Foru.ms - a new beginning and a fresh start (2)

[drstevej]

Erwin, try witnessing in GA some. It will open your eyes, I think. I have challenged the Semper Folks to do so and some are saying it is futile.
Apologetics Challenge

drstevej

PS I plan to post there some. But it really is a skeptics den. It is not a seeker center.

 

[JimfromOhio]

And when was the last time you led someone to Christ not using words?

Evangelists (i.e. Billy Graham Crusades) plants seed, not winning souls (even though they proclaim to be winning souls). I believed those who came forward were planted and on their way toward accepting the Holy Spirit's conviction to accept Christ.

Evangelism requires courtesy from each Christ's disciples and be Christ-like. Many have accepted Christ by watching Christians more than talking.The Best Evangelist is the Holy Spirit. We plant the seed and if we Christians are faithful in our "witnessing", the soil God has prepared will bear fruit. apostle Paul described the growth process: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth" (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

 

[JimfromOhio]

Erwin, try witnessing in GA some. It will open your eyes, I think. I have challenged the Semper Folks to do so and some are saying it is futile.

drstevej

PS I plan to post there some. But it really is a skeptics den. It is not a seeker center.

Skeptics? Sure... there are those who are struggling and raising issues. God is working on them and they are here raising questions and testing us.

 

[Erwin]

Erwin, try witnessing in GA some. It will open your eyes, I think. I have challenged the Semper Folks to do so and some are saying it is futile.
Apologetics Challenge

drstevej

PS I plan to post there some. But it really is a skeptics den. It is not a seeker center.

I totally agree - but the non-Christian members of overtly and obviously Christian sites tend to be a a group who actively seek to sign up to Christian sites with the main objective which is to debate and argue with Christians. Obviously not all of them are like this, but a lot of them would be - why else would a non-Christian join a Christian site.

However, if the site is not obviously Christian, and non-Christians are invited to join the site by Christian friends, then these non-Christians are more likely to be interested in fellowship and "social networking" rather than debating Christians. In time, it is hoped that we would have more non-Christians like these, and the Christian members can share the good news with such people. I hope that makes sense.

 

[snoochface]

I totally agree - but the non-Christian members of overtly and obviously Christian sites tend to be a a group who actively seek to sign up to Christian sites with the main objective which is to debate and argue with Christians. Obviously not all of them are like this, but a lot of them would be - why else would a non-Christian join a Christian site.

However, if the site is not obviously Christian, and non-Christians are invited to join the site by Christian friends, then these non-Christians are more likely to be interested in fellowship and "social networking" rather than debating Christians. In time, it is hoped that we would have more non-Christians like these, and the Christian members can share the good news with such people. I hope that makes sense.

No, it doesn't, because of this:

Please address the issue of how new CHRISTIANS will find this site, and why they would ever want to join it if they did.

Many, many Christians came to this site through searching for Christian forums - you acknowledge that yourself in your FAQ. You also acknowledge that the site has lost many members since these changes, and after reading your responses you are very likely going to lose even more.

So how are new Christians, or any Christians at all, going to come here to participate in your Joel Osteen-ish outreach program? And if they don't come, and you're losing the Christians who are here already, who is going to be doing this outreach?

 

[Macrina]

Erwin, as I mentioned to you already, I would have done a few things differently, but I certainly respect your motives, goals, and the vast amount of effort you have put into this site. Given the new situation, I will do my best to contribute Christian love and peacemaking to this site. I hope others will do so, too -- whether or not we would have done the same thing in your place, we're still here because we care about the people and this community, and we have an opportunity to help shape this new direction.

 

[No Swansong]

Evangelists (i.e. Billy Graham Crusades) plants seed, not winning souls (even though they proclaim to be winning souls). I believed those who came forward were planted and on their way toward accepting the Holy Spirit's conviction to accept Christ.

Evangelism requires courtesy from each Christ's disciples and be Christ-like. Many have accepted Christ by watching Christians more than talking.The Best Evangelist is the Holy Spirit. We plant the seed and if we Christians are faithful in our "witnessing", the soil God has prepared will bear fruit. apostle Paul described the growth process: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth" (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

Again I have not argued that it isn't the Holy Spirit. You go on discipling I will go on preaching the Gospel. Unfortunately I won't be allowed to do so here. No matter I am surrounded by non-Christians in real life.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

I totally agree - but the non-Christian members of overtly and obviously Christian sites tend to be a a group who actively seek to sign up to Christian sites with the main objective which is to debate and argue with Christians. Obviously not all of them are like this, but a lot of them would be - why else would a non-Christian join a Christian site.

