Being Led Astray Online...

[JCMS]

The Lord is really working on me lately I think. I've been apart of a certain hobby message board and I'd been there about 8 months or so. After joining, I quickly 'fit in' in the little cliques that the board had, with groups of members that had been there a long time. I quickly learned that many of them were not following the path of the Lord and I began to notice that I was talking and acting in ways I never had before. Cussing, sexual jokes, showing disrespect to many elders on the board (women in their 60's and 70's) and just being an all around spiteful person. I did it because the popular 'group' that I was with did it too, and it came off as the 'cool' thing to do.

I made the decision to leave the board after realizing that this was not what the Lord wanted me being a part of, and I'm sure he was not pleased with my behavior. I was having doubts about leaving that morning, and that night a major drama fight started that forced me off the board permanently. Now I am glad, as I felt it was the Lord that gave me that "extra" shove to get out of there.

The only problem is, now the 'friends' that I had made online, still want to talk with me, e-mail, messengers, chat rooms, ect. And I feel I am falling right back into the ways that I wanted to get out of. But I don't feel I have the strength to cut them off completely, even though I have the desire to.

How do you find the strength to cut off all the people you talk to everyday (and some of the only people you talk with even though they are online)? Even though I KNOW they are not a good influence, even just talking to them online. I say things online I am NOT proud of, and I feel it has played a role lately in my straying.

[Trusting Jesus]

This is a very interesting situation. Why not, instead of saying don't contact me anymore, share Christ with them? Be honest with them just like you were here. Either they will be convicted and want to know more, or they may leave you alone. But, if you can plant some seeds, that is a good thing.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[Guest man]

I think you should be straight with them about your convictions. You don't have to come off as "holier than thou" or judgemental. Just be honest about how you feel.

[Rania]

How do you find the strength to cut off all the people you talk to everyday.....................

This is very difficult but do-able. You simply have to do it and I promise you that as each day passes and you remain faithful, it will get easier. When something in your life is not Godly, God will honor you for walking away from it. Satan will try and make you see that you can have the best of both worlds.

You don't have to tell them, either. Just walk away. (speaking of internet relationships, of course)

Rania

[damo1]

be open and be honest with the people you are connecting with i am also involved in a croatian forum and i have made a new friend and the other croatians are welcoming me i am croatian my self its a secular forum with serbians also posting on the croatian forum

i am a member of this forum

have you asked the lord to help you minister to the people in the hobby forum you are involved in ?

i like being with my people the ones i am talking with are croatian catholics and serbian orthadox

when you make a profile in a secular forum you dont have to let everyone know what your email is and you can block members from contacting you if you dont know how to do it the forums owner wil tel you how to do it

my rule is only go into a secular forum if you are mature and are strong

you are dealing with real people who have their own problems just because we cant see the people we are communicating with does not mean they dont have feelings

you can be led astray in the real world and in christian on line forums

you need to be strong and you need to learn to use wisdom when it comes to communicating with people you dont know

one of my rules is i dont let no one speak into my life who i dont know i only alow mature christians to speak into my life i dont hang out with immature christians

i also go by this rule if you have not gone out of your way to get to know me you have no right to tell me what you feel the lord is wanting to say to me

i know how to study people and i take my time reading what people are leaving some times i wil read over a post four times just to see where the person is at

right know i am dealing with a guy who is ussing two usser names and its not just me the croatians from around the world are also calling him out and when ever he leavs a post we have his old posts saved i dont like people that do this he is nice under his main usser name and under the one we are caling him out on he is mean to my people he is a serbian

before you decide to close your account pray this is an oppertunity for you to stand up for god and share the gospel to the non believers

i dont put on a mask hear and behave badly in the croatian forum i am involved in

same when i am away from the people that know me in my church i dont believe in doing this

pray and let god tell you what to do

damo1

[OneLight]

The Lord is really working on me lately I think. I've been apart of a certain hobby message board and I'd been there about 8 months or so. After joining, I quickly 'fit in' in the little cliques that the board had, with groups of members that had been there a long time. I quickly learned that many of them were not following the path of the Lord and I began to notice that I was talking and acting in ways I never had before. Cussing, sexual jokes, showing disrespect to many elders on the board (women in their 60's and 70's) and just being an all around spiteful person. I did it because the popular 'group' that I was with did it too, and it came off as the 'cool' thing to do.

