Need some advice

[JoeWill]

Hello all, I need some advice here.

I run a community website for my area. It's all voluntary - no one pays me, I do it off my own back.

A local nursery / kindergarten will be celebrating the Indian Festival of Lights (Divali) with the children, and they have asked me to go along and take a picture and put a report about the event on the website.

I don't think the staff will be emphasising the religious aspect much. The Festival of Lights marks the beginning of the New Year in the Indian calendar and represents the victory of good over evil.

However, it is special to several religions other than the Christian faith and is tied in with narratives about the different gods of these religions.

So from a Christian viewpoint, would it be wrong for me to write a news report about the event on the website? I've prayed over it and am waiting for the answer.

 

[JoeWill]

Incidentally, whenever I look at someone's profile, the page shows all the private messages they have received as well. I don't understand how these messages can be private if other people can see them.

 

[synger]

I would think that if your website is focused on the Christian activities in your community, you probably don't want to include this festival.

But if the festival is in your community, and you include all sorts of events on your website, religious or otherwise, then you should probably include it.

It depends on the purpose of your website, and who your users are and what they need.

 

[synger]

As to profiles, there are PMs (private messages) that only the user can see, and there are Visitor Messages, which are posted on the person's profile page. Sometimes people don't realize the Visitor Messages are public, but they are. It's like leaving your calling card for someone.

 

[Nadiine]

I would think that if your website is focused on the Christian activities in your community, you probably don't want to include this festival.

But if the festival is in your community, and you include all sorts of events on your website, religious or otherwise, then you should probably include it.

It depends on the purpose of your website, and who your users are and what they need.

Yes.... but then he's personally - and in a way - promoting this festival for people to go to when it contradicts what he knows as a Christian.

This is a hard one Joe. Sometimes what we do or offer at our workplace or other things isn't Christian - I've run into the same problem w/ customer requests in another field.

Sometimes I go ahead & make something for them, sometimes I won't becuz it goes too far for my personal standard. But no doubt someone on the outside would not see any consistency as to why I choose 1 project & not another...

I don't have a definite answer for you either way, but if it's elective, you don't HAVE to do it. Or, maybe you could find a Christian activity going on at the same time to include near that article??
Kind of find a way to counter it with something upright?

If I come up with anything else I'll post it here - that's a tough one.
Some Christians say that if you have to ask a question about something, you already know the answer lol
I'm not always so sure that's true in every situation & issue that comes up, but it clearly goes against your spirit to have asked it.

Maybe if you did it, you could be praying that God deliver you an "out", or another way to introduce truth thru it? Or open a door to use it for His glory/advantage?

 

[homewardbound]

If the web site is identified with you personally, it would be easy for others to assume you condone any of the events you promote there. In that case I would be cautious and not "cause a brother to stumble".

If the web site is Christian-centered, I'd definitely take a pass on this one. If you're just providing community service and posting local events, I see no harm in adding this one, but it's a fine line.

 

[Nadiine]

If the web site is identified with you personally, it would be easy for others to assume you condone any of the events you promote there. In that case I would be cautious and not "cause a brother to stumble".

If the web site is Christian-centered, I'd definitely take a pass on this one. If you're just providing community service and posting local events, I see no harm in adding this one, but it's a fine line.

well said

 

[LogosRhema]

IMHO it sounds like you need to describe either to us or yourself the target audience of your community website, there truly is a fine line.

 

[Blank123]

hmm personally if it were me i'd do it. Even if it is a Christian website i would think such an opportuinity would be great for apologetic purposes, teach what the other religions believe and then teach how Christianity differs and you've got a great segway into sharing the gospel with your readers

and if your website is just a report on the weekly happenings in your area there's no harm in covering it. its just reporting on what happened, not lending any credence to the beliefs of the ceremony.

 

[Nadiine]

hmm personally if it were me i'd do it. Even if it is a Christian website i would think such an opportuinity would be great for apologetic purposes, teach what the other religions believe and then teach how Christianity differs and you've got a great segway into sharing the gospel with your readers

and if your website is just a report on the weekly happenings in your area there's no harm in covering it. its just reporting on what happened, not lending any credence to the beliefs of the ceremony.

but are you actually conservative? Your icon shows liberal

I wouldn't expect a liberal to think there's any problem covering something nonChristian or demonic

 

[Blank123]

but are you actually conservative? Your icon shows liberal

I wouldn't expect a liberal to think there's any problem covering something nonChristian or demonic

my political icon has nothing to do with my theological beliefs... Is there anything unBiblical about what i suggested?

i actually hate that a person's political views are enough to have them labeled as a heretic on these forums or eyed with suspicion I don't mean to derail or cause any drama but please just lemme know... if my political icon is a problem, i'll make sure to stay out of this forum.

