Unorthodox TheologyA forum to discuss/debate theological doctrines not accepted by mainstream evangelical Christianity (eg. Full Preterism, Unitarianism)
We can disagree without being disagreeable. I believe the fur starts to fly mostly when one person or the other insinuates (or sometimes just comes out and says it) that the other person really isn't saved because they don't see scripture from their perspective. No one likes to have their relationship with God questioned or their salvation doubted. It goes to the heart of who they are....and therefore is a "hot button". Unfortunately that "button" is pushed all too regularly by some people.
If we could all just see that other CHRISTIANS can and DO have different perspectives and interpretations of scripture then it would go far. But the idea that if a person doesn't see scripture with YOUR interpretation or from YOUR perspective or hold YOUR doctrine then it must mean they really aren't saved is inflammatory and judgemental.
I have been told that because I am a preterist that I'm really not a Christian. I've been told that because I'm a universalist that I must not really have the Holy Spirit (ie I'm not saved)....I've been told that because I don't believe the bible is inerrant and infallbible that I really don't have a relationship with God.
I'm sure the Mormons are tired of being told that they really aren't saved, or really don't have a true relationship with God because of their doctrines. Only God knows a human heart. Only God can judge if someone is saved or lost.
God ALONE knows the heart. We would do well to leave those matter in His capable hands....and stick with the areas we know.....which in actuality are few and far between. Much grace is the ticket.....
So are you saying that every doctrine out there is right and it just comes down to what you think it means or personel interpretation ?
I don't think everyone is right, there are false teachings out there. Everyone can't be right.
I think the issues you note have several causes. One of them is there are bigots on these boards whose posts are almost always agenda ridden. Two, there are those who quickly get defensive and/or emotional because they are the objects of bigotry, cannot control their passion, or see themselves as crusaders. Three, CF considers Mormons as persona non grata and has set things up to encourage a sense of otherness. Four, many Moderators of these boards have been very obvious in where their sympathies lie. Moderators who a quick to shut down baiting and other flaming posts could definitely help cull bigots and promote meaningful discussion.
Excellent. I am definately for getting the moderators more involved so that the baiting and flaming will go away and we can have meaningful discussions.
I'm not so sure that labeling others as bigots is a very good start to encouraging respectful dialogue. I think that there are people from both sides of the fence who very firmly believe that they are right.
It is always so much easier for us (myself included) to search for the splinter in someone elses's eye, while failing to see the log in our own.
Paul wrote that we are to "honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10), and that we are to "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3). If we all were to do this, then I don't think that there would be a problem with respectful dialogue on this forum. I admit that isn't always easy to do when disagreeing with someone, but we should still strive to do so.
I posted the following some time ago, but I think that it is appropriate to post again.
I think that we can disagree without being disagreeable. If I have personally offended anyone, I apologize. There are theological differences and disagreements, but if we address the issues instead of the people we can discuss them civilly.
Paul wrote:
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6
Please forgive me for the times that I have forgotton the "salt".
__________________
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
So are you saying that every doctrine out there is right and it just comes down to what you think it means or personel interpretation ?
Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. There are as many interpretations of scripture as there are theologians. There are as many perspectives as there are searchers. There are as many doctrinal positions as there are bible students. And EVERY ONE of them believes that what they see in the bible is the TRUTH....and that everyone else is wrong.
So why don't we just let God sort it out? Everyone is searching for God and His truth. I think He is big enough and smart enough to reveal to each person what He wants, when He wants and how He wants. To his own master he stands or falls. Not our call.
I'm not saying we shouldn't debate this stuff....I'm just saying there is no room to judge each other over it.
I don't think everyone is right, there are false teachings out there.
And just WHO is going to decide which doctrinal interpretation is the CORRECT one? Who is going to decide which teaching is false?
YOU? ME? A particular denomination? A particular theologian? The Catholics? The Baptists? The Pentecostals? The Mormons? The Jehovah's Witnesses? The Methodists? The Lutherans? The Presbyterians?
Who gets to say what is false on behalf of God??
I would dare say that you believe that YOU and YOUR particular brand of Christianity should get to decide what is false because you believe that YOUR interpretation is the correct one.....however every other one of those groups believe the exact same thing. So why should YOUR view win out?
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matt 3:8 NIV
And if you did receive it, why do you boast (or behaved) as if you had not received it? - 1 Cor 4:7 NASU
Resisting the temptation to respond to argumentum ad hominem by another ad hominem is a good start.
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__________________ And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid myself.
And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?Gen 3:10-11
I'm not so sure that labeling others as bigots is a very good start to encouraging respectful dialogue.
Hi Skylark,
Does this mean you don't believe there are bigots on the forum or that there are bigots, but it is counter productive to point that out? If it is the former, then we must not read the same threads. If it is the latter, then I would agree it's counter productive to say poster X is a bigot, but I don't think in answering a general question about the hostility on the boards pointing out bigotry is part of the problem is counter productive. Rather, I think it serves two purposes: one, it identifies a source and as G.I. Joe says "knowing is half the battle". Two, it allows one to see the issue can only be resolved by Moderator action as bigots are not interested in any accord or detente, only their warped crusade.
__________________ "We are lovers of beauty without extravagance and of learning without loss of vigor." -Thucydides
"Then let us again examine whether that is a sound statement, or do we let it pass, and if one of us, or someone else, merely says that something is so, do we accept that it is so? Or should we examine what the speaker means?" -Plato
__________________ "We are lovers of beauty without extravagance and of learning without loss of vigor." -Thucydides
"Then let us again examine whether that is a sound statement, or do we let it pass, and if one of us, or someone else, merely says that something is so, do we accept that it is so? Or should we examine what the speaker means?" -Plato
Group hug ?? Careful guys....don't get too close to him. He just wants to bab-uh-tize you with dihydrogen monoxide... and then zap you with his decoder ring
and then zap you with his decoder ring 
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