At Crossroads -- Cf's Vision Discussion Thread - Please Vote in Poll Thread

[Lisa0315]

The shelter of the fold is not in CF.

There were ninety and nine that anxiously lay
Alongside attacks and jeers.
But one was out on the hills far away --
Which may be safer than here!

If you are not safe, then, it is not the fault of atheists and it is not the fault of this site. Safety lies within a close walk with the Lord. It is a silly charge to credit your safety to anyone except God.

Lisa

 

[tapero]

For those who missed; post 718 shown below (less than an hour ago)

Good question.

One possible solution that has been proposed already is to run 2 sites, one that is open, another that is Christians-only, based on the same membership data.

It's entirely possible. The previous version of CF is very similar, with 2 sections, one open and one close. The aim of the new system was to establish something like that but with members agreeing to do it themselves, but it hasn't worked out over the past month.

The ultimate aim would be to keep the good things of the recent changes such as moderator transparency, and see if we can formalise the wiki usage a bit more in a way that is acceptable (the wiki collaborative process is still the best process to get consensus for rules and guidelines).

There is no question that CF has 2 large groups of membership together, and to be honest, that is fantastic, because not many sites on the Internet are able to bring these 2 groups of people together into a place for discussion.

It is possible that Option 1 and Option 2 can be combined together into a middle ground of Option 3 since this is what the poll is really showing us (and I had hoped that the current CF setup would have been the Option 3, since it has elements of both, but apparently not). So the question is, if that's the answer (and I'm not saying it is at this stage), what would Option 3 look like?

It's a question that's does not have an easy answer.

.

 

[Mary_Magdalene]

I have said that there is a soul hanging in the balance right now. There is one person who has contributed greatly to New CF. I have posted a link. This person is an atheist who is now sporting a title that says, "I was a stranger and you took me in", and a signature that speaks of Christianity going into the darkest and neediest places. The seed has been planted because this person has been working side by side with Christians. When I told of this before, it was stated that there were more important things than "just" one soul. That is what I weep over.

Lisa

what i dont think many understand is that weeping was a weekly thing when i was on staff (as with many other staffers) before the changes. that is why so many Christians are so emotional over these things. let me tell you a few stories...

before 7/7/7 staffers would have a prayer chain on IM. there were so many staffers trying to get into one IM conversation to pray together for members that MSN would "kick" people off cause there were so many trying to get in that prayer IM conversation! lol... most "prereforms" staff LOVE and CARE about ever single soul here on CF-Christian or not.

One of the posters I speak with the most via PM is a 20 year old unsaved lesbian. We spoke almost every day via pm. she was struggling with life and her live-in partner and just needed someone to talk to. she is someone here that i consider a friend.

the reason i tell you this is to drive this point home--just because we dont want non-Christians as staffers does not mean we dont want to "associate" with unbelievers and I am getting a little tired of that arguement myself. half of the old CF staff didnt even mod in the Christian only areas. They hang out on a daily basis with non-believers in the open areas.

 

[ALiberalTeen]

Because so many teens (and some pre-teens) are members, Options 2 is the safter one for them, IMO.

Ooops... please move accordingly, mods.

I think the teens can handle themselves...

 

[A New Dawn]

A New Dawn have I told you jsut how much I have found much resoect in you today? Just thought I would let you know that ....

Thank you, but I would like to give the glory to God!

 

[heymikey80]

If you are not safe, then, it is not the fault of atheists and it is not the fault of this site. Safety lies within a close walk with the Lord. It is a silly charge to credit your safety to anyone except God.

It's tautological that new Christians don't have a close walk with the Lord. Option 1 proposes to convert them without it.

So you'll get converts across the salvation line, but if they can't hang on it's not your fault, it's theirs.

Seems I've picked my avatar well.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

Hey, I take offense to that!

No I would describe you as more Pompous.

 

[Lisa0315]

It's tautological that new Christians don't have a close walk with the Lord. Option 1 proposes to convert them without it.

So you'll get converts across the salvation line, but if they can't hang on it's not your fault, it's theirs.

I strongly disagree. There is a special grace given to new converts. They are protected as the precious babes that they are. I do not understand how anyone cannot trust God to protect those who belong to Him.

Truly, no one can remove us from our Father's hand. It just cannot be done.

De-Conversions are likely the revelation that faith was not there to begin with.

Lisa

 

[intricatic]

No I would describe you as more Pompous.

Thank you! Finally some recognition!

 

[A New Dawn]

If it is Spiritual Blackmail, so be it. What a negative thing to say about one person who is burdened for another.