I made the decision to leave the board after realizing that this was not what the Lord wanted me being a part of, and I'm sure he was not pleased with my behavior. I was having doubts about leaving that morning, and that night a major drama fight started that forced me off the board permanently. Now I am glad, as I felt it was the Lord that gave me that "extra" shove to get out of there.

The only problem is, now the 'friends' that I had made online, still want to talk with me, e-mail, messengers, chat rooms, ect. And I feel I am falling right back into the ways that I wanted to get out of. But I don't feel I have the strength to cut them off completely, even though I have the desire to.

How do you find the strength to cut off all the people you talk to everyday (and some of the only people you talk with even though they are online)? Even though I KNOW they are not a good influence, even just talking to them online. I say things online I am NOT proud of, and I feel it has played a role lately in my straying.

Invite them here!

I have often wondered about the times I turned from God and went my way ... why did I do what I did? It was because I had a very important lesson to learn. Look for this lesson and hold onto it. Jesus did not stand by and watch you do this for nothing, There is a reason.

Welcome back!

God Bless,

Alan

[Guest]

You Could Start By Returning To Your Old Threads And Apologizing To The Ones You Offended And Asking For Their Forgiveness.

That Should Alert Everyone That You Are Now Walking A Different Path

Follow Your Shepherd

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

Love, Your Brother Joe

[JCMS]

First off, thank you guys so much, I appareciate the amazing responses.

I think the Lord is putting me through trials to make sure I push myself away from this entire crowd completely. A lot of the immature drama that went on escalated into online threats and e-mails, lies and deceptions A few of the people I felt were 'friends' were really lying and trash talking me behind my back. This is what I want to walk away from, and the Lord I feel has given me that extra *push* to completely walk away from it all.

While around these people, even online (and several hours a day), I was not following in the Lord like I should have, nor was I talking or expressing myself in ways the Lord would approve. I feel all this started big, and dramatically, to shake me up, wake me up, and show me that now, not later, was the time to move on completely away from the entire crowd.

While apprehensive and nervous, I know in the long run it'll be the best. Someone who can issue threats, speak in derogatory terms or proudly act in ways the Lord would not approve of, is not people I should be associated with. I want to be on the right path with the Lord, and I'll always have a roadblock if I put myself in situations such as that.

So I do plan to walk away from that crowd completely, get a new messenger ID and e-mail address, and only associate myself with Christians who walk with the Lord. I love this board, so I am very happy to be here, amongst those who walk with the Lord as well, and I know that it will only help me grow as a Christian.

Thanks guys.

Oh, edited to add: even though I was highly threatened by a certain person, I still stepped up last night and sent them a sincere apology for the wrong-doing and drama on my part while I was a part of the board. I was replied to with a very rude, and threatening e-mail, but I still feel that the apology was warranted and it's what the Lord wanted me to do. I feel a bit down and upset over the response, and I will not reply to it, but I still feel issuing the apology was the right thing to do on my part.

Edited June 28, 2009 by jesuschristmysavior

[Guest man]

Oh, edited to add: even though I was highly threatened by a certain person, I still stepped up last night and sent them a sincere apology for the wrong-doing and drama on my part while I was a part of the board. I was replied to with a very rude, and threatening e-mail, but I still feel that the apology was warranted and it's what the Lord wanted me to do. I feel a bit down and upset over the response, and I will not reply to it, but I still feel issuing the apology was the right thing to do on my part.

You did good.

[JCMS]

You did good.

Thanks man. It's nice to get some reassurance.