A new vision for a better community of believers.......

[stovebolts]

Hey stovebolts, where do I fit in?

That is for you to decide.

 

[stovebolts]

I don't think I've found the peace that should be in a church on this forum yet. Well now I have through working some things on my own however, in my view it should not come to that.
The changes here in just the short time I've been a member are unlike any I've seen implemented in other forums. First , as we're allowed to speak freely, we're told that OSAS cannot be discussed. Then it becomes obvious that any allusion to that is edited and the offending member PM'd.
And we're informed it is all due not to the topic itself. But due to the offender few that make any thread discussing OSAS or its relations a lions den of conflict and verbal/written harm.
Now we have other new rules meant to quiet open discourse in order to quell those same few offenders.
The many are being contained in their freedom to post about our faith due to the few that are offenders within it.

Why not take an inventory of those who start trouble and escalate trouble in certain hot topics of their choice?
I can name a few but I won't. They're long term members by the post count and they have no inclination to speak charitably or in grace. In fact, reading their history they are adversarial to the foundation tenets of this relationship with our Lord and Savior.
And without exception those few offenders pursue the same line of attack in every thread they start in order to keep the antagonism alive. Now, when OSAS, their apparent favorite, is forbidden they're pursuing a new track of offense.
It seems the issue they have is with the eternal in God's words.
First, that which is forbidden. God's gifts are irrevocable. Which is Salvation.
Now the go-to for animus baiting and flame throwing and personal attack pejorative fans, and those who love to impart someone is not a Christian but do so within the rules that forbid outright saying so, is the opposite topic for publishing and inviting conflict to arise. Always by those same few.The topic that asks, is suffering in Hell eternal?
What can't be ignored is if someone does not go along with that which interpolates scripture in order to make their errant point, that person is targeted. Personally. And those few are the one's that put them in the cross hairs.

Here is a suggestion. Tenure should mean nothing when a minority of person(s) show a history of raising conflict and insulting Christians in threads. Some offenders have been here for years.
So what? Being a member is a privilege. It shouldn't entail entering into a battlefield. Only to find out each day one longs on that there are new rules curtailing open dialog. Arrived at apparently in an effort to either muzzle the dedicated offenders, or make their hunting easier.

Consider also how many new members arrive and make their greeting in the new member forum.
How many posts do they accrue in the midst of this chaos?
Being allowed to speak freely here, ban the minority offenders even if they've been here for a dozen years.
I can think of two right off the bat. Rather than see how the new prosecutable rules take among the majority who are decent loving people of God, why not remove the few persecutors of the word of God and those who cleave to it? Ban by IP. Though I have no doubt they'll return. But give it a shot.
A forum needs members. Members don't need devils operating in a forum.

Thank you for reading that heart felt sharing. As one who has been on the receiving end of the wicked I speak of. And by God's leading and the options here, no longer speak to. And I can tell you, that option does indeed make this site better.
Imagine the possibilities if it wasn't necessary.

God's peace and mercies surround his sheep. Amen.

I'm just going to lay it out.

The changes that are occurring are not the last to come. Tenure means little and active members less. We have laid out the vision of this site both on our home page and in our recent notification as well as releasing a new Staff Expectations so our members would know what to expect and if staff want following those guidelines, it could be brought up and called out. It's all about transparency and moving this site more toward self regulation. But to get there, we need a cultural shift.

GregHead is the owner of this site, and he has had friends and family here that left some pretty bad reviews, and he has asked us to change the culture, and that is what we are doing.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but we will get there and we are focused to stay on course. We invite anyone who shares our vision to come along with us, and for those who are skepticle to ask questions. But for those who simply dont agree with our vision or the direction we are heading, we are asking them to find another online community that will better suite their personality.

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

New vision.

 

[UberMink]

I'm just going to lay it out.

The changes that are occurring are not the last to come. Tenure means little and active members less. We have laid out the vision of this site both on our home page and in our recent notification as well as releasing a new Staff Expectations so our members would know what to expect and if staff want following those guidelines, it could be brought up and called out. It's all about transparency and moving this site more toward self regulation. But to get there, we need a cultural shift.

GregHead is the owner of this site, and he has had friends and family here that left some pretty bad reviews, and he has asked us to change the culture, and that is what we are doing.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but we will get there and we are focused to stay on course. We invite anyone who shares our vision to come along with us, and for those who are skepticle to ask questions. But for those who simply dont agree with our vision or the direction we are heading, we are asking them to find another online community that will better suite their personality.

I'll lay it out as well. I hope the new vision and those that are the worst element here that bring conflict and insult take the advice. And find a different community. One that receives that personality.
I have no idea about reviews concerning this site. Is there a link to the site here that people can offer reviews? Or is it a matter of online reviews? I didn't see any of that when I was searching on Google, "Christian community forum".
Thanks.

 

[stovebolts]

I'll lay it out as well. I hope the new vision and those that are the worst element here that bring conflict and insult take the advice. And find a different community. One that receives that personality.
I have no idea about reviews concerning this site. Is there a link to the site here that people can offer reviews? Or is it a matter of online reviews? I didn't see any of that when I was searching on Google, "Christian community forum".
Thanks.

The owners friends and family, including one of his children directly gave him feedback on their experience here.

He wants this to be a place he is proud of. Imho, we look much like the church in Corinth.

 

[UberMink]

The owners friends and family, including one of his children directly gave him feedback on their experience here.

I would think that would be right. I know I sought a Christian community that would leave me feeling elated and buoyed by the spirit that was nourished in time spent here. I attended a forum once that imparted that very thing. It is something that I have always wanted to feel and share in ever since.
God's protection, mercies, and peace surround this forum , the owner , and all who serve to keep us in community. Amen.