 

[intricatic]

but are you actually conservative? Your icon shows liberal

I wouldn't expect a liberal to think there's any problem covering something nonChristian or demonic

I think Francis Schaeffer put it best:

Christians have tended to despise the concept of philosophy. This has been one of the weaknesses of evangelical, orthodox Christianity -- we have been proud in despising philosophy, and we have been exceedingly proud in despising the intellect. Our theological seminaries hardly ever relate their theology to philosophy, and specifically to the current philosophy. Thus, students go out from the theological seminaries not knowing how to relate Christianity to the surrounding world-view. It is not that they do not know the answers. My observation is that most students graduating from our theological seminaries do not know the questions.
(Francis A. Schaeffer, He Is There and He Is Not Silent, Ch. 1)

That's so true, though, isn't it? I mean, most Christians these days don't particularly care what the world believes in - we want to live in our own isolated little world and not confront the evils and ills of the naturalistic worldview that eats grace like it was chocolate syrup on some vanilla icecream. That's the real conservative thing to do, isn't it? Because it's all in our political power to ignore things we disagree with - and our politics are more important than faith in God's sovereignty over the whole of life.

 

[AnneSally]

Hello all, I need some advice here.

I run a community website for my area. It's all voluntary - no one pays me, I do it off my own back.

A local nursery / kindergarten will be celebrating the Indian Festival of Lights (Divali) with the children, and they have asked me to go along and take a picture and put a report about the event on the website.

I don't think the staff will be emphasising the religious aspect much. The Festival of Lights marks the beginning of the New Year in the Indian calendar and represents the victory of good over evil.

However, it is special to several religions other than the Christian faith and is tied in with narratives about the different gods of these religions.

So from a Christian viewpoint, would it be wrong for me to write a news report about the event on the website? I've prayed over it and am waiting for the answer.

My answer is short and swift. No I would not do it.

The reason I say that is because you said that you do all this off your own back, all voluntarily, so I wouldn't feel compelled or obligated by anyone to have to do anything which conflicted with my own personal beliefs. And if I were doing something voluntarily for my community, I wouldn't be promoting false beliefs or covering them, I would politely decline and it would be my perogative to do so.

 

[Nadiine]

I think Francis Schaeffer put it best:
That's so true, though, isn't it? I mean, most Christians these days don't particularly care what the world believes in - we want to live in our own isolated little world and not confront the evils and ills of the naturalistic worldview that eats grace like it was chocolate syrup on some vanilla icecream. That's the real conservative thing to do, isn't it? Because it's all in our political power to ignore things we disagree with - and our politics are more important than faith in God's sovereignty over the whole of life.

First off, no I don't ignore things I disagree with; I often confront them and dig deeper. (ergo my post question).
And I resent the highlighted part of this statement becuz I take it as a false slam against me as a conservative when it's not true of many of us here.

Perhaps you could have left that negative statement right out.

& I for one don't despise philosophy -
I DO despise philosophy that elevates itself over Truth of God and God to use depraved philosophy of man.
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception,
according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Isaiah 55:9
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Nothing wrong w/ philosophy at all - until it violates & usurps Godly principles/teachings. In fact, I believe God invented philosophy, reason, common sense & logic, etc.

I was not posting a hostile message, in fact, if I remember correctly, I've agreed w/ several of TL's posts that I've read in the past here.

I was merely asking a question as I know liberalism and liberals seem to carry specific views (looser views if you will) on several types of things.
Nothing more, nothing less than a simple question.

 

[Secundulus]

Hello all, I need some advice here.

I run a community website for my area. It's all voluntary - no one pays me, I do it off my own back.

A local nursery / kindergarten will be celebrating the Indian Festival of Lights (Divali) with the children, and they have asked me to go along and take a picture and put a report about the event on the website.

I don't think the staff will be emphasising the religious aspect much. The Festival of Lights marks the beginning of the New Year in the Indian calendar and represents the victory of good over evil.

However, it is special to several religions other than the Christian faith and is tied in with narratives about the different gods of these religions.

So from a Christian viewpoint, would it be wrong for me to write a news report about the event on the website? I've prayed over it and am waiting for the answer.

I don't know anything about this holiday, other than what I have read in the past few minutes. But it looks like it is primarily derived from a fall harvest festival, much like Thanksgiving, or Korean Chusok, or any number of similar festivals throughout the world. Their purpose is to give thanks to God for the bountiful harvest that will see them through the winter.

I don't see anything wrong with reporting on this. While we see their prayers as misplaced, it is one of those things which all of humanity seems to have in common.

 

[Nadiine]

my political icon has nothing to do with my theological beliefs... Is there anything unBiblical about what i suggested?

i actually hate that a person's political views are enough to have them labeled as a heretic on these forums or eyed with suspicion I don't mean to derail or cause any drama but please just lemme know... if my political icon is a problem, i'll make sure to stay out of this forum.

Why do you leap to this position?

I asked this becuz it seems to be indicative of a less conservative worldview. I'm not here demanding everyone think & believe like me or a few others that post regularly in this forum.
It's not "my" forum for that matter either.

I'm simply stating a fact that liberals have specific viewpoints that don't mesh with conservative viewpoints on social & other types of issues.
I continue to see the differences with the 2 positions and I"m doing nothing more than calling attn. to that.

Not that there's definitive black & white lines drawn - but the differences seem obvious to me and I'm simply making an open note of it.
I hadn't even paid any attention to your icon previously & have agreed w/ several of your posts here.

