Doyou think it is possible?

[Chris]

I have until the last few months never seen christian message boards. often now when I think of my time used on them a lot of the memories I have of christian forums involve personal attacks and bad arguments. there seems to be so much arguing in some topics, with no respect to differing opinions. This forum is better by far than some christian ones.

Imagine if all us guys were in a room together we would be so polite to each other. In a room like christian bible study there is usually a warmth and sense of caring and uplifting of each other. Imagine if this was our bible study forum and we tried as hard as we could to spread the love in the same way.

Imagine if an hour writing words on a forum could result in a fellow believer feeling the warmth of christian respect compassion and care, and remembering your words the next day as it makes their day better.

It might take swallowing pride, admitting faults of ours, believing people no matter what and most of all respect and just allowing others to be different. just to make sure our fellow believers are uplifted. I don't think we are all clones are we?

I would love to come and be uplifted in fellowship and return it even if it is on the net. I got that feeling here a bit this week it was like a breath of fresh air.

PS no one here hurt me I think you are a great bunch of guys. It is just a thought I couldn't resist writing.

Is it just a pipe dream?




May Gods love and the Spirits light, fill you and guide you. May peace fill your life always.

 

[Nick]

I totally agree. So much of the agnst in certain topics is totally ridiculous and often people (obviously) forget who they're talking to - their Family! As you said, if we were doing this in person it would be a lot different. I've seen many Christian boards that are worse in this regard than secular ones. Now that's a rebuke!

P.S. I'll be praying for your typing! :D

 

[Chris]

I totally agree. So much of the agnst in certain topics is totally ridiculous and often people (obviously) forget who they're talking to - their Family! As you said, if we were doing this in person it would be a lot different. I've seen many Christian boards that are worse in this regard than secular ones. Now that's a rebuke!

P.S. I'll be praying for your typing! :D

my typing needs a miracle and thanks for the nice reply, your a good dude.

 

[lamplady]

This is definitely one the best Christian threads.

We are a family so disputes are bound to arise or rather disagreements that lead to debates but it's all good. We are at the end of the day human but we have the same purpose which keeps us together the love of God.

And I think the moderation team works very good on here, not too zealous like some forums or too slack; I hate it when mods are too slack - usually means every secular reasoning go unchallenged ...

 

[Nathan]

I was the same as you. I had not even considered 'Christian forum sites' until 2 or 3 months ago. I visited some, and eventually became a 'member' of two. Needless to say this was one, and there was another one that I have never gone back too.

For me, its kind of like a local but distant fellowship. I have come to know, and even have very strong feelings, for some on the forum. I think that the vision of this forum is very good. There are a great bunch of guys/gals that are working to keep it that way, and I am not saying that just because they let me help out also.

I know you have been around the different forums on here. Some are more 'aggressive' than others. Some are set up specifically for the uplifting of others. But just like a 'body', there are going to be 'less than desirable to look at parts'. But all in all they are needed.

You might be surprised. I agree with your observations and wish we could be better with our communication. But some of the conversations that take place are really not all that bad. Some times 'sparks' will fly when Iron strikes Iron.

I am glad your here. And never think that because people do not agree with you right off the bat, that it means they are against you. If people always just say cushy things about you it leads to a big head, and not much depth of heart. I think you would agree, but just in these last couple of months my faith has been strengthened dramatically. Just from simple interaction with others like this. The strongest trees are the ones that grow out in the open where the winds, and rain, and all the natural elements hit them constantly.

 

[PouringRain]

I agree that this forum is better than most with regards to people politely disagreeing with each other.

I disagree that in real life people would be better about it face to face. I only disagree, because one of the churches we attend has some members who are quite arrogant and forceful in their speech-- and it can be ugly. I am not even talking about disagreements either. Imagine walking up to someone and telling them how great it is that God healed them and they turn and say something rude in reply and walk off. So... I think rude and arrogant people will be rude and arrogant regardless of if it is on-line or off-line.

I do think on-line there are challenges in on-line communication that can often be misinterpreted, caused by the lack of non-verbal communication. For example, if I make a joke then you are not able to see my facial expression to know that I am joking, and instead the joke can come off as being ugly. (Smilies are helpful on-line for this reason, but if I am concerned that even the smiley will not do the joke justice, then I outright say that I am joking. ) Another problem with on-line communication is that sometimes the anonymity makes people bolder in their speech. This can be both a good and bad thing. For example, for an introvert it gives them a voice. That same introvert wouldn't speak at all if physically in a room discussing a topic. But the bad part is that for some people their inhibitions are also lowered and they feel more free to spout garbage. Again, people like that are usually that way normally, but the trait is just more prominent on-line. For example, a racist in real life might not ever say anything to someone of another race and may limit his racism primarily to among his peers, but put him on-line and suddenly he feels bold enough to spout out to everyone.

 

[theLords]

@Chris, I greatly enjoy your posts. They are centered and focused in love, the heart of God, and they bless me tremendously.

