I just want to say goodbye to everyone. I'm going to permanently leave CF. I've changed my password to something I won't remember so I won't be able to sign in.
I feel like I have to do this, not because I don't want to fellowship with you folks, or because I feel like things are crumbling around here.
For a long time I've been feeling like I waste too much time here at CF. I login, I post, I post again, I respond to posts and so on until I find that I have been doing that for hours, while every important thing in my life goes neglected, even my Christian walk.
After reading every possible kind of debate about every possible difference between groups and individuals, I can honestly say I don't know what I believe anymore about a whole lot of stuff. This place, that I thought would make my faith stronger because I'd be fellowshipping with fellow Believers, has actually made my faith weaker and my desire to fellowship with other Christians thinner.
Here's the thing: I believe that debating is not edifying nor is it healthy. Once in a while it's okay for Christians to sharpen each others' faith by debating important points, as iron sharpens iron. But when the majority of threads in any forum become debates, or when a surly person has to dominate the forum, it tears down the good will and good faith in the family of God, the very people who should be drawing closer and stronger to each other. Fighting makes us pawns of the devil. We might rationalize it by saying we are keeping the faith pure or making pure doctrine or defending the truth or whatever we want to say. But in the end, it's satan's pleasure we are fulfilling, not God's.
I spend too much time here doing stuff that doesn't amount to a can of beans and just ends up giving glory to the evil one. I don't want to do that anymore. I've seen hundreds of good Christians come and go for the same reasons. Most of you who have been around a while have seen it, too.
It's been an experience I will never forget, but it's time to stop talking about the Christian life and time to start living it in real life again.
Thanks for all your fellowship and I genuinely love you all and will miss you!
See you in heaven, if I make it there!
I feel like I have to do this, not because I don't want to fellowship with you folks, or because I feel like things are crumbling around here.
For a long time I've been feeling like I waste too much time here at CF. I login, I post, I post again, I respond to posts and so on until I find that I have been doing that for hours, while every important thing in my life goes neglected, even my Christian walk.
After reading every possible kind of debate about every possible difference between groups and individuals, I can honestly say I don't know what I believe anymore about a whole lot of stuff. This place, that I thought would make my faith stronger because I'd be fellowshipping with fellow Believers, has actually made my faith weaker and my desire to fellowship with other Christians thinner.
Here's the thing: I believe that debating is not edifying nor is it healthy. Once in a while it's okay for Christians to sharpen each others' faith by debating important points, as iron sharpens iron. But when the majority of threads in any forum become debates, or when a surly person has to dominate the forum, it tears down the good will and good faith in the family of God, the very people who should be drawing closer and stronger to each other. Fighting makes us pawns of the devil. We might rationalize it by saying we are keeping the faith pure or making pure doctrine or defending the truth or whatever we want to say. But in the end, it's satan's pleasure we are fulfilling, not God's.
I spend too much time here doing stuff that doesn't amount to a can of beans and just ends up giving glory to the evil one. I don't want to do that anymore. I've seen hundreds of good Christians come and go for the same reasons. Most of you who have been around a while have seen it, too.
It's been an experience I will never forget, but it's time to stop talking about the Christian life and time to start living it in real life again.
Thanks for all your fellowship and I genuinely love you all and will miss you!
See you in heaven, if I make it there!
