Thursday, October 25, 2012

Do Not Feed the Trolls


I have been running into a specific kind of troll lately on Facebook. I imagine the troll playbook is posted on 9gag or 4chan, or whatever the hipsters are using today for internet jokes. This particular troll is an attacker of religion and is attacking because they are ignorant and have no life they feel our people need to be "liberated" from the "white man's religion." I say they are coming from the same playbook because they all say the same thing: They say that Jesus did not exist, that the story of Jesus is a verbatim copy of the story of Isis, Osiris, and Horus, and that Christians, and Pastors in particular, are unlearned and preaching lies to the people. The trolls then post youtube clips of Ray Haggins and the like and tell the Pastor to "research." The final play in the troll handbook is then tell the Pastor that they will give said Pastor $5000 if they can "prove" Jesus existed.

Now a troll is defined as:

"Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. The noun troll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted

source: wikipedia.org

Feeding the trolls is what I have been doing by responding to these idiots people. First of all even though they claim to have researched a topic, they provide no sources for their claims even though the Pastor may list book after book, furthermore if they do provide sources, said source is immediately more credible than the peer-reviewed books and published papers you will present on the subject. When did watching youtube videos become a credible research source? I digress, yes there are many historical problems that need to be worked out with the Christian faith, yes there are few extra-biblical sources regarding Jesus, and yes there are some similarities with some of the pagan religions. But no we are NOT peddling lies to the people!

There are few primary sources about ANYTHING regarding those times but Christianity seems to be the only thing called into question, called superstition and trolled by someone who just discovered a video and doesn't have the research capacity or presence of mind to research the claims. A person accepts Christianity, then sees a video that says Christianity is fake, they accept that without question, and then tells others to research even though they have done no research themselves. I personally would not want that kind of person in my church to begin with. I can't respect wishy washy people.

A little background on the post, I am a Mason, I was in a Masonic Facebook group and the troll began trolling members of the group as soon as he got in. He broke protocol, was cussing, misspelling words, using poor grammar, and was embarrassing himself and his organization. I commented in embarrassment that this man, had graduated from the same High School as I did. This got some laughs from the other members of the group and then he began to engage me. He made an offhand comment and I asked the troll was the comment addressed to me, if so he needed to "speak up" when talking to me. If I have a question, I tag the person I am referencing, so there is no confusion, he did not. Below is a transcript of my latest encounter with a troll. I changed his name to troll for the purpose not giving them anymore publicity than I already have. I also removed the profanity.


------------------------------------------------------------------


Troll
Im back ja preacher im talking to u what it do?
October 21 at 10:50pm via mobile · Like

Troll
@johney
October 21 at 10:50pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
????
October 21 at 10:51pm · Like

Troll
What school u go to wit me?
October 21 at 10:52pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Your profile says you graduated from Indianapolis North Central High School in 1999. I was class of 1998.
October 21 at 10:53pm · Like

Troll
Ok great I dont no u I c u preaching getin rich how many homeless shelters u give to.?
October 21 at 10:55pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
-_____- I'm not getting rich preaching at all. I actually pay more in tithes to the church I pastor than they pay me in salary. As far as homeless shelters community service etc. I do my share, I work shelters, drive for meals on wheels, give clothes to homeless on the streets downtown, pass out turkeys on Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas.
October 21 at 10:58pm · Like · 2

Troll
May God bless u
October 21 at 10:59pm via mobile · Like

Troll
What do u preach on
October 21 at 11:00pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
I follow a three year calendar called the lectionary. Whatever scripture is selected for that Sunday is what I preach on.
October 21 at 11:03pm · Like

Troll
Oh ok who is jesus?
October 21 at 11:04pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
English name for Yeshua ben Yosef
October 21 at 11:05pm · Like

Troll
Thanks I just belive in God.no JESUS
October 21 at 11:09pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
To each their own....
October 21 at 11:10pm · Like

Troll
I always wondered u sure they wasn't talking about the S.U.N OF GOD?
October 21 at 11:12pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Nope. I have an analytical concordance and a Greek Bible, all of those English transliterations and acronyms don't work when you start looking at the actual words used in the original languages.
October 21 at 11:14pm · Edited · Like

Troll
U tode me to speak up when talking to u? JESUS WAS AND NEVER DID EXIST.TGE MAN YOU ARE WORSHIPING IS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO SET ON THE THROWN OF EGYPT.YOUR BOOKS DIDNT TELL U THAT.
October 21 at 11:17pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Sure if that's how you feel fine, I've done the Jesus didn't exist dance before.
October 21 at 11:20pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
You not even a full quarter in and running around like you have obtained all this knowledge....
October 21 at 11:22pm · Like

Troll
The bible schools didnt teach u THAT? Ill teech u sence u said speak up when talking to u.I got 5000 say I can prove JESUS NEVER WALKED THIS EARTH.if he did it would be a statue of the n---- all over the planet.but u cant live without the S.U.N for 15 min or the whole earth will freeze.fairytails are for kids the temptations got a song STEALING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
October 21 at 11:22pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Sir you have no idea what the "bible schools" taught me or didn't teach me.
October 21 at 11:24pm · Like

