Non-Christian Board

[Exegete12]

Exd 23:13 And in all [things] that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

With this in mind should we even have a Non-Christian Forum on this board, then?

I used to evangelise on an Islamic board, because they welcomed interfaith dialogue, this then got removed, so you could no longer to it. Also on Jewish boards you are not welcome to evangelise either.

Should we allow other religions to proselytise here on Christian forums? As an analogy it is a bit like a church, and then in the foyer is hell. Your thoughts?

 

[leothelioness]

With this in mind should we even have a Non-Christian Forum on this board, then?

I used to evangelise on an Islamic board, because they welcomed interfaith dialogue, this then got removed, so you could no longer to it. Also on Jewish boards you are not welcome to evangelise either.

Should we allow other religions to proselytise here on Christian forums? As an analogy it is a bit like a church, and then in the foyer is hell. Your thoughts?

I personally don't believe we should have a non-Christian forum on here (seeing as it's a Christian site) nor should we allow non-Christians on here. Afterall, they're only here to argue and tell us how diluted we are.

As the CF slogan goes, "Uniting all Christians as one body," not "Uniting all Christians and non-Christians as one body."

This site should be exclusively for Christians. Sorry if I have ruffled a few feathers.

 

[SpartacusUK]

I can understand your point on not having a non-Christian forum, but i disagree with not allowing non-Christians access to the site and forums. Sorry for the cliche, but there is little point in preaching to the converted.
If discussion and debate etc on this website can convince one non-religious person to look further into their spirituality, or allow one non-Christian to understand Christianity a little better then surely it has served a purpose that is far more important than simply Christians socialising?
Dont worry about ruffling feathers, if everyone sat on the fence then these forums would be very dull!!!

 

[chris414]

I can completely understand the reasons behind having a section for nonChristians. There are some really genuine questions asked in the Questions by non-Christians forum. Wish i could say the same thing for GA, but it is good for a Christian to be able to see the doubts and problems non-Christians have with Christianity as it can be a great help in preparing you for face to face evangelism / apologetics (IMHO anyway).

 

[tapero]

With this in mind should we even have a Non-Christian Forum on this board, then?

I used to evangelise on an Islamic board, because they welcomed interfaith dialogue, this then got removed, so you could no longer to it. Also on Jewish boards you are not welcome to evangelise either.

Should we allow other religions to proselytise here on Christian forums? As an analogy it is a bit like a church, and then in the foyer is hell. Your thoughts?

Hi,

I know of one that came to Christ on the non-Christian board, and I'm sure there are many more.

It is against the rules for non-Christians to proseltyze for other faiths, including athiesm.

What saddens me is that Christians are often disrepectful and show anger towards the non-Christians of the board.

I understand that a lot of Christians don't frequent the non-Christian boards; some is understandable if they are not good at answering questions.

Questions by Non-Christians is a relatively good place to convey truths to non-Christians.

We often forget, and I'm not talking about you personally, but we often forget that we were once non-Christians too.

Always keep in mind the right hand side of the home page with the number of guests and members. The guests always outnumber the members. Many are seekers and are watching us, learning and prayerfully coming to faith through what they have learned.

Jesus spent time with 'sinners' such as those who didn't know Him. I think so should we.

 

[SpartacusUK]

Having someone question your faith can be a very valuable tool that forces one to examine what exactly they belive and why they believe it.
I think that through this examination the nature of a persons faith can become clear to them, I guess in most cases it strengthens that faith.

 

[tapero]

Having someone question your faith can be a very valuable tool that forces one to examine what exactly they belive and why they believe it.
I think that through this examination the nature of a persons faith can become clear to them, I guess in most cases it strengthens that faith.

I agree strongly. Having been faced with things that I never thought of before, I had to come to figure out why I believed what I believed.

 

[sunlover1]

With this in mind should we even have a Non-Christian Forum on this board, then?

I have prayed with a couple of non believers on a Christian board, and they became Christians.

(Naturally, God could have used another way to reach them too.)

I think we should have it, yes.

 

[tulc]

This site should be exclusively for Christians.

