A new CF, an old vision (3)

[Lisa0315]

There is nothing I have ever found in the Bible that promotes balance.

There is going to be one group or a few groups banding together for the purpose of oppressing the others with a dissenting opinion. It cannot be avoided. In general, those that felt so oppressed will become the thing they disliked: they will become the oppressors.

To be quite frank, the only way I see to make the "the new way" really work it is to do exactly what is happening. The ones for the new way must push out or otherwise oppress the ones remaining who are uncomfortable with the change.

Balance is in the Bible. We do not have to push out people. We have to push out negativity and the mean spirit. We have to push out pride. We do not oppress, but we do not tolerate nastiness either.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, F14 whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Do you know what I found works the best when people start yelling and getting all in a huff? (I do it too. I mean all of us) Start praising God. It stops the bickering every time. What we need is a Praise Team and a Peace Team who will come in and defuse the situation as needed. We do not need warnings and bans. We need love. We need to remind each other that we serve a Holy God who merits our praise. We need to remind each other that we are all in the Potter's Hand and the work is not yet completed in any of us. We are vessels of honor and our purpose is to serve the Lord.

However, we are also proud humans who have not yet arrived in that state of grace in which we are being perfected. So, we say stupid things and sometimes we regret them, and sometimes we do the right thing and apologize, and sometimes, we let our pride take over, and God gives us a a good beating for it.

Sorry, I am sleepy. I forgot my point. I don't even know if I made one.

Lisa

 

[DeaconDean]

Since I have been away on vaction, and come back to find this, this, mess. I am seriously considering resignng and leaving this forum permenantly!

This stinks!

I'm outta here!!!!!

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The "new way" basically gives the members more rights. How can that be a bad thing??

Think of a loaf of whole wheat bread that has all the goodness taken out of it, and then enriched for our enjoyment.

 

[Lisa0315]

Time for bed. G'night everyone.

Lisa

 

[Miracle Storm]

I do not think that condemning each other is going to help..

I didn't condemn anyone FaithlessSorrow.
I do however do not support this new vision for CF that Erwin has.
Unbelievers as moderators.
Most popular vote as staff.
Reports open for public.
No longer a Christians Only Section.
Anyone may call theirselves Christian even if they believe Jesus was only a man, a prophet. They do not have to profess Jesus as the Son of God.
Only say they are Christian.

I have seen the hatred spewed in GA and I have now battled this out for three threads.
'I am sickened. I have seen so many of my friends broken hearted and crying and it's a bunch of bull.
no more warnings whatsoever.gimme a break, it might sound good, but someone needs to be real....

It would have been better for Erwin to sell the site than to sell out like this.

Because of this places popularity it leaves so many more people that more vulnerable to false teachings.
Most unbelievers come here to share their heathen beliefs ON what was once a "Christian Forum"
They will have no problem doing that now.
Some come for curiousity, but most have an agenda.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Time for bed. G'night everyone.

Lisa

G'night, me too.

 

[Alice the Sister]

Man, I'd hate to see some of you in the real world, if it's like this on the internet. Aren't you supposed to go make fishers of men? You have your little Clubhouse and when the sinful neighbors want to come and play you say, "oh let's go to this other playhouse, but you can't come up to this one. It's our comfort zone, and we're too afraid to go outside of it to show you the love Jesus showed everyone."

So people get alienated, and you don't make any fishers of men. You just make a disgrace. I feel that the whole rule thing is trying to be more inviting for people, and be an open place. If you're afraid of that then I suggest you just go and hide in a Church bathroom and never come out. That way you will never interact with non-Christians, because apparently God hasn't called you to do such a thing.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Because of this places popularity it leaves so many more people that more vulnerable to false teachings.

How does a Christian know a false teaching from a truthfull one? If they are not immune to false teachings here, a then they should be on a Christian only forum I think with their own denomination. Thoughts.