It would be wonderful if the fighting here could die down, but don't forget that while we have Jesus loving Christians here, we also have cultists sect Christians, atheists, agnostics, and people of other faiths. Basically, many people not walking with the Holy Spirit. Then the situation gets tough!

It's nice to see that many people here don't like to see the fighting either. It's one thing that keeps me from logging in at times. We have Christian on Christian fighting, hate for the Bible, hate for Christ, hate for Christians, it gets to be too much!

It's good to see there's a group here who would like to inspire and be an example of change!

 

[Winters Eve]

I have until the last few months never seen christian message boards. often now when I think of my time used on them a lot of the memories I have of christian forums involve personal attacks and bad arguments. there seems to be so much arguing in some topics, with no respect to differing opinions. This forum is better by far than some christian ones.

Imagine if all us guys were in a room together we would be so polite to each other. In a room like christian bible study there is usually a warmth and sense of caring and uplifting of each other. Imagine if this was our bible study forum and we tried as hard as we could to spread the love in the same way.

Imagine if an hour writing words on a forum could result in a fellow believer feeling the warmth of christian respect compassion and care, and remembering your words the next day as it makes their day better.

It might take swallowing pride, admitting faults of ours, believing people no matter what and most of all respect and just allowing others to be different. just to make sure our fellow believers are uplifted. I don't think we are all clones are we?

I would love to come and be uplifted in fellowship and return it even if it is on the net. I got that feeling here a bit this week it was like a breath of fresh air.

PS no one here hurt me I think you are a great bunch of guys. It is just a thought I couldn't resist writing.

Is it just a pipe dream?




May Gods love and the Spirits light, fill you and guide you. May peace fill your life always.

Nicley put chris but you know what they Religion and Politics

 

[Sparkey]

My journey on "Christian Forums" began as Yahoo was in its infancy. It was there (in the wild and woolly days of the internet) that my first experience with such forums began.

They had various "rooms" set up on their server and different people could gather there. One such "room" was simply called "Christian". Other "rooms" were set aside for other groups who shared similar intents and interest. I remember one called, "The Lake of Fire" where people whose online-name like "Bludwulf666" would gather.

It was then that my mind turned to a promise of God. That He would cause rivers of living water to spring forth in the wilderness. Was it possible that the internet of today could be the "wilderness" that was spoken of in ages past? The thought persisted. I compared the nature of a "wilderness" to the nature of the "promised land" where milk and honey flowed.

Honey meant a thriving bee colony and spoke of a natural abundance, but honey alone did not rightly define the promise. Great beasts would need to be absent for cattle to thrive and for milk to flow. The "wilderness" spoke of an area where cultivation was absent. It spoke to me of a place that had been abandoned to the wild and although honey could be found it lacked the peaceful settings. No mountain meadows and calm lakes would be found over the near horizon.

Perhaps the vision of a river of living water springing up in the wilderness spoken of by God is a real event only and I'm merely applying an abstract concept wrong by thinking that the unity of the Spirit that comes from brothers and sisters joined in peace toward common goals could be in part, what was prophesied.

Let me simply close by quoting one of my favorite passages and leave you to your thoughts. It is my prayer that we will be able to follow after His Spirit in all things and that the Glory of God will be seen, reflected off His well loved family, His saints.

[Psalms 133:1-3 Young's Literal Translation] - A Song of the Ascents, by David.

Lo, how good and how pleasant The dwelling of brethren -- even together!

As the good oil on the head, coming down on the beard, the beard of Aaron,

That cometh down on the skirt of his robes,

As dew of Hermon -- that cometh down on hills of Zion,

For there Jehovah commanded the blessing

-- Life unto the age!

~Sparrow

 

[johnny botwright]

i like forums because people can say and express more what they feel, think, in away they may not be able to in other envirements, the points you raise , are valid, at the end of the day its alright if its real, and not a farcade.

that superfisal fake stuff, smiles ect, id rather have a good 2 and 8. least its real.

when i was a young christain a guy i was working with and the pastors wife have have a right royal ding dong.

my mum and dad to could fight like cat and dog, come to blows, throw things.

when i saw this ding dong with the pastors wife, i thought thats strange, all this talk of christain love, love one another .

but were the truth shone through, and i saw a mini miricle was when i saw the same two people make up a couple of days later, i thought they would never speak again.

so be real, you can get as much crap from with in the church as you can from outside the church, learn to handle it, certainly dont have to put up with it, from who ever when ever.

be kind to your self, survive, to live another day, johnny

 

[lamplady]

I have until the last few months never seen christian message boards. often now when I think of my time used on them a lot of the memories I have of christian forums involve personal attacks and bad arguments. there seems to be so much arguing in some topics, with no respect to differing opinions. This forum is better by far than some christian ones.

Imagine if all us guys were in a room together we would be so polite to each other. In a room like christian bible study there is usually a warmth and sense of caring and uplifting of each other. Imagine if this was our bible study forum and we tried as hard as we could to spread the love in the same way.

Imagine if an hour writing words on a forum could result in a fellow believer feeling the warmth of christian respect compassion and care, and remembering your words the next day as it makes their day better.

