Is it inevitable?

Byfaithalone1 said:

Do you ever wonder what Jesus might think if he read Christian discussion forums?

What can we do (if anything) to encourage more positive posting behavior?

Should we:

Model behavior that is devoid of name calling and personal remarks?

Encourage and praise posts that are productive, even if there is disagreement?

Learn more about the reasons why another person thinks the way he does -- not so we will agree -- but so we can dialogue with him from a place of love rather than hate?

Any other ideas?
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Are we only here for a fight, or can we actually broaden our perspective through our time spent posting here?

BFA

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BFA,

Mark 9:33-35
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. KJV

Luke 9:44-48
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. KJV

Luke 22:24-26
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. KJV

This reasoning which arose among them, as to who should be greatest and finally as to who should be accounted greatest, sprang up through will worship and its vain deceit; and through voluntary humility and its philosophy. See Colossians 2. Faith is spoiled by either of these.

Both of these spirits which control men's minds are at odds with each other.

Some even move from one group to the other and thereby feel they have been converted.

One group's doctrine is "just do it." The other group reasons away the practical purpose of restraint and duty.

We see both of these ways of thinking made manifest in the few witnesses of the thoughts and the deeds of the disciples.

We are not better than the disciples. The disciples were devout men, who were not given over to pleasure seeking through appetite and passion.

We will have intense differences through our devotion and doctrine.

Joe

It's human nature to react negatively or defensively when one feels she or he is being attacked (even if they aren't). I think that more posts should begin with, well, "I think that . . ."

In psychology 101 they teach about using "I" statements versus using "you" statements in everyday life. For example, "I feel hurt" is more warmly accepted than, "you hurt me". The first one may elicit a response like, "oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you" and the second one would probably get a response of, "no I didn't".

"I think that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday because the Bible says . . ." is better than, "you should observe the Sabbath on Saturday because the Bible says . . . ."

I don't know if I'm making any sense and I know I'm guilty of making judgemental and even rude remarks but I try not to and I think that if others could also try not to, many threads would be more pleasant.

And that's my two cent's worth.


Rottiedog

Speakin of "I think that. . ." I started a thread in the non-denominational forum called "Jesus Freak". I'm trying to get as many "I think that's" as possible before I make a decision. If you wanna check it out, I think that'd be great.

OK, OK, I'll lay of the "I think that" thing. I think that (smile) we'd all agree that I'm now beating a dead horse (is there a law against abusing animal carcasses? Just kidding!)


Rottiedog

I like this, RD! Wonderful answer.

I would just like to add that religion is something that most people feel passionately about, pro or con. On the side of pro there is also the differences in theology and doctrine........which believers are even more passionate about. There is also the desire to provide all of the answers to all the questions, and sometimes that is not possible leaving some to feel frustrated and somewhat inadequate. It takes time to realize that some answers only God himself will be able to provide, and that He only provides the answers to each one of us within our own individual relationships with Him. there is no cookie cutter way he has to deal with "mankind". We see that from the Bible.

I feel that we are called not to give all or any of the answers, but our testimony, that which we know for sure, which is the effect our relationship with God has on our everyday lives. No one can dispute that. However, when we attempt to provide "the answers" then we run into those who differ on how to arrive at the answer or even what the answer is. Each one feeling very passionately about their version of the answers, and as RD says, feeling attacked when those answers are challenged or even just questioned.

So, I feel that...hehehe!.......that if we stuck to lifting up Jesus Christ with our testimony through words, thoughts, and actions and let God provide the answers, then our discussions will not be reduced to the negativity of arguments.

Ok, so how did I do, RD? LOL!!

Rottiedog said:

It's human nature to react negatively or defensively when one feels she or he is being attacked (even if they aren't). I think that more posts should begin with, well, "I think that . . ."

In psychology 101 they teach about using "I" statements versus using "you" statements in everyday life. For example, "I feel hurt" is more warmly accepted than, "you hurt me". The first one may elicit a response like, "oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you" and the second one would probably get a response of, "no I didn't".

"I think that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday because the Bible says . . ." is better than, "you should observe the Sabbath on Saturday because the Bible says . . . ."

I don't know if I'm making any sense and I know I'm guilty of making judgemental and even rude remarks but I try not to and I think that if others could also try not to, many threads would be more pleasant.

And that's my two cent's worth.


Rottiedog

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Dude (ette),

That was absolutely AWESOME!!!

I'm speechless. Which, as you well know, is usually not the case since the length of my posts rival that of mini-novels.


Rottiedog

Byfaithalone1 said:

Must differences lead to attacks?

BFA

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BFA,

The truth in Jesus Christ is sweet and bitter mixed together.

Joe

hmmm, I like this atmosphere that is being created by BFA, Princessdi, and Rottiedog. Civility never hurts, and it usually helps. Count me in!

It's been super busy for me in the real world for quite a while now, but I hope to get back to chatting with y'all as soon as I can. Until then, shalom....

May the Word of the Lord through Ezekiel and Paul guide our thoughts and deeds.

Ezek 33:29-34:1
29 Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.

30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.

31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. KJV

Gal 5:11-13
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. KJV

The minding of the flesh is offended at the preaching of the cross.

The liberty that is in the cross of Jesus is an occasion to the flesh for those who know Christ after the flesh.

2 Cor 5:13-16
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. KJV

Joe

Byfaithalone1 said:

Some additional words of wisdom:

1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
9For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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BFA

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BFA,

1 Cor 13:8-10
but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. KJV

As long as prophecies, tongues and knowledge are present with us, then the ministration of Moses still works death in us. This is a needful death.

Joe