I dig Tony and LifeChurch.tv and I support them whole-heartedly. But I disagree that this is any sort of barometer for success.

I ran a highly trolled Christian website for 3 years. Often, we were trolled because we provoked it, with our confusing and easily misunderstood Christianese or by our flat out offensiveness. Other times we were trolled because some bored kids were trying to fit in with their peer group. This is another way of saying that it had almost nothing to do with who we were or what we were doing. It could have just as easily been Habbo (http://habbo.com) or Gaia (http://gaiaonline.com) being trolled that night. Actually, 9 nights out of 10 it was Habbo or Gaia being trolled, and not us, and I'm pretty sure it's not because of the awesome love of Jesus that is being preached on those secular websites.

When a Christian is attacked by a non-Christian it is usually because the attacker was once the victim. And words like "We must be doing something right!" do absolutely nothing to help that person heal.

peace | dewde

It is challenging to know how to handle a group like 4chan. On the one hand they were responsible for bringing down a white supremacist who was broadcasting a message of intolerance and hate. I consider that commendable, even if they did reduce themselves to his level in order to achieve victory.

On the other hand, they once held an impromptu contest to see who could create fake personas on our site, gain the trust of our users over time (depressed/struggling Christian teens), with the goal of convincing one of us to "make a hero" of ourselves. That's slang for "commit suicide."

Tracking back to their conversations and reading through, it surprised me how many of them had been legitimately hurt (sexual abuse, etc.) by outwardly professing Christians.

I'm not saying it is appropriate for them to do what they did, and it sucks that you guys are on their radar because once you're on it you don't ever really leave, but I think it is important to try and see ourselves through their eyes. Or, as is more theologically sound, to see them through God's, so that we can have compassion for them like He does.

peace | dewde

It is challenging to know how to handle a group like 4chan. On the one hand they were responsible for bringing down a white supremacist who was broadcasting a message of intolerance and hate. I consider that commendable, even if they did reduce themselves to his level in order to achieve victory.

On the other hand, they once held an impromptu contest to see who could create fake personas on our site, gain the trust of our users (depressed/struggling Christian teens) over time, with the goal of convincing one of us to "make a hero" of ourselves. That's slang for "commit suicide."

Tracking back to their conversations and reading through, it surprised me how many of them had been legitimately hurt (sexual abuse, etc.) by outwardly professing Christians.

I'm not saying it is appropriate for them to do what they did, and it sucks that you guys are on their radar because once you're on it you don't ever really leave, but I think it is important to try and see ourselves through their eyes. Or, as is more theologically sound, to see them through God's, so that we can have compassion for them like He does.

peace | dewde

Tony; i'm not saying this was the case for this situation…just thought this was a good conversation to bring it up and i think that's where Dewde is coming from.

Honestly I am not sure what to do with your last statement. If I caused the peeps from 4chan hurt or denied their road to healing through that update than I am certainly sorry.

I actually get excited at what could happen when guys like that start using what they have to make a difference in the world. They are obviously passionate and wanting to make a mark. Could be really cool what their imagination could come up with to make a positive difference in the world.