 

[herev]

The only thing that I am really concerned about is:
"g. Related to the above, if you believe you are a Christian, you are. No more reliance on our own definition of what we think is a Christian. In the end, who are we to judge."

The Bible doesn't teach that you are a Christian just because you believe you are. There are alot of people out there that believe they are Christians because they are good people that live good lives. But the Bible teaches that we must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to be considered a Christian.

I would really look at that one thing.

Karen

and again, that is not what Erwin is saying. He is saying if you say you are a Christian, we cannot and will not challenge that. He knows that just saying you are a Christian doesn't make you one, but rather that it is between you and God.

 

[Alice the Sister]

The only way to know if something is if you read the bible. That's one of my weaknesses, I just go from memory, since I'm kind of in a weird way right now.

Then again if you're a Christian and you say you don't believe the bible then I suppose I have no advice. Lol.

 

[herev]

I don't feel like I've deconverted. I've lost my religion, but I don't think I've lost 'faith'... I guess.

kind of offtopic

would love to hear more of that, pm me if you wish

 

[Auntie]

This is the crap that those who choose to stay will have to be exposed to on a daily basis.
Foolishness.
...and to think of one of them moderating. How sickening.
Our Christian children will have no safe place on this board. I hope all parents monitor their children's activity on the computer anyway. But here you will need to be especially careful now.
The site mission and name is VERY misleading.
ANYONE can now say they are a Christian and proselytize their heretical teachings.
Heathens will be helping to run this ship.
A ship that was designed to "Unite all Christians as One Body"

But now even the definition of "Christian" is up for debate here.

My trust is not in man, or in the words of man. My trust is in the Holy Spirit. Whatever words are spoken at CF, even the words of atheists, have no power over the Holy Spirit.

As long as our trust is in Him, we know that He has the last word, and none shall be taken out of His Holy hand.

 

[ClaireZ]

CF- Cesspool Forums

Uniting all bacteria as one body

That seems very unkind and unloving to me. Perhaps people could give the new setup a chance to see how it works out before getting all crazy.

I like the idea of open forums and taking people at their word a lot.

I also am thrilled that they are getting rid of the secrecy.

I am a little mystified by how mods will be chosen, and promoted, etc. and how the new rules will be vetted, but I have the patience to wait to see how things go, before jumping to conclusions.

 

[drstevej]

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 

[CrusaderKing]

If we could keep our faith icons, we could avoid much of the worst case scenario. It would certainly help.

 

[Tonks]

Hey Miracle Storm good to see you again!

I agree with much of what you said. In many respects I'm going to miss being on staff because I really got to know some folks well.

Whether I always agreed with the staff decisions is irrelevant now, I suppose. I'm just somewhat saddened that folks that put in 3, 4, 5 years often up to 4am making sure the clunking CF stayed working were pretty much kissed off with "so long and thanks for all the fish."

I hope that whomever gets elected to staff (though I find the backroom campaigning that I've already been exposed to somewhat distasteful) and whichever rules they decide to write continue to serve the best interests of members.

Right now things are just too dorked up for me to put much effort in...

I didn't condemn anyone FaithlessSorrow.
I do however do not support this new vision for CF that Erwin has.
Unbelievers as moderators.
Most popular vote as staff.
Reports open for public.
No longer a Christians Only Section.
Anyone may call theirselves Christian even if they believe Jesus was only a man, a prophet. They do not have to profess Jesus as the Son of God.
Only say they are Christian.

I have seen the hatred spewed in GA and I have now battled this out for three threads.
'I am sickened. I have seen so many of my friends broken hearted and crying and it's a bunch of bull.
no more warnings whatsoever.gimme a break, it might sound good, but someone needs to be real....

It would have been better for Erwin to sell the site than to sell out like this.

Because of this places popularity it leaves so many more people that more vulnerable to false teachings.
Most unbelievers come here to share their heathen beliefs ON what was once a "Christian Forum"
They will have no problem doing that now.
Some come for curiousity, but most have an agenda.