However, if the site is not obviously Christian, and non-Christians are invited to join the site by Christian friends, then these non-Christians are more likely to be interested in fellowship and "social networking" rather than debating Christians. In time, it is hoped that we would have more non-Christians like these, and the Christian members can share the good news with such people. I hope that makes sense.

Ok, I have a genuine question, then. Let's say we give it some time and it doesn't work out that way. Let's say it just bcomes more and more non-Christian in terms of member make-up (essentially MySpace-y), what happens then?

Basically, do you have a contingency plan in case it doesn't work? But, realistically, I just can't see how it can.

 

[D'Ann]

At this point, I don't know... I wouldn't invite my friends or family here. There was a time when I would of invited everyone here that I knew and was close to, but now... I just wouldn't do it. (I'm sorry).

 

[psalms 91]

I am sorry and saddened that this is your final word as I have already moved to Christ Centered Forums along with quite a few from here. I know you think you are doing the right thing but that isnt how many see it including me. I will check back once in a while to see if the site has returned and this experiment ended as failure is written all over it. What has been accomplished is a mass exodus and excellent staff resigning and leraving as well. It is a shame that it will have to play out and will have to watch what this will ultimately lead to.

 

[Esquire]

Erwin, try witnessing in GA some. It will open your eyes, I think.

PS I plan to post there some. But it really is a skeptics den. It is not a seeker center.

Who are you? Why pull him away from here. New people come here to see and learn what we are getting involved with. He is doing quite well on his own. You are the one that seems to have given him the bad advice regarding this name change. Is that true?

 

[stumpjumper]

Erwin, try witnessing in GA some. It will open your eyes, I think. I have challenged the Semper Folks to do so and some are saying it is futile.
Apologetics Challenge

drstevej

PS I plan to post there some. But it really is a skeptics den. It is not a seeker center.

I spend a lot of time there.

Me kinda likes it

 

[JimfromOhio]

Again I have not argued that it isn't the Holy Spirit. You go on discipling I will go on preaching the Gospel. Unfortunately I won't be allowed to do so here. No matter I am surrounded by non-Christians in real life.

Many of us (including me) forget and often try to do their own ways circumstances happens that they never stop and think because their human minds often see doors closing when ignoring another door opening. God taught me through my tials that there are always a new door opening that He is creating. I don't want to be the person when I say that a situation or a person is hopeless, becauswe I will be slamming the door in the face of God.

 

[stumpjumper]

Quick

Get your sock Dr. Steve and you and esquire can have a battle royale

 

[No Swansong]

Who are you? Why pull him away from here. New people come here to see and learn what we are getting involved with. He is doing quite well on his own. You are the one that seems to have given him the bad advice regarding this name change. Is that true?

To begin with Steve was certainly not the only one. As for whether it was bad advice or not it depends on whether you agree that it should have been done or not.

Who's sock are you anyway?

 

[Macrina]

Btw, folks, I'm afraid of a self-fulfilling prophecy: If all the Christians on this site leave for fear that it won't be Christian anymore -- well, then it won't be. But if we stick around and be a part of things, we can influence the spirit of this place, yeah?

 

[drstevej]

Who are you? Why pull him away from here. New people come here to see and learn what we are getting involved with. He is doing quite well on his own. You are the one that seems to have given him the bad advice regarding this name change. Is that true?

In Defense of the Change Today

Might answer your questions.

 

[psalms 91]

Btw, folks, I'm afraid of a self-fulfilling prophecy: If all the Christians on this site leave for fear that it won't be Christian anymore -- well, then it won't be. But if we stick around and be a part of things, we can influence the spirit of this place, yeah?

You mean like we as a majprity were able to influance Erwin? That is why I am at another site and will stay there other than checking in here to see when this house of cards falls and Erwin comes to his senses. Sorry, but this is a disaster. And I use my own account and no other so it isnt hard to find me, no socks, maybe I should get ten of them and hide like some others.

 

[Esquire]

To begin with Steve was certainly not the only one. As for whether it was bad advice or not it depends on whether you agree that it should have been done or not.

Who's sock are you anyway?

I have read that conservative posting area quite closely and frankly it seems it was his idea. That fact doesn't even seem to matter unless he and others regret making the original suggestion.

PS - I don't wear socks.

 

[CaDan]

Who are you? Why pull him away from here. New people come here to see and learn what we are getting involved with. He is doing quite well on his own. You are the one that seems to have given him the bad advice regarding this name change. Is that true?

There's some old, old politics involved here. Somebody really should gather up the old drama stories so they are preserved.