Thus Ends Discourse with the Trolls.

I know that it is easy to deny all plain teaching about hell, and to make it odious by invidious names. I have often heard of "narrow-minded views," and "old-fashioned notions," and "brimstone theology," and the like. I have often been told that "broad" views are wanted in the present day. I wish to be as broad as the Bible, neither less nor more. I say that he is the narrow-minded theologian, who pares down such parts of the Bible as the natural heart dislikes, and rejects any portion of the counsel of God.

God knows that I never speak of hell without pain and sorrow. I would gladly offer the salvation of the gospel to the very chief of sinners. I would willingly say to the vilest and most profligate of mankind on his deathbed, "Repent, and believe on Jesus, and thou shalt be saved."* But God forbid that I should ever keep back from mortal man that Scripture reveals a hell as well as heaven, and that the gospel teaches that men may be lost as well as saved. The watch-man who keeps silence, when he sees a fire, is guilty of gross neglect; the doctor who tells us we are getting well when we are dying is a false friend; and the minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermon is neither  a faithful nor a charitable man.
* Acts 16:31

From the chapter, "A Woman to be Remembered" in Holiness, by J. C. Ryle.

I write to you today, dear reader, to warn you of what I shall only refer to as trolls. If you do not know what I mean, I am glad for you, may you never find out. To the rest of you who have had bad experiences with these people, I wish to give you a few words of comfort, and instruction. No doubt they will read this and squabble amongst themselves, whether to roast me, or boil me slowly in a pot, but I say, let them squabble and may the dawn take them, and turn them all to stone!†  That is what happens to trolls. In warning to them, that is what will happen to them who are unconverted on the great day of judgment.

To those of you who are hounded or "discussed" or squabbled over, I want to tell you a few things.

They are bullies. Bullies who are constantly anonymous, I may add.  Due to their anonymity, they cannot be stood up to, or swayed by either words of the grace of God, or of the fear of God.

There are a lot of them, and they will, if entertained, waste a lot of your time, asking an endless stream of questions.  Any attempt to end conversation will be considered "flouncing."  Also, they seem to have nothing better to do than sit on the internet and pick on their more conservative counterparts.

They are, for the most part, reprobates. They have left their first religion. Many, I believe, for just reasons even: The empty holiness taught in many "fundy" (as they degradingly refer to quite a generalized group of Bible-believing Christians as) circles is a dangerous doctrine.  Please remember that Holiness is attained through Jesus Christ. Any attempt to be holy on your own is hypocritical, if not futile.  Jesus is the Way, not personal holiness.

You must have a firm grasp on reality. Know what your doctrines mean in the real world. Like J.C. Ryle wrote, "wish to be as broad as the Bible."  If you do not know what they mean in the real world, avoid discussing it with any decidedness. Opinions change, and a reality of what is important, and what isn't is key in controlling what you write. The tongue is like a rudder on a boat.  A small piece can turn a great machine. (James 3:4-5)  Furthermore, never be afraid of an open mind. Search all facts.  Christianity is true. There needs be no one more bold than the Christian when searching out the facts, because our religion is one in which truth is supreme. Beware of spin, but you need not fear it.

Do not whine, about them, please. They thrive on it.  Take it like a man, what is not true cannot really hurt you. I counsel you in the words of my personal motto: Fear God. & Fear Nought.

Thus ends my discourse with the Trolls.

†In reference to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.