Lisa

I would ask that you not put words in my mouth. That you are burdened for another is a heavy burden, and I cry that you care enough to be burdened. But, as has been mentioned many times, many have come to Christ under the old hated system, also. How do you judge this to be so much better when I know of oodles more that came under the old system? The fact that you don't have the joy in your heart for the others doesn't lessen the fact that the other system was just as successful. For that reason, my posts are just a suggestion that we try to leave specific personalities out of this. You trying to make me (us) feel guilty cheapens the discussion, and the same if I tried to do the same to you.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

Thank you! Finally some recognition!

Heres a hobbitt treat for you
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bLkOE4XDBis

 

[meh]

I strongly disagree. There is a special grace given to new converts. They are protected as the precious babes that they are. I do not understand how anyone cannot trust God to protect those who belong to Him.

Truly, no one can remove us from our Father's hand. It just cannot be done.

De-Conversions are likely the revelation that faith was not there to begin with.

Lisa

Lisa, I apologize for before. Aside from being sick and tired of internet drama I am sick and tired in real life and shouldn't post when I have a fever. It makes me mouthy and grouchy. I should have made my point more charitably and not aimed at you in particular. I sincerely apologize. I won't post again until I can function like a normal human being.

 

[Hentenza]

I would ask that you not put words in my mouth. That you are burdened for another is a heavy burden, and I cry that you care enough to be burdened. But, as has been mentioned many times, many have come to Christ under the old hated system, also. How do you judge this to be so much better when I know of oodles more that came under the old system? The fact that you don't have the joy in your heart for the others doesn't lessen the fact that the other system was just as successful. For that reason, my posts are just a suggestion that we try to leave specific personalities out of this. You trying to make me (us) feel guilty cheapens the discussion, and the same if I tried to do the same to you.

 

[heymikey80]

I strongly disagree. There is a special grace given to new converts. They are protected as the precious babes that they are. I do not understand how anyone cannot trust God to protect those who belong to Him.

Truly, no one can remove us from our Father's hand. It just cannot be done.

De-Conversions are likely the revelation that faith was not there to begin with.

New Christians collapse -- especially from entanglements. Note the conditions in Mt 13.

If we don't follow the Spirit's lead to His people, follow His specifics as to the conditions, we won't be matching up conversions with salvation.

Your friend needs a place of shelter as well. I can't but think you realize this, and are just arguing to be opposed to ... Option 2.

As I have a group of just such new believers every Sunday, I'll say good night. But for that future group, I would seek shelter. Here if possible; or elsewhere if necessary.

 

[Lisa0315]

Lisa, I apologize for before. Aside from being sick and tired of internet drama I am sick and tired in real life and shouldn't post when I have a fever. It makes me mouthy and grouchy. I should have made my point more charitably and not aimed at you in particular. I sincerely apologize. I won't post again until I can function like a normal human being.

Awww... Thanks!!! I forgive you and it is forgotten.

Lisa

 

[intricatic]

Heres a hobbitt treat for you
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bLkOE4XDBis

That is like the goofiest movie ever created, but the song just rocks.

 

[Miracle Storm]

I think the teens can handle themselves...

My 13 year old is a Christian member. I disagree. Proselytizing other religion or lack of is not cool, I would like him to have a safe place to fellowship..

ack, delete accordingly..

 

[Servant222]

This site at the moment is at a cross-roads, and can go either way. It can either become:

1. A safe social community site with a heavy and strong Christian influence (with the vision being to offer a safe online community, and a secondary vision being to allow Christians to outreach to non-Christians) - which will allow for a name change;

OR

2. Return to a more restricted Christians-only site with a heavy emphasis on uniting mainstream Christians only with a less emphasis on outreach, in which case we keep the name.

Maybe I'm too new here, but I saw a lot of non-Christians participating under the old format, while at the same time, the site offered a nice "safe haven" for those who professed to be Christians and felt more comfortably conversing only with other Christians. On that basis, I would vote for 2.

But I sure like the process of reflecting on and developing new rules, which would put me in favour of option 1.

Maybe we need an "other" option to see whether another model is viable.

Personally, right now, I will vote for 2- only because I believe a lot of people world-wide, who cannot openly express their religious beliefs, can come to this site and Option 2 offers something that is far closer to a church- a body of believers- than option 1.

When Christian Forums has within its core structure a body of people who profess to be Christians, then it is an entity that has at least some of the attributes of the original church that Paul started in the Mediterranean region 2000 years ago.

I like that. An internet site that can reach out to more people than ever before in the history of the world, and that can give anyone with access to a computer a place that they can call home- that they can in fact call their church.

 

[Joykins]

Subscribing.

Referencing Erwin's post, I think we need to flesh out "Option 3." BelindaP is posting a series of one-issue polls in the Wiki/Rules Discussion forum. This would be a useful way to try to figure out how most members here would like CF to be.

 

[BelindaP]

So, are you all going to keep ignoring Erwin's post?