Yeah some people ought to be poets the way they write ...


It might take swallowing pride, admitting faults of ours, believing people no matter what and most of all respect and just allowing others to be different. just to make sure our fellow believers are uplifted. I don't think we are all clones are we?

I would love to come and be uplifted in fellowship and return it even if it is on the net. I got that feeling here a bit this week it was like a breath of fresh air.



Maybe it's because God is here too ...


PS no one here hurt me I think you are a great bunch of guys. It is just a thought I couldn't resist writing.

Glad no-one has hurt you. Thanks and good for you ... ...

Is it just a pipe dream?

No




May Gods love and the Spirits light, fill you and guide you. May peace fill your life always.

May God bless you too ... ...

 

[Vic C.]

Hi Chris,

This site is a mixed bag of topics and the emotions that come with discussing theological subjects. It would be nice to see everyone check their egos before logging in, but like life itself, that's not always the case.

There was a time when this site had no governing rules whatsoever. The Staff was led to use their best judgment. We didn't even have our own place where the Staff was able to discuss behavioral or doctrinal issues. That all changed several years ago.

This site has never been affiliated with any particular denomination. The philosophy was and still is that members were afforded their beliefs and opinions as long as it stood within the confines of orthodox or mainstream Christianity and that issues are discussed with a certain level of civility.

There was a time also where RC discussions were allowed, but just like the friction found between the RCC and other denominations in the real world, we had it here too and had to limit RCC discussions to just a few areas of the site.

With all that in mind, we also understand topics will become a bit heated sometimes. We are flexible in this area but will not hesitate to pull the plug on a topic or member if they get way too out of hand. We tend to lean hard on the Terms of Service and Statement of Faith in the most severest of cases.

Is that the ideal way of administering a Christian site? Well considering we aren't sponsored by any large Christian group or denomination and considering the Staff is voluntary, all with varying difference in our doctrinal background, it all works fairly well for us.

Not all may be in agreement with this philosophy, but again, just as in life, there is no 100% agreement. If we all (every member) agreed 100%, all the time, we'd either be very bored eventually or we'd be labeled a cult. :D

 

[jasoncran]

then it should be a pre-trib, charismatic site all others must vacate. even mr.kitty lol.

 

[Vic C.]

then it should be a pre-trib, charismatic site all others must vacate. even mr.kitty lol.

^ Chris, it's these sort of statements that gets one banned! ^ That and a lack of diligence in cleaning up after one's donkey. :toofunny

;)

 

[jasoncran]

^ Chris, it's these sort of statements that gets one banned! ^ That and a lack of diligence in cleaning up after one's donkey. :toofunny

;)

the grass is well fertilised around here.

 

[Chris]

What prompted me to write that was my observing a secular forum watching it with envy as they respected each other over a fairly controversial topic. I have seen this many times and because of the tolerance and kindness shown the temptation is to join the chat. In my
Mind I always wish for chats like that in christian threads so No one would leave us because of intolerance. I spent some time at another christian forum that is yellow I got amazingly hurt there, you guys probably didn't need this thread its more the memory of that..sorry

 

[Vic C.]

The difference between secular and Christian worldviews is, we will often go into a defensive node when our religious and political beliefs are challenged. We feel there is something at stake when our beliefs are questioned. Paul knew this and wrote to us about avoiding such arguments.

Go to some secular political sites and see how uncivil they can be.

Go to a secular site and talk about Jesus. :shocked!

... and remember this:

2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

[sherri2]

May Gods love and the Spirits light, fill you and guide you. May peace fill your life always.

Accusing and then posting something like that is called being passive aggressive.

One thing you'll find out about God if you haven't already is that you can't fool him. None of us can.

We get what we give. We reap what we sow. That's the way it works. God is fair but he's also kind. However he's not a fool. And never has or will be. That's a very popular misconception (and very dangerous.)

People are people and forums are a place for them to express their opinions. If you can't accept that then perhaps they arn't the best place for you to hang out, christian or otherwise.

Be honest and God will treat you likewise. Always. People can vary. But don't start throwing stones unless you have no guilt. (And since jesus was the only perfect human being.....none of us can claim it.)

 

[Chris]

Accusing and then posting something like that is called being passive aggressive.

One thing you'll find out about God if you haven't already is that you can't fool him. None of us can.

We get what we give. We reap what we sow. That's the way it works. God is fair but he's also kind. However he's not a fool. And never has or will be. That's a very popular misconception (and very dangerous.)

People are people and forums are a place for them to express their opinions. If you can't accept that then perhaps they arn't the best place for you to hang out, christian or otherwise.

Be honest and God will treat you likewise. Always. People can vary. But don't start throwing stones unless you have no guilt. (And since jesus was the only perfect human being.....none of us can claim it.)

It was a blessing I wished for you, and your right I'm crap

 

[l'Chante]

No, you’re not. You’re a stunning guy. I really like you, Aus-boy.
<O:p
The ability to debate in a respectful manner has a lot to do with EQ. My IQ knows no bounds, ;) but when it comes to EQ… <O:p</O:p
<O:p