 

[herev]

Man, I'd hate to see some of you in the real world, if it's like this on the internet. Aren't you supposed to go make fishers of men? You have your little Clubhouse and when the sinful neighbors want to come and play you say, "oh let's go to this other playhouse, but you can't come up to this one. It's our comfort zone, and we're too afraid to go outside of it to show you the love Jesus showed everyone."

So people get alienated, and you don't make any fishers of men. You just make a disgrace. I feel that the whole rule thing is trying to be more inviting for people, and be an open place. If you're afraid of that then I suggest you just go and hide in a Church bathroom and never come out. That way you will never interact with non-Christians, because apparently God hasn't called you to do such a thing.

there is much wisdom in this post

 

[Beastt]

There is nothing I have ever found in the Bible that promotes balance.

If you believe in God then you likely believe God created all of the physical. And all of the physical seeks a balance. Fill a bowl with water and set it abruptly on the counter. What happens? The water transitions back and forth, sloshing less and less with each transition until it finds a balance. A rock rolling from the top of a hill does the same thing. Everything in life seeks a balance. You can see that as God or simply the nature of the universe. Either way, balance is inherent.

There is going to be one group or a few groups banding together for the purpose of oppressing the others with a dissenting opinion. It cannot be avoided. In general, those that felt so oppressed will become the thing they disliked: they will become the oppressors.

Speaking for myself; I spend most of my time in the General Apologetics section and that isn't likely to change. The one thing I've never understood is how anyone could find any satisfaction in presenting a pro-Christian position while knowing that all of the non-Christians effectively had one (or both) hands tied behind their backs. I can assure you that I debate for the purpose of standing toe-to-toe with those of dissimilar beliefs. There is no satisfaction to be had in gagging an opponent and then winning the debate by means of handicapping the opposition -- not for me.

To be quite frank, the only way I see to make the "the new way" really work it is to do exactly what is happening. The ones for the new way must push out or otherwise oppress the ones remaining who are uncomfortable with the change.

I didn't read anything in the outline which suggests that any member will have the power to push other members out. If we have a personal concern regarding placing an individual in a position of authority, we simply don't vote for them. We can try to reason out our differences but we should do so knowing that the fruits of such a process will be limited. The rest is left up to the selection process which, for the first time, isn't a small group of the "elite" choosing only those they believe fit their personal profile for members of staff. That kind of "crony-ism" never leads to anything but a dictatorial few, misusing their authority against the populace. Let the members choose what they want. We can't all have everything we want, but this is far better than a small percentage herding the majority about like... like a herd of kept animals.

 

[Miracle Storm]

Man, I'd hate to see some of you in the real world, if it's like this on the internet. Aren't you supposed to go make fishers of men? You have your little Clubhouse and when the sinful neighbors want to come and play you say, "oh let's go to this other playhouse, but you can't come up to this one. It's our comfort zone, and we're too afraid to go outside of it to show you the love Jesus showed everyone."

So people get alienated, and you don't make any fishers of men. You just make a disgrace. I feel that the whole rule thing is trying to be more inviting for people, and be an open place. If you're afraid of that then I suggest you just go and hide in a Church bathroom and never come out. That way you will never interact with non-Christians, because apparently God hasn't called you to do such a thing.

Hide in the bathroom, why would I do that. As your avatar describes...."girls don't poop"
2 Corinthians 6: 14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."[c]
17"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.

How does a Christian know a false teaching from a truthfull one? If they are not immune to false teachings here, a then they should be on a Christian only forum I think with their own denomination. Thoughts.

Babes in Christ or even seekers who come here to find out what Christianity is and can be led astray.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Ginny
CF- Cesspool Forums

Uniting all bacteria as one body

There is always the "unregister" button.

What I would like to see are the different religions having their own boards, such as Islam, Judaism, Hinduism especially if this forum is becoming more open and perhaps this forum will grow as a result.