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Section 1 Need Help

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I used to think sending warnings and temp bans was the answer. I also thought that the TOS was a friend and tool for the staff which if misused, turns staff into police. What I've realized through the years is this, and I may be wrong but the Spirit is leading me this way, so here it is.

The more rules we have the more members will learn to ride the edge of that rule. Rules don't really change behavior because the unruly will simply find a way to mitigate the rules. Rules have their place, but lack in discernment.

What I think we need are principals with a core base of member that have a solid understanding of those principals and can live them out both on this board, and broader communities.

This is why we put up our Community Statement and Staff Expectations and I think Staff Expectations can be modified as we move this community forward, and we will.

In my book, less is best. Honestly, you don't see the trolls here any more because we don't give them multiple warnings. We ban them so the negativity doesn't infect the board.

Here is how we've been trying to change this board in terms of structure. Moderators are not here to moderate behavior. They are to be a part of the community with a mission to unite us in Christ. I don't want moderators to get stuck arguing with an unruly member over and over and over. It sucks the life out of you, trust me, I know this first hand. Moderators are to give gentle instruction and if it gets heated, they hand it of to an Admin and we take it from there. I don't always succeed, but I try to base those private conversations based on them, and not a set of rules. IT's not like, "I'm giving you a ticket for speeding and your fine is xxx". My objective is to reconcile where possible. I don't always succeed, but it's what's in my heart.

What I hope for is a TOS that represents our community values, which should be rooted in the bond of unity and reconciliation. We invite other Christians to live out these values with us but if they either can't control themselves, or they come in with the purpose of causing dissension, I can assure you their memberships are short lived.

This moves our conversation along! The entire project of our ToS can be seen in post #2 of the other thread in this new sub-forum.

It kinda has two sections:

1) a preamble utilizing Scripture

2) our current rules, after all of Wondering's hard work, with everything spelled out beginning with 1.1

I think the "preamble" already says SO much more in half a page than all the rules do in 7 pages.

As I read through all the suggestions so far I find at least 3 more Scriptures, plus a way to chop out part of a rule that (IMHO) makes it better, presented by Chessman.

I don't want to just chop away all the rules willy nilly, just everything that's redundant.
If that leaves us with 2 or 3 pages instead of 8? That sounds like a win to me.
 
This moves our conversation along! The entire project of our ToS can be seen in post #2 of the other thread in this new sub-forum.

It kinda has two sections:

1) a preamble utilizing Scripture

2) our current rules, after all of Wondering's hard work, with everything spelled out beginning with 1.1

I think the "preamble" already says SO much more in half a page than all the rules do in 7 pages.

As I read through all the suggestions so far I find at least 3 more Scriptures, plus a way to chop out part of a rule that (IMHO) makes it better, presented by Chessman.

I don't want to just chop away all the rules willy nilly, just everything that's redundant.
If that leaves us with 2 or 3 pages instead of 8? That sounds like a win to me.
Ray,
I cannot thank you enough for overseeing this enormous project! I have faith you are being obedient to the Holy Spirit as He guides you through this task.
Thank you!
 
From:
1.4 Do not discuss other members by name, with whom you have a disagreement, in a thread in which they are not participating, thus putting them in a position of having to defend themselves in a discussion is which they have no desire in which to participate. This item may be waived by the staff if it is deemed to be in good-natured fun.

To:
... thus putting them in a position of having to defend themselves in a discussion in which they have no desire ...

Rationale: typo
 
Wait.

Everybody, the whole purpose of this thread and the whole process is that YOU (collectively) get the chance to spot stuff we could omit entirely, shorten, change, or improve in any way you can think of.
How could this possibly be?
WE don't know the legal reasons why something may have to be stated. WE don't know the entire idea behind this forum.
I would have cut a lot of stuff out...I think once the general rule to treat others with consideration and respect,,,EVERYTHING else said in regards to behavior is redundant!

I'll bet you don't agree.
 
How could this possibly be?
WE don't know the legal reasons why something may have to be stated. WE don't know the entire idea behind this forum.
I would have cut a lot of stuff out...I think once the general rule to treat others with consideration and respect,,,EVERYTHING else said in regards to behavior is redundant!

I'll bet you don't agree.





I do though. :yes
 
If you think about it Jesus brought all the law down to two commands, Matthew 22:36-40.

I, like others, do not want to read page after page of rules and regulations as no one is going to remember all of them if they become lengthy. Honestly, how many of us remember all the ones we read when we became a member or did everyone even read all of them before signing up. When I am looking at Christian sites the first thing I look for is the statement of faith that let's me know what is the belief of those who created the site. The second thing I look at is the behavior of all the participants and how they get along with each other. There are some pretty bad sites out there that are not very well moderated.

You have the statement of faith which is important in letting others know what is the belief of this site. The behavior ToS pretty much says it all in one page. The only thing that IMO needs added is what to expect within discipline when the ToS is violated as it is everyone's responsibility to read the ToS before becoming a member.