He wants this to be a place he is proud of. Imho, we look much like the church in Corinth.

That's very troubling indeed.
So that those who may not know the import of that observation, I offer this scriptural background link.
49. 1 Corinthians: The Troubled Church

 

[stovebolts]

UberMink ,
The kind of forum you described doesnt just happen. It takes vision, patience and a heart to serve others.

We all play a role in this, because it starts with us. It's not always what others say to us, but often, what we say back to others.

To grow means we are changing, and our desire is that we change, grow in Christ, through the renewing of pur minds. Roman's 12:2

We like it when others change to conform to our image of who God is, but we often dont like it when we are asked to change, and that's really when the contention starts to brew in many cases.

We want to be a community that grows each other in a 1 cor 13 loving way which causes everyone to grow regardless if one is acting as teacher or student because simply put, growth is so much more than having all the right answes.

 

[UberMink]

UberMink ,
The kind of forum you described doesnt just happen. It takes vision, patience and a heart to serve others.

We all play a role in this, because it starts with us. It's not always what others say to us, but often, what we say back to others.

To grow means we are changing, and our desire is that we change, grow in Christ, through the renewing of pur minds. Roman's 12:2

We like it when others change to conform to our image of who God is, but we often dont like it when we are asked to change, and that's really when the contention starts to brew in many cases.

We want to be a community that grows each other in a 1 cor 13 loving way which causes everyone to grow regardless if one is acting as teacher or student because simply put, growth is so much more than having all the right answers.

Oh yes, I realize the forum I entered in that past recollection didn't just happen. It was on-line for a few years before I arrived and had gone through many transitions prior to that. It was a blessing I arrived to enjoy the final outcome of a long journey by the Administrator who was also the owner.

This may inspire in the pursuit of the changes here. If it is allowed. If not, please I do understand if it is deleted. It certainly helps me when I find myself tempted to give like for like. Which is no good for anyone.
James 3 Study/Commentary Taming the Tongue
Verse 1
This entire chapter is a "self-contained section dealing with the bridling of the tongue,"Cross Reference
W. E. Oesterley, Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 449.
[1] and fitting exactly into James' overall theme of "perfection" (see introduction). By such a vigorous address to this area of human behavior, in which the totality of all mankind is revealed as transgressors, either in small or in great degree, it must not be thought that James was requiring sinless perfection of Christians, his object being rather that of turning all men to Jesus Christ our Lord who alone is perfect, and in whom alone perfection is available for any mortal (see Matthew 5:48 and Colossians 1:28,29). In this chapter, as throughout the epistle, the remarkable consonance with the teachings of Christ should be noted. Had not Christ himself said, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned?" (Matthew 12:37); and did he not also caution his followers against seeking the adulation accorded teachers, saying, "Be not ye called Rabbi (teacher)," etc. (Matthew 23:1-12)? Full Read

 

[eddif]

I Corinthians 5:5 kjv
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

This is love also. I am beginning to wonder what place this has in the New Place.

Swats and hugs. Rod and staff.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Trying to enforce a forum as you suggest sort of defeats the purpose

 

[Razeontherock]

Trying to enforce a forum as you suggest sort of defeats the purpose

I think this is a good contribution to the discussion here, because it moves us towards clarifying the purpose. Allen, consistent with your statement here, what do you see as the purpose of this forum, and how do the changes defeat that purpose?

 

[UberMink]

Trying to enforce a forum as you suggest sort of defeats the purpose

Would you please expound on that observation? Thank you.

Blessings.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

The moderators know.
A certain amount of people are expected to be written off, and they think that will clear the way to utopia.
I just got banned from this forum because my keen eye caught heresy and I tried to stop it without causing trouble.
I was attacked by new people on the forum and got banned without being given a chance to speak my part in the matter.
I've been here for 5 1/2 years, I think they want people like me out of here.
Stovebolts proved that already by saying tenure means nothing anymore.

 

[Mike]

I just got banned from this forum because my keen eye caught heresy and I tried to stop it without causing trouble.

How are you posting if you just got banned? Could your version of the events be only one side of the story? I've heard in prison, every inmate is innocent. You know what I mean?

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

How are you posting if you just got banned? Could your version of the events be only one side of the story? I've heard in prison, every inmate is innocent. You know what I mean?

Well, I could be wrong, but I think he means that he got banned recently like within the last month or so, not now.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

How are you posting if you just got banned? Could your version of the events be only one side of the story? I've heard in prison, every inmate is innocent. You know what I mean?

Hi Mike, every person has a story
Some stories are never heard.
But I never included you in my story.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

 

[jasonc]

It's not unreasonable as churches do this to weed out trouble makers aND focus on ministry. I have disagreement with my pastor on Genesis ,gap theory is his,I'm not.

Yet I dont debate him in the service on it.to a degree I get why this owner wants to go that way.for every person that is into poilitics,abd is hard on the usual and leaves we get another just like him.

I have posted here for ten years.seen it.of my time here,only free,drew,nick ,StoveBolts have been here longer .

 

[stovebolts]

The moderators know.
A certain amount of people are expected to be written off, and they think that will clear the way to utopia.
I just got banned from this forum because my keen eye caught heresy and I tried to stop it without causing trouble.
I was attacked by new people on the forum and got banned without being given a chance to speak my part in the matter.
I've been here for 5 1/2 years, I think they want people like me out of here.
Stovebolts proved that already by saying tenure means nothing anymore.

Yes, we do expect to lose members. We have already lost some long term members as well as short term members. It's not about numbers. It's about quality of membership.

As far as your account being suspended, your not being fully honest. I will send you a PM and we can discuss there.

 

[GodsGrace]

I'm not sure I understand everything I think I know about that.

I thought I felt the same way, but after reading your post, I started to doubt that I might not know for sure.