Frustrated

[NotTroy]

I apologize ahead of time if I get a little ranty.

I am just really frustrated right now because of some of the things I see people posting on these boards. Its not the posts from the atheists that bother me. Atheists are pretty much all the same person with slightly different arguments. No its the fellow believers that bother me the most. I don't get all tied up in knots over things to do with slight differences in doctrine and what not. I don't really care that some churches sing and dance while others think that its bad or inappropriate. Things like that between denominations are no big deal in God's eyes and should not effect our fellowshiping with one another whether we are Baptist or Church of Christ, Catholic or Anglican. But the problem comes in, and the frustration, when I read posts by people who say they are Christian, but basically throw out the most important teachings found in the Bible. Things like Jesus being the only way to the Father and other things like that that are absolutly central to the Christian faith. I guess I am saying all this because I feel a need to talk with some people who will maybe agree with me on some basic things. I just got done with a thread about abortion and the death penalty that turned into a Catholic who doesn't even seem to follow basic Christian teachings and an atheist. As I said, the atheist doesn't bother me so much, its the fact that I read so much of this stuff from the fellow believer. The guy is probably a good guy in real life but on these boards at least he seems to think that all fundamentalists are evil while defending the atheists. Its just so frustrating to have to sit there and read that kind of stuff from a fellow believer along with an unbeliever. I see dark times ahead if Christians as a whole keep moving toward more and more divergent paths. I will never accept the idea that there can be anyway to God other than the Son and I will always try to stand up for ANY fellow Christian over any unbeliever. I believe Christ wanted us to be brothers in this world as well as the next and I will try to live that way, though I won't always succeed.

I am sorry for the rant and if this post violates the forum rules in anyway I am also sorry. I don't mean to insult anyone with this post though if I have I am truly sorry. I just need to know that I have some support out there from my brothers and sisters in Christ so I figured posting my frustrations in the forum most likely to contain people who see things the same way I do might help me feel better.

Thanks and God Bless,

NotTroy

 

[Reformationist]

I apologize ahead of time if I get a little ranty.

I am just really frustrated right now because of some of the things I see people posting on these boards. Its not the posts from the atheists that bother me. Atheists are pretty much all the same person with slightly different arguments. No its the fellow believers that bother me the most. I don't get all tied up in knots over things to do with slight differences in doctrine and what not. I don't really care that some churches sing and dance while others think that its bad or inappropriate. Things like that between denominations are no big deal in God's eyes and should not effect our fellowshiping with one another whether we are Baptist or Church of Christ, Catholic or Anglican. But the problem comes in, and the frustration, when I read posts by people who say they are Christian, but basically throw out the most important teachings found in the Bible. Things like Jesus being the only way to the Father and other things like that that are absolutly central to the Christian faith. I guess I am saying all this because I feel a need to talk with some people who will maybe agree with me on some basic things. I just got done with a thread about abortion and the death penalty that turned into a Catholic who doesn't even seem to follow basic Christian teachings and an atheist. As I said, the atheist doesn't bother me so much, its the fact that I read so much of this stuff from the fellow believer. The guy is probably a good guy in real life but on these boards at least he seems to think that all fundamentalists are evil while defending the atheists. Its just so frustrating to have to sit there and read that kind of stuff from a fellow believer along with an unbeliever. I see dark times ahead if Christians as a whole keep moving toward more and more divergent paths. I will never accept the idea that there can be anyway to God other than the Son and I will always try to stand up for ANY fellow Christian over any unbeliever. I believe Christ wanted us to be brothers in this world as well as the next and I will try to live that way, though I won't always succeed.

I am sorry for the rant and if this post violates the forum rules in anyway I am also sorry. I don't mean to insult anyone with this post though if I have I am truly sorry. I just need to know that I have some support out there from my brothers and sisters in Christ so I figured posting my frustrations in the forum most likely to contain people who see things the same way I do might help me feel better.

Thanks and God Bless,

NotTroy

Umm...I'm not sure what kind of support you're looking for but I agree that the Son is our only path to the Father, at least in the salvitic sense.