Just some more thought from this ole country gal :biggrin2
 
TERMS OF SERVICE
(ToS)


ChristianForums.net aspires to provide a place where Christians can come together in fellowship for encouragement, inspiration, and strength to help build each other up and grow in our walk of faith through honest and open discussion, study, reflection, and prayer.


The CF staff team uses the ToS as a basis for how this community is run. Our aim is to treat members fairly and, in the event of difficulty or dispute, to give them the best chance to remain members before any action is required. Your cooperation is appreciated. Here are key things to remember, which will be much more effective than any rules we can make up:

John 13:35 (All references use NKJV)
“By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Luke 6:31
“And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.”

Philippians 2:3
“in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

1 Corinthians 6:7
“it is already an utter failure that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?"

If all else fails, this is the action that will be taken:
Matthew 18:15 - 17
“Moreover if your Brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”


That means PM (private message) a member to settle an issue rather than publicly feuding. If that doesn’t work, start a new PM that invites both the other member AND staff. After all that, do we still need rules? Maybe so. Here are some basics:

  • Members must be at least 13 years of age. Users who are found to be under the age of 13 will have their account disabled until they meet this criteria. ChristianForums.net does not maintain permission records from parents.
  • English is the acceptable language since most persons in other countries speak English.
  • As a member of ChristianForums.net, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, and you stipulate that you understand the disciplinary process in response to violations of the ToS
  • To contact a member of the staff:
    Click on their name
  • Click on their name again
    Click on Start a Conversation

    BEHAVIOR

  1. Give other members the respect you would have them give to you:

1.1 Address issues/ideas, not the person. Do not insult, post derogatory opinions, belittle, discredit, or create a hostile environment. Do not make inflammatory remarks, do not make remarks to affect others negatively.

1.2 Do not misquote or misrepresent another member. Do not disrupt the flow of the conversation, respect all members as to where they are in their spiritual walk.

1.3 Do not post your opinion of another members standing in the Christian faith. Judging someone’s soul is not Christ like; only they and God know their relationship with God. This includes collective beliefs and groups in general.

1.4 Do not discuss other members by name, with whom you have a disagreement, in a thread in which they are not participating, thus putting them in a position of having to defend themselves in a discussion is which they have no desire in which to participate. This item may be waived by the staff if it is deemed to be in good-natured fun.

1.5 Always tag a member that you mention in any thread.

1.6 Foul language, pornographic, sexually offensive or explicit material is prohibited. Violent material is prohibited unless it relates to a news story.
This includes words purposefully misspelled or alternate use of characters. Staff will determine acceptability at its discretion.

1.7 No trolling. This is defined as posting simply to get other people to "dance for you;" to elicit a reaction for no good reason.
Ray,
Could 1.6 and 1.7 be eliminated?
Seems to me like this is stated in the preamble??
 
We don' need no stinking badges! Lol

Or maybe the badges will be honored by the Boy Scouts, who accept Girls as Scouts, but the Girl Scouts may not honor those badges pending a lawsuit?
I'm so confused ...





Oh my goodness!! :eek2You've seen Troop Beverly Hills before? I LOVE that movie!!


 
Ray,
Could 1.6 and 1.7 be eliminated?
Seems to me like this is stated in the preamble??

Fair question. I pass this off to the rest of staff to opine on.

These two items you cite are very specific, not covered by Scripture, and really come under the "duh" category, lol. (Should go without say) Some of that might be necessary to say, and spell out, in super clear terms?

A different category is "stuff" that Scripture really does speak to, clearly and powerfully. That's the type of thing I'd like to pare down the repetition of non-Scripture, replacing it with Scripture. Again, different modern translations can be clearer in some places, and all are encouraged to contribute their favorites.

If I had to be warned, I'd rather it be on the basis of Philippians 2:3 than ToS 3.4, ya know?
 
As a result, we will have to find language in certain area's that are vague enough to hold both views, but tight enough that shows unity in that area.


This will require God’s wisdom, and cooperation from all.


JLB
 
My objective is to reconcile where possible. I don't always succeed, but it's what's in my heart.

What I hope for is a TOS that represents our community values, which should be rooted in the bond of unity and reconciliation.


Which is why I believe your the right person to be in the position you are in, for this time and season here at the Net.

Because I trust the motive of your heart, it helps me to embrace your perspective of what the priorities are for the Forum, in this new season.

My perspective (because we see in part), or the part I see that is important in the unity of faith in the bond of peace is to emphasize the truth of the doctrine of Christ.

The part that says...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,


And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— Ephesians 4:11-15


The way I’m geared is to expound upon foundational doctrinal principals, so as to bring clarity and common understanding for the purpose of the unity of faith.


However I’m working on this part .

  • speaking the truth in love

For me personally, I don’t believe we are to compromise truth for the sake of unity.

At the same time, I believe truth spoken outside of the character of love is little more than divination.


So goes the delicate balance which requires God’s wisdom, patience and love.



JLB
 
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