Troll
Better yet who wrote the bible?
October 21 at 11:24pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
No one person wrote the Bible, it is a collection of texts from multiple sources. Prior to the "Bible" there were the Masoretic Texts, the Septuagint, and collections of letters read in various churches.
October 21 at 11:26pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
All that is missing from you is some Ray Hagins videos
October 21 at 11:26pm · Like

Troll
Bs.william Shakespeare wrote along with 46 other scholars malachi 4 1-3 ant no jesus if jesus the sun of righteousness the forgot about that
October 21 at 11:30pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Do you even know what the Masoretic Texts are? Or the Septuagint?
October 21 at 11:31pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Let me start a little slower, do you know what a primary source is?
October 21 at 11:32pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Also did you know there were other versions of the Bible prior to the KJV that you want attribute to Shakespeare?
October 21 at 11:34pm · Like

Troll
Look I dont care prove he was real ill donate 5000 to your church ig u can but go to my page check out ray haggins council of niceia who created jesus and just say thanks and stay out of it.lies on the lips of a priests
October 21 at 11:36pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
LOL! And there is the Ray Hagin drop I knew it
October 21 at 11:37pm · Like · 2

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
I'll do without your 5Gs sir.
October 21 at 11:39pm · Like · 1

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Didn't answer any questions, gave no primary sources just said a bunch of stuff you picked up on the street.
October 21 at 11:39pm · Like · 1

Troll
White man got u preaching his gospel cant tell me about the nubians the land of cush ancient kemet thay jesus story was wtitten 7800 years bc.noah arch epic of Gilgamesh 2500 bc fairytails goodnite
October 21 at 11:39pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Again, you have no idea who is teaching me or what I teach. I know very well about the epic of Gilgamesh, Kushites, Hyksos, Haribu, the Armana Letters and then some, because that is what they teach at "Bible School"
October 21 at 11:41pm · Like · 1

Troll
U talking bs about jesus on the net n---- if u ant a mason stay the f#&*$ out the conversation cowan ease dropping on convo then got the nerve to be a preacher bacc in the day u couldnt preach if u wasn't a mason or eastern star.European thinking never again
October 21 at 11:46pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
I actually haven't said anything about Jesus other than that is the English name of Yeshua Ben Yosef
October 21 at 11:48pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Reading is fundemental
October 21 at 11:48pm · Like

Troll
Jesus cant save u n----- Deuteronomy telk u that everybody accountable for his own sin.n---- please
October 21 at 11:48pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
I think you just wait until you see my name come up on the thread and start typing again, without actually reading what I type.
October 21 at 11:50pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
You just think what they told you Christians would say in response and you have the next response locked and loaded.
October 21 at 11:50pm · Like

Troll
ISAIAH 8 1-4 PROPHET WAS BORN WHERE JESUS COME FROM? GOODNITE COWAN
October 21 at 11:50pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
All this talk of enlightenment but all this n-word talk at the same time
October 21 at 11:51pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Why quote scripture if it was written by a playwright?
October 21 at 11:52pm · Like

Troll
Im grown and its america stop me.he that has no sin N----(in all caps so I know he means it) cast the first stone!
October 21 at 11:53pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
I have no desire to stop you, I'm just saying you are contradicting yourself. Also why do you have to tell me you are grown, your actions should tell that for you? And who said anything about sin?
October 21 at 11:55pm · Like · 1

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Look man I understand. You just got into Masonry, its new, its fresh, you are learning new things. I was like that my first year in the Lodge too, there is no need to run around with your chest all out, being FB gangsta challenging people on the net, you will only get laughed at.
October 21 at 11:56pm · Edited · Like · 3

Troll
Thats what im tellin u.I was brain washed but when getting off them slave ship we as blacks weren't christians im traveling to find who I am.u should travel also.head east where the gospels started
October 21 at 11:57pm via mobile · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Been there, done that, found my home back in Christianity.
October 21 at 11:58pm · Like · 1

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
That may not be your path.
October 21 at 11:58pm · Like

Johnnie Simpson Jr.
I'm not pushing it on you, nor do I have a desire to.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

He claimed he was going to sleep after that, I was surprised to come back to the group the next morning  and see all the other brothers piling on him for his behavior and calling for his deletion from the group. I  fault myself for even engaging the troll. These Ray Hagins "scholars" have been popping up recently and they seem to find me and my little clerical collar looking for an argument. I cannot allow them to live rent free in my head, and I cannot at ANY cost feed anymore trolls.

Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Been pretty busy lately, haven't had a chance to blog. I started another semester of seminary, taking Old Testament I, and Christian Heritage I which is basically a history class. I am enjoying this semester a lot more, but I haven't gotten any grades back yet. The church I pastor has a website now, http://www.haven-umc.org/

I have also started podcasting sermons at http://pastorjsimpjr.buzzsprout.com/ and on Itunes under Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Just trying to create a bit of a pastoral web presence for my church and myself. I am not sure how, this happened but after the second batch of 4 sermons were uploaded to the web some of them hit 100 plays in a 4 day span and a Palm Sunday Sermon I preached got 238 plays....wow. I have also got the idea in my head to publish a book. I have started writing it I just have to power through it. I want to keep it around 100 pages, and not be too academic.

Last Sunday was also World Communion Sunday for the United Methodist Church. My church Haven Chapel UMC worshipped with St. Paul AME Church. It was good to get involved with the community, I intend to do a whole lot more. Big plans in store, big plans.