One point though. You said, "I will always try to stand up for ANY fellow Christian over any unbeliever." I'm not sure what you mean by this so I won't go into a long, drawn out exegesis on our need to show Christian love to all people, regardless of where they're at spiritually but I will say that it is as important to consider the welfare of your "enemy" as well as your brother. Pray for them and us all my brother and look to God for your peace. Frustration is most often the result of things not going as we planned or want. As much as I can empathize with you on that I can only encourage you to remember that nothing escapes the sovereign dominion and providence of God and if He's bringing conflict to pass then it is for your good so try to deal with it in a way that glorifies Him.

God bless,
Don

 

[Lotar]

Ya, I'm getting tired of those who call themselves Christians, but follow secular values.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

I like your monkey nija!

 

[Drotar]

I apologize ahead of time if I get a little ranty.

I am just really frustrated right now because of some of the things I see people posting on these boards. Its not the posts from the atheists that bother me. Atheists are pretty much all the same person with slightly different arguments. No its the fellow believers that bother me the most. I don't get all tied up in knots over things to do with slight differences in doctrine and what not. I don't really care that some churches sing and dance while others think that its bad or inappropriate. Things like that between denominations are no big deal in God's eyes and should not effect our fellowshiping with one another whether we are Baptist or Church of Christ, Catholic or Anglican. But the problem comes in, and the frustration, when I read posts by people who say they are Christian, but basically throw out the most important teachings found in the Bible. Things like Jesus being the only way to the Father and other things like that that are absolutly central to the Christian faith. I guess I am saying all this because I feel a need to talk with some people who will maybe agree with me on some basic things. I just got done with a thread about abortion and the death penalty that turned into a Catholic who doesn't even seem to follow basic Christian teachings and an atheist. As I said, the atheist doesn't bother me so much, its the fact that I read so much of this stuff from the fellow believer. The guy is probably a good guy in real life but on these boards at least he seems to think that all fundamentalists are evil while defending the atheists. Its just so frustrating to have to sit there and read that kind of stuff from a fellow believer along with an unbeliever. I see dark times ahead if Christians as a whole keep moving toward more and more divergent paths. I will never accept the idea that there can be anyway to God other than the Son and I will always try to stand up for ANY fellow Christian over any unbeliever. I believe Christ wanted us to be brothers in this world as well as the next and I will try to live that way, though I won't always succeed.

I am sorry for the rant and if this post violates the forum rules in anyway I am also sorry. I don't mean to insult anyone with this post though if I have I am truly sorry. I just need to know that I have some support out there from my brothers and sisters in Christ so I figured posting my frustrations in the forum most likely to contain people who see things the same way I do might help me feel better.

Thanks and God Bless,

NotTroy

There is a difference between us. I too am not a fan of heated discussion about the doctrines and teachings of the Holy Bible. The difference is that I DO believe that we SHOULD discuss the doctrines and teachings of the Holy Bible. I have to confess that for one certain thread I lost my cool and got frustrated. I apologized for that. But for the most part, I try to keep the discussions civilized.

The thing is that studying and discussing doctrine is not worthless. Doing it aggressively defeats the purpose, but I do think that it is EXTREMELY important. It changed my life. I want to go into that field, teaching.

But NO doctrine is petty. Limited atonement WILL either affect your view of the Trinity, or it will affect your view of God Himself. Total depravity humbles you and calls each person to reliance on God alone. Total depravity is dependent on traducianism. And dispensationalism is a hermeneutic that helps you understand prophecy- the promises God has made. Doctrine isn't something we do cause we're bored- it affects the way I PRAY.

Try to imagine if we DIDN'T have those doctrines. Sure, ignorance is bliss and there'd be little discussion or disagreement, but I DON'T want to watch me or my future family or my children fall into error. I don't want them to embrace Mormonism as I did because they made the exact same mistake I did. I didn't learn what I believed, and I didn't study the Bible's teachings, and when they came peddling up, I was grossly unprepared. I'm trying to make up for that now. I studied the Bible, but not what it inherently taught. We are COMMANDED IN SCRIPTURE to study it's teachings, to pass down the doctrine and traditions that we've learned, and so on. I'm sorry, but I want to guard not just my future family, but my future students as well from falling into the errors of false teachings. We want to see HOW the Holy Bible is applicable to areas of our thought and lives. Every belief that you hold to is a doctrine. If you have no beliefs, you have no bones, no structure, and when Mormons who DO know their doctrine come to your door and start speaking. Sorry I keep bringing that up, but they're the ones who started this long journey for me. TTYL Jesus loves you!

