At Crossroads -- Cf's Vision - Poll Vote only here

[Goodchild]

..

 

[Cooch]

Last I recall, "The Way We Were" include both sections to which all were invited, and sections in which believers could wrangle happily without having to worry about how non-believers perceived it,,,, or getting side-tracked by interjections by non-believers who don't know enough about Christianity to comment with any insight.

I much prefer having the option of a Christians-only section, for those discussions which require a little "privacy".

Also, while we don't hide the fact that there is a spectrum of belief in Christianity, I see no benefit in airing all our dirty laundry in full public view.

A site such as this is depriving its members of significant value if it is only seen as an evangelism tool or a place to argue with non-believers. There is a significant degree to which it can serve to comfort and edify believers .... particularly those who have difficulty moving and cannot easily attend meetings in a physical sense. This is less likely to happen when we cannot choose our company and speak with the understanding that our audience shares certain basic beliefs with us.

Regards.......... Peter

 

[FollowHisPath]

I voted option 2 because this is suppoused to be a CHRISTIAN site, and we have people (mostly in the teens section) who arent Christian who are makeing fun of us due to our religion as well as other things, and I dont like that.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Erwin,
think we need another option. I cannot vote due to these only 2 options. Somewhat in the middle and agree with what Tonks & Newman99 stated above.

Peace

I agree, there needs to be a third option.

 

[pdudgeon]

i vote option #3--leave it well enough alone! there is wisdom in the old saying 'you don't change horses in the middle of the stream'.

 

[MiccyNarc]

Voted option 1.

Seems like most of the logic in voting option 2 is based on "Zomg scary non-Christians invading our space!!!"

And I think that's silly.

 

[thereselittleflower]

I guess it's mainly because I do not trust any rubric that would be used by this site to determine who is or is not Christian. Far, far too often, I have seen the conflation of heresy with apostasy. I have, in fact, seen heretics appointed to high positions at this site and then dare to determine who is and who is not a Christian.

Neither you, nor I, nor P_G, nor drstevej, nor Erwin is competent to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The wheat from the chaff analogy has to do with a person's heart and their personal standing before God.

NO ONE here has that ability or authority to do.

But what we need is some designation along the lines of doctrine, not personal standing, but belief systems.

Christianity is defined by its belief systems, its doctrines in matters of faith and morals.

Right now, there is no moral compass for CF .. .

There is no moral guidelines of what it is hold to what Christians hold to. So, when people come here, they see an anything goes, I'm OK, You're OK approach from leadership.

That is not Christianity.

That is relativism.


I was really concerned when the change happened. I apologized to Erwin for having come down so hard on him about it. In the areas I post in, I really haven't seen my fears materialize. I really like the openness and ability to interact with staff in report threads and no longer having this huge wall between staff and members. I really like the idea that staff are more like facilitators than cops. There has been a lot of good that has come from the changes.

But to remain a Christian site in more than just name, it still needs a strong moral and theological compass to point to what is Chrsitianity as opposed to psuedo-christianity and non-Christian religions. This is important for the benefit of outreach this site does, as well as to provide an environment for those who share much of what Christianity has taught for 2000 years. It is not possible to have full agreement among the Christian denominations, but the symbol of the Nicene Creed used before was workable.

What I believe is needed is a way for members to identify who is who . .. who is nicene . . who is not.

I do not think we need to go back putting a wall up between the nicene and non-nicene believers. But we do need a way to identify who is who so their comments can be weighted when read.


Just my thoughts.

.

 

[Goodchild]

..http://www1.christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=37132819&postcount=3

 

[HadessahRose]

I am saying you--in violation of the Good News of our salvation--advocate the creation of a ghetto.

Yes, it is that blunt.

How am I violating the Good News? I am at a loss..sorry..

 

[JMC309]

Guardedly, I voted for option 2, because a Christian site with less emphasis on outreach seems to me like a triangle without three sides!

 

[HadessahRose]

What he means is that seperating Christians and non Christians on this forum is discriminatory.

A lot of people are making this A LOT more difficult than it needs to be.

