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

[Grizzly]

When I was on staff, the only times I ever saw this type of thing happen was when someone obviously didn't affirm the Nicene Creed.

I've seen people stripped of their icons for things that they have posted in their blogs or at other discussion boards. I have seen people stripped of their icons for things they posted years ago. That's actively searching.

The place I post most frequently (IIDB) has more than a couple members who have had their icons removed. Remember, everytime you strip someone of their identity, you push them farther away.

 

[rushingwind62]

Before we can reach out to the world we must knock down the denominational barriers that seperate us from one another. I share in your vision Erwin of uniting all christians but that has not yet occurred. If we reach out to the world at this point we can only offer them the division and bickering here at CF. Let us focus on ourselves before we open up to the world.

There are many differences that seperate us from one another, but one common goal we have is Jesus. Let us look beyond our doctrinal beliefs and focus on where the Lord has put us in the body. We must learn to work together for the cause of reaching out to the lost and that task is going to take all of us. We must begin to look at ourselves as the body of Christ. And honestly right now the body looks very immature and has no control of its functions. Let us get control and begin to work with the other members of the body correctly and in tune so we can accomplish the tasks set before us.

I voted for number 2.
God Bless ALL!

 

[intricatic]

I've seen people stripped of their icons for things that they have posted in their blogs or at other discussion boards. I have seen people stripped of their icons for things they posted years ago. That's actively searching.

The place I post most frequently (IIDB) has more than a couple members who have had their icons removed. Remember, everytime you strip someone of their identity, you push them farther away.

Indeed, and that's something I would disagree with entirely, unless it was actually warranted, or had some underlying reasoning beyond the surface appearance.

 

[GenemZ]

This is a Christian forum!

Israel did not stop being a Jewish nation because the Lord allowed for aliens to live in the Land! The Lord set up Israel where aliens lived by its laws - - different laws than they found in the Gentile nations.

There is no reason not to call this a Christian forum as long as the precepts and attitude are maintained as being Christian towards all. Yet, God did set up certain restrictions for the aliens to follow... No eating of blood, etc. It should not be a free for all, either. Its probably more Christian now than what it was before.

Before the new change, it had degenerated more into resembling an Ecumenical forum, in being too restrictive for certain Christians who did not agree with all that those who wished to sit in the control booth demanded not to be even "reasoned with."

Protestants from here even formed a private blog where would could gather to try and see if we could do anything about the neo-Ecumenical thrust which had taken root could be dealt with.

I believe this new thrust in this forum was the result of those craving power finally being faced with having reaped what they had sown. Abuse power. It shall be limited.

The King of England had to learn this lesson as the American Colonies broke away and formed even greater freedoms to avoid that which had been abused by the King. Yet, America remained Anglo Saxon based in its independence. Just like the new thrust here is Christian in nature.

The newly organized Forum is simply now avoiding some of the common abuses to be found in Christianity's history. New abuses may come along. But, those should be dealt with at that time. Not according to the fears and imaginations of those who loved the old way.

Abuse it, you will lose it. That is the Lord's system for dealing with men entrusted with authority throughout history.

Grace and peace, GeneZ

 

[Grizzly]

I noticed this too. The new CF shook things up quite a bit. In at least that area, the site appeared to be closer to accomplishing some of its goals.

Apologetics had long since become a bunch of standard posters reading a standard list of talking oints at each other. The new CF blurred the boundaries and got people talking who had yet to encounter people in this place. It also exposed people to subjects they hadn't discussed before.

There were a great deal more possibilities in the New CF than the old, not the least of them being the prospect of reaching people you would never have connected with in the old paradigm.

I agree. In the last 3 weeks, I met a bunch of new people I would have never met before. I actually had some very good discussions with people who have apparently been here for years but that I had never met. Even though I disagreed with them or they disagreed with me, the discussions were friendly and I learned quite a bit.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

No, it didn't. It merely declined to take sides. There's an enormous difference between endorsing a position and simply not rejecting it.

Christ, thus Christianity, is absolute Truth. Sitting on the fence is precisely what relativism is.

 

[intricatic]

Before we can reach out to the world we must knock down the denominational barriers that seperate us from one another. I share in your vision Erwin of uniting all christians but that has not yet occurred. If we reach out to the world at this point we can only offer them the division and bickering here at CF. Let us focus on ourselves before we open up to the world.

I disagree. I think unity can come despite doctrinal problems, but not in negligence of those issues.

There are many differences that seperate us from one another, but one common goal we have is Jesus. Let us look beyond our doctrinal beliefs and focus on where the Lord has put us in the body. We must learn to work together for the cause of reaching out to the lost and that task is going to take all of us. We must begin to look at ourselves as the body of Christ. And honestly right now the body looks very immature and has no control of its functions. Let us get control and begin to work with the other members of the body correctly and in tune so we can accomplish the tasks set before us.

I voted for number 2.
God Bless ALL!

Doctrine is what defines Christianity. It's how we understand what Christ called us to do. We can't deny doctrine and yet focus on Christ, because that implies losing track of what Christ preached and said and how we should understand it.