You haven't been here long enough. You have but ten posts. Perhaps after some time and experience in what we're doing, you'll better understand. If you never do, then I pray for your protection and that you'll be guarded from any remote threat, because anyone who does not take time to learn what they believe, trust me, is REALLY going to need it. TTYL Jesus loves you!

 

[Promises]

NotTroy,

I won't pretend not to understand what you are saying, nor will I offer up any useless platitudes that make me look noble and noteworthy, nor will I give you a backhanded lecture. I understand completely your frustration and I recognize that your concern has nothing to do with whether you love your enemy, but everything to do with the issue of unity in the Body. Christ's desire, so beautifully articulated in His final prayer for us, is that we be one. If we have concerns that a brother is not correctly handling the Word, we may take the issue to him privately. Attacking a brother, especially in unity with an unbeliever, goes against all that I read in the Word. Even then, if reproof is necessary, it should be done gently and with great love. The power of agape love that Christ left the Body is what gives light unto the world. However warm and fuzzy it might sound, your commision is not to affirm the feelings of those who do not honor Christ at the cost of Truth, but to confront them with their need for and the efficacy of the Gospel. Rudeness is not compatible with the love of Christ, but neither is compromise. It's a fine line to walk, to be sure, but walk it we must. Christ amply warned us that the world will hate us because of Him, so as you yourself said, we should not be surprised when we are confronted by those of the world. When dealing with Truth we must "always conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you". Many who lay claim to the name of Christ are willing to compromise the Word in order to spare the feelings of those who strive against it. That ignores Christ's intentions for His Church, steals the power He left us with for our ministry and erases all distinction of the Christian life. We may as well be nice atheists.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Hello Frustrated...
I understand what you are saying, and agree to some extant. But remember that the scriptures tell us not to get all tied up in these sorts of discussions. If they bother you, then don't go there. I have two very valuable tools I use here:
1. Ignore. If there are users out there that are just plain unreasonable, or who just seem to be here to argue and ridicule and insult. Put them on your ignore list.
2. Stay in the believers only area. If it is an in-house Christian discussion, then do not let unbelievers tie you up with secular points. Just stay with the believers. I have sort of made this my personal crusade here... to encourage believers to discuss matters of faith and doctrine in the believers only areas. We already know what the unbelievers think. Why subject yourself and other believers to their antics?

 

[abbygirlforever]

The kind of people who like to sit on the fence, so to speak, in their Christian walk, picking and choosing what parts of the Bible to believe, are in deep trouble. They call themselves Christian but deny the words of Christ. That's a contradiction of the defintion of the word Christian.

Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

We all need to pray earnestly for these people, gently and lovingly showing them their error, not in an arrogant way but humbly. Some will get angry and say hurtful things, but others will come back to God. Whatever the price, it's worth it.

 

[suzie]

As a young Christian, I desired to know all there was to know about God and His Word. I soaked it up, then I became almost legalistic, thinking I had all the "right" answers. Thank God He continued to place in my life people who have patiently loved and mentored me despite myself. I would get so frustrated when someone didnt share my "right" belief. One wise person told me to love everyone right where they are at. I have kept that in my mind and heart. I know it is difficult when persons do not even share the same essentials of faith, however, this is where they are at right now. You can only offer what you have learned or know about God and His Word. You never know how God will use it. It is very difficult to enter into a godly discussion when the person does not share the basic principles of what you believe. It seldom goes smoothly, but these are not always to be avoided---just pray to God to show you which battles to pick. He will give you the words and the attitude.

I've been a Christian for a long time now, and I still love the Word and desire to know God deeply. The more I know the more I realize how much we dont know. God just keeps taking us deeper. The essentials of faith is how we are united as Christians. They are not debatable. So if that person was not in agreement with the essentials, then that person was probably not saved. If God led you to post and discuss with those people, then believe that although frustrating, your passion and love for God was not wasted......Keep fighting the good fight.