AH, ok. Well, fine keep with the open forums...BUT...draw the lines at who is mods then. I am sorry, but I don't think NON Christians should be mods of a CHRISTIAN forum! THAT makes no sense.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Why should we "keep non-Christians" out of Christian forum? Didn't Christ give us the Great Commission? Christianity is part of Christ's Great Commission where Jesus says, "Go . . . and make disciples of all nations". When we go out witnessing the world in Christ's commandment of the "Great Commission", we are to love. The Great Commission and Love are the two most important ministry of God's will. Should we "discriminate" on the basis who is a Christian or not a Christian coming into this forum?

 

[Axver]

It's amazing just how differently people understand the name "Christian Forums". I see it as a place to discuss Christianity and related topics (and, as an offshoot, for its members to interact in other ways), which means it can quite nicely accommodate both Christians and non-Christians interested in Christianity without any need for segregation, marginalisation, or discrimination.

I just don't see why we should return to the previous exclusive, stifling system. Surely the current inclusive, welcoming system is better? The breadth, depth, and scope of discussion has certainly improved on the former Christian Only forums I regularly visit.

 

[*Starlight*]

Christianity is defined by its belief systems, its doctrines in matters of faith and morals.

Actually, no... that can be used to define some specific form of Christianity, like Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Calvinism, etc. But it's impossible to define the whole Christianity in such a way, because Christianity is too diverse. Different Christians have simply different beliefs when it comes to faith and morals.

 

[RedTulipMom]

I don't have much time atm to discuss my reasoning or thoughts on the matter, but i'm inclined to go with #2 provided that all non-christian icons are removed with the exception of seeker, all non-christian forums are shut down with the exception of questions by non-christians and thusly non-christians and non-orthodox christians only be allowed at the site at all for the purposes of asking a question in that forum that they may not rebut. No discussion or debate by non-christians allowed.

We've been given a taste of equality and fellowship, don't expect to shove us back into the ghettos. Either welcome us fully or tell us to get out. It'll end up that way eventually with #2 (as it was doing before) so let's just get all the hurting over with in one batch, ok?

 

[BAFRIEND]

Paul said they will know us by how we live. That is why I voted for option number two.

As it stands now, being less restrictive would be a joke as the Christians on this forum cannot behave let alone those who oppose us.

It seems like every person with some kind of a complex is out trolling and spamming, percieving that CF no longer has any rules or testing the teeth and the boundaries of CF. This is a very foolish road we have been led down.

 

[Zacharias]

Why should we "keep non-Christians" out of Christian forum? Didn't Christ give us the Great Commission? Christianity is part of Christ's Great Commission where Jesus says, "Go . . . and make disciples of all nations". When we go out witnessing the world in Christ's commandment of the "Great Commission", we are to love. The Great Commission and Love are the two most important ministry of God's will. Should we "discriminate" on the basis who is a Christian or not a Christian coming into this forum?

But should non-Christian run as mods and vote on rules in an outreach forum?

 

[Lisa0315]

I cannot vote in this poll because there is no option 3. I do not think we should return to old CF, nor do I think a name change is required.

The mission is the same. It has been the same mission since Christ gave us the commands to love one another and to spread the gospel. I am SHOCKED that anyone thinks that we need to change our name or be ONE OR THE OTHER.

In order to TRULY be Christian Forums, we must be BOTH fellowship and outreach!

The name was erroneous when it was OLD CF. It is now far more Christian than it was under the old system.

Lisa

 

[Axver]

Actually, no... that can be used to define some specific form of Christianity, like Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Calvinism, etc. But it's impossible to define the whole Christianity in such a way, because Christianity is too diverse. Different Christians have simply different beliefs when it comes to faith and morals.

Precisely. The entire conceptualisation of what "Christianity" means is contested and subject to a dizzying array of interpretations and understandings based on a myriad of factors. To try to enforce an idea of "Christians only" (besides its obvious exclusivity) strikes me as impossible, as no single definition could possibly hope to cover all the different conceptualisations of Christianity.

And I'd love to know if there are any churches that are "Christians only". In my experience, they have always welcomed non-Christians interested in Christianity to their services and activities. Why should CF be any different?

 

[Zacharias]

Yes, outreach, but with no non-Christian mods and voters.