're debating how much he can be respected or how wrong he was? He's a kid. Can we at least give the child a break?:confused: I sure don't think I've got this stuff figured out and it's not because I've devoted only a small amount of time to doing so, quite the opposite. :confused:

Why don't we save this converstion for the picnic. I'm working on procuring a little of that "famous but not to be mentioned specifically where it coud incriminate me" elixer that Golden Pond in LBL was known for.;) My family is from Golden Pond, I'll be going to see a special old friend today that used to make the run up to Chicago eons ago. That stuff outta get the blood boiling when this stuff comes up. You may find heaven or **** after a shot or two, it's up to you.:D ;)

Noone's bringing guns right? :eek:

Tommy

[Tomster]

I never meant this to turn into a heated thread. I was just glad to see a child stand up for himself. In a way the older kid might hear.
I wonder if everyone would get so upset if I had simply said
"He stood up to a bully who did not agree with him" and lef out the religious aspect of it?
And if this is gonna get so many people upset, maybe a moderator should just lock the thread and be done with it?


I know you didn't mean to start anything.

It's just that religion is something that people get real passionate about real quickly, and it is best discussed one-on-one in a private setting, not in a public forum.

So, I do think it would be best to get off this subject and talk about something else.

I'm a Christian and am always willing to talk about my faith, but NOT in a public forum. I hope that by my words and deeds others will be able to see that I have something (actually, Someone) within me that they need in their own lives.

Tomster