 

[GQ Chris]

I would stay neutral for posting it on my website if it were mine. But I would attend the event, and witness to people about the Love of Jesus and teach about God's plan of redemption.

 

[porterross]

I think Francis Schaeffer put it best:
That's so true, though, isn't it? I mean, most Christians these days don't particularly care what the world believes in - we want to live in our own isolated little world and not confront the evils and ills of the naturalistic worldview that eats grace like it was chocolate syrup on some vanilla icecream. That's the real conservative thing to do, isn't it? Because it's all in our political power to ignore things we disagree with - and our politics are more important than faith in God's sovereignty over the whole of life.

Ah, but how do we go about being in the world yet not of the world? This is what trips up too many of us, is it not? It's definitely a tough fence to stride if we take our eyes off the fact that we are also commanded to make disciples of ALL nations. How do we do that if we remain cloistered in fear?

Ours is not an easy journey, but if by our example, we are a reflection of the grace and love shown us by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to those as lost as we once were. Christ Himself has told us to do this, yet we fail Him by avoiding those we see as unworthy, which is beyond our judgment.

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."



Mark 16:15

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

It's a tall order we're given and I think Joe is doing what we're supposed to do by befriending the others in his community. Could he not use the opportunity to make his beliefs known in a friendly and loving way? I think he can and by reporting an event in a very benign way that doesn't endorse it is in no way condoning it. It could well be a way to learn more about exactly what these folks believe, which can easily be shown to be in error with Scripture.

 

[Blank123]

Why do you leap to this position?

because to be honest thats the idea i've been getting for a long time about this forum, look at all the threads and posts throughout this forum that are basically saying that if you support liberal politics you must be a heretic and that are ragging against anything and everything liberal, they haven't exactly convinced me otherwise. And then being called out randomly in a thread as a liberal doesn't exactly help.

the Bible only gives *one* reason to fight for something or to allow division between brothers and sisters: perversion of the gospel. Adhering to or voting for a liberal political candidate/party =/= perversion of the gospel. And the Bible certainly does not allow for slandering people behind their backs because of who or what they're intending to vote for

I asked this becuz it seems to be indicative of a less conservative worldview. I'm not here demanding everyone think & believe like me or a few others that post regularly in this forum.
It's not "my" forum for that matter either.

I'm simply stating a fact that liberals have specific viewpoints that don't mesh with conservative viewpoints on social & other types of issues.
I continue to see the differences with the 2 positions and I"m doing nothing more than calling attn. to that.

Not that there's definitive black & white lines drawn - but the differences seem obvious to me and I'm simply making an open note of it.
I hadn't even paid any attention to your icon previously & have agreed w/ several of your posts here.

and here you keep using the word "fact" or saying out right that liberal politics are indicative of something other than a conservative worldview. you're generalising and you're lumping people together. that doesn't make it fact.

And there wasn't any need to call attention to my political icon, all that does is serve to cause hurt and conflict. Its completely irrelevent to the topic at hand and to my post that you were replying to.

I've liked your posts here too but i still don't exactly feel welcomed with open arms if my political icon is going to attract this sort of attention.

anyways i think i've gotten my answer and there's no need to derail this thread any longer. The OP wanted advice let him get that

 

[intricatic]

Ah, but how do we go about being in the world yet not of the world? This is what trips up too many of us, is it not? It's definitely a tough fence to stride if we take our eyes off the fact that we are also commanded to make disciples of ALL nations. How do we do that if we remain cloistered in fear?

You go about being in the world but not of it by the practice of antithesis, not by ignoring the world itself and treating it as if it's fundamentally evil and must be avoided. If what I believe is true to reality, then I have no reason to be afraid of the usurpation of God's sovereignty inherent in political ideology in general. Consequently, I have to embrace that political ideology is ultimately a failure of humanism - even conservative philosophy is based on dead radicals who the conservatives at the time vehemently disagreed with (the dialectic transition from one form of thought to the other has nothing to do with reality and should be rejected as illogical). If you want to talk conservative politics, let's talk economy, but let's leave the social nonsense to the communists, socialists, and humanists.

Ours is not an easy journey, but if by our example, we are a reflection of the grace and love shown us by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to those as lost as we once were. Christ Himself has told us to do this, yet we fail Him by avoiding those we see as unworthy, which is beyond our judgment.

It's a tall order we're given and I think Joe is doing what we're supposed to do by befriending the others in his community. Could he not use the opportunity to make his beliefs known in a friendly and loving way? I think he can and by reporting an event in a very benign way that doesn't endorse it is in no way condoning it. It could well be a way to learn more about exactly what these folks believe, which can easily be shown to be in error with Scripture.

If it was me - and I'm not being critical here - I'd use it as an opportunity to evangelize by subtly pointing out the problems with a particular non-Christian worldview, as the opportunity affords. "Condoning" and "Endorsing" are political phrases that speak to a motivation which may not even exist, but may be interpreted by other people as existing because most people are too clueless to understand the meaning inherent in the thing itself. Knee-jerk reactionism is the tool of ignorance, no matter which side of the dialectic you happen to embrace.