 

[cygnusx1]

I am taking my family to a ball game later today.

and I am off to Wales ..... Yakee-dah!

 

[intricatic]

This is a Christian forum!

Israel did not stop being a Jewish nation because the Lord allowed for aliens to live in the Land! The Lord set up Israel where aliens lived by its laws - - different laws than they found in the Gentile nations.

There is no reason not to call this a Christian forum as long as the precepts and attitude are maintained as being Christian towards all. Yet, God did set up certain restrictions for the aliens to follow... No eating of blood, etc. It should not be a free for all, either. Its probably more Christian now than what it was before.

Before the new change, it had degenerated more into resembling an Ecumenical forum, in being too restrictive for certain Christians who did not agree with all that those who wished to sit in the control booth demanded not to be even "reasoned with."

Protestants from here even formed a private blog where would could gather to try and see if we could do anything about the neo-Ecumenical thrust which had taken root could be dealt with.

I believe this new thrust in this forum was the result of those craving power finally being faced with having reaped what they had sown. Abuse power. It shall be limited.

The King of England had to learn this lesson as the American Colonies broke away and formed even greater freedoms to avoid that which had been abused by the King. Yet, America remained Anglo Saxon based in its independence. Just like the new thrust here is Christian in nature.

The newly organized Forum is simply now avoiding some of the common abuses to be found in Christianity's history. New abuses may come along. But, those should be dealt with at that time. Not according to the fears and imaginations of those who loved the old way.

Abuse it, you will lose it. That is the Lord's system for dealing with men entrusted with authority throughout history.

Grace and peace, GeneZ

You realise that most of those you're directing this at intentionally and wilfully stepped down, on my part, because power has no appeal - democratic elections aren't something I have any interest in. I'd imagine many others had very good reason for leaving, as well. I looked at my time here as a ministerial service, not as some exertion of power, and when confronted with the changes, I had to ask myself whether I wanted to engage in politicking, or whether I would be better off just stepping down from staff. I stepped down from staff, along with many others. I have no interest in politics. I don't even vote in national elections.

 

[MartinM]

Christ, thus Christianity, is absolute Truth.

Good job all Christians are in complete agreement on what that absolute truth is, then.

 

[Brennin]

I agree. In the last 3 weeks, I met a bunch of new people I would have never met before. I actually had some very good discussions with people who have apparently been here for years but that I had never met. Even though I disagreed with them or they disagreed with me, the discussions were friendly and I learned quite a bit.

Me too. It was nice to finally escape the ghetto and step into the rarefied air of CO.

 

[rushingwind62]

I disagree. I think unity can come despite doctrinal problems, but not in negligence of those issues.


Doctrine is what defines Christianity. It's how we understand what Christ called us to do. We can't deny doctrine and yet focus on Christ, because that implies losing track of what Christ preached and said and how we should understand it.

there are always going to be different interpretations of God's word because we are different members of the body. And each member has a different function. But sometimes in the body two or three members must work together to accomplish a certain goal. All I am saying is we must do the same. When I talk of doctrine I am talking about the denominational doctrines. That seems to be where we all bump heads at. We must look beyond those differences and realize we all serve the same master. Jesus Christ. He is the head of all of us.

 

[JimfromOhio]

I shall return

 

[flicka]

All one needs to do is look at the Faith forums to see that we now have splinters of this and that going up everywhere.... this is a shame! This system is not bringing us as Christians together it is separating us.

Are you trying to say this wasn't the case BEFORE the rule changes?

 

[Robinsegg]

For the record, I, too, have no interest in exerting power over others, nor specifically being politically elected. As moderator, I am here to help maintain the peace, to disciple members to better posting styles, and to facilitate better understanding of different peoples.
Rachel

 

[FriendsFellowship]

Are you trying to say this wasn't the case BEFORE the rule changes?

From my viewpoint, it was not as bad before the changes.

 

[Debi1967]

This what I thought CF's vision used to be

To Unite all Christians as One Body

This involved having the Body of Christ come together and talk to one another and yes, sometimes even have long drawn out battles with one another. Not everyone believes the same things as next person does. I think we do have in common though that we all have Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

We need the ability to learn and become more informed as to what each other thinks and believes and this forum has always given us a haven for doing so unobstructed. It has always given us a place to also then if we so wished to be able to evangelize.

We have made many strong strides so far however as I see it deconstruction of the board and making it open to all was too radical of a change and has left our safe havens open to everyone. Sometimes having a safety net is not always a bad thing. It allows us to be able to talk about issues pertinent to only us. It allows us to talk with like-minded people which we are encouraged to do in the Bible. Most importantly it opens us up o being able to listen to what others perspectives are about the same issues are that we deal with in Worshiping God.

 

[rushingwind62]

Are you trying to say this wasn't the case BEFORE the rule changes?

there was division before but the changes amplifed those changes in my opinion

 

[Debi1967]

Tell me what was the last forum formed before the rules changes

 

[MartinM]

Are you trying to say this wasn't the case BEFORE the rule changes?

Well, of course not. Before the rule changes, anyone who splintered too far could simply be dismissed as non-Christian and ignored.