MAN REBUKED FOR NOT FOLLOWING JESUS' TEACHINGS, BY AN ATHEIST WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE JESUS.

Beckley, WV (Wokeville Gazette) — The Internet blew up late Sunday night, when a friendly discussion on Facebook took a turn towards uncharitable.

"I was really caught off guard", said Tim McWilliams one Facebook user. "I was weighing in on a conversation on politics and religion and all of the sudden—out of nowhere—this random person who I've never met started attacking me."

The discussion was over the ELCA's decision to ordain the first openly transgender bishop, Megan Rohrer.

"I was responding to some of the celebration, trying to play devil's advocate a bit", said McWilliams. "I was quoting a ton of bible verses and helping dispel a few misnomers and fallacies about what Jesus actually taught about sexual immorality and sin, when bam! This random guy weighs in and accuses me of not following the teachings of Christ."

Though he was taken back by the accusation, and slightly offended, McWilliams decided to press into the conversation and ask clarifying questions in hopes of finding common ground.

"I asked them which teachings of Christ I wasn't following", said McWilliams. "He told me I wasn't loving my neighbor as myself, judge not lest I be judged, and that if I was a true Christian I would worry about the plank in my own eye before worrying about the sliver in someone else's eye. He then proceeded to tell me that he is a staunch atheist who doesn't believe in Jesus, and how one of the biggest turn-offs to him and so many others—regarding Christianity—are Christians who thing they are so much better than everyone else and take pleasure in judging others and forcing their beliefs on them."

McWilliams was at a loss, not really knowing how to respond.

"I wasn't sure where to take the conversation at that point", said McWilliams. "It really seemed like he was just looking for a fight. I wasn't making efforts to judge anyone. I was simply trying to point out what the Bible says, so that people would be able to better understand why some Christians aren't celebrating Bishop Rohrer's election and instead see it as a negative reflection on the church itself".

Even though the conversation didn't go the direction Tim McWilliams had hoped, when he decided to jump into it, he said he still learned a lesson in the who ordeal. 

"What I learned today, I'll keep with me for the rest of my life", said McWilliams. "Some atheists, who claim to not believe in Jesus, really seem to believe quite a bit about Jesus when it is convenient for them to do so. And that gives me hope. Instead of trying to convince people like this that Jesus exists, what I can focus on instead is trying to persuade them that they should probably spend more time contemplating their own standing with Christ, before it's too late".