...so who gets to choose who's a Christian and who isn't?
tulc(needs some coffee)

 

[catwoman2]

Christians should be salt for the world, which means we should interact with non-Christians.

I too talked over the web with Muslims and for a while got very confused. However, it forced me to ask why I believe as I do and I came out of it with a much stronger faith. I can now say why I believe what I do.

 

[catlover]

Ever wonder why Jesus hung out with "icky" people such as tax collectors and prostitutes and such??? To save them.

Rather than look down on non believers and treat them as lepers, why don't you do something for them?? You know pray for them, witness to them, bring a non believer in need a bag of groceries or slip them a $20. for gasoline? They may become a Christian.

 

[Exegete12]

Ever wonder why Jesus hung out with "icky" people such as tax collectors and prostitutes and such??? To save them.

Rather than look down on non believers and treat them as lepers, why don't you do something for them?? You know pray for them, witness to them, bring a non believer in need a bag of groceries or slip them a $20. for gasoline? They may become a Christian.

I am a regular on the Non-Christian forum. I have therefore witnessed one person BostonLass conver to Islam.

We aren't talking here about prostitutes and tax collectors, but people espousing another religion to try and win converts to their religion. As the verse mentions, we should not even repeat the name of their gods.

There is after all the Outreach forum, and other topical or themed forums for others. But a forum designed for other religions, I am beginning to doubt its validity.

Not only does it increase hostility between posters of other religions, it can cause those who are weaker to stumble and doubt their faith. Some Christian posters have been horrible, but that's only because they are retaliating to incorrect information, facts that are untrue, and trying to defend their faith.

 

[cubanito]

This forum has an excellent format.

If you feel weak in the Faith, stay indoors. I spend most of my time in the Christian only (inddors) side of thing, not because I feel weak, but because I so much more enjoy the fellowship there. I'm sure there are many other reasons a member may wish to stay primarily or exclusively on the Christian side.

At times I have noticed excessive leeway in allowing especially atheists to come into the Christian side and begin to argue, even becoming disruptive and rude. But this I suspect is the unwillingness of members (like me) to report this behavior and try to reason w the unbeliever.

JR

 

[leothelioness]

This forum has an excellent format.

If you feel weak in the Faith, stay indoors. I spend most of my time in the Christian only (inddors) side of thing, not because I feel weak, but because I so much more enjoy the fellowship there. I'm sure there are many other reasons a member may wish to stay primarily or exclusively on the Christian side.

Yeah, I do the same. I understand the importance of teaching non-Chrisitans, but when they start to attack us and our beliefs is when I can't handle it. I am very quick to anger when someone attacks my beliefs and I don't have much patience with anyone at all. That is why God made ministers.

It takes a very special person to be able to have patience with non-believers and not everyone is cut our for the job. I know I certainly am not. God obviously has different plans for me.

 

[tapero]

Not only does it increase hostility between posters of other religions, it can cause those who are weaker to stumble and doubt their faith.

Hi, Jesus never lets one of His go so there is no worry there. We are sealed by the Holy Spririt when we believe. This board I think meaning CF has to be realistic, as the world is. Believers will deal with non believers all their lives. We all struggle with doubt occasionally I think.

It should turn us towards God and into the word more.

Help me Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief, it is written.

Blessings,
Tapero

 

[tapero]

Yeah, I do the same. I understand the importance of teaching non-Chrisitans, but when they start to attack us and our beliefs is when I can't handle it. I am very quick to anger when someone attacks my beliefs and I don't have much patience with anyone at all. That is why God made ministers.

It takes a very special person to be able to have patience with non-believers and not everyone is cut our for the job. I know I certainly am not. God obviously has different plans for me.

I too believe that since we are all so different and unique in our personalities that if need be we stay away from what troubles us. Like I can't handle scary things for example. I think you are wise to know your boundaries. I just want to remind you too, that we were all non believers once. God bless, Tapero

 

[DavinMochrie]

With everything in life, we have to understand personal boundaries and rules.

I do think it's exclusionary to say 'Christians only' on this board.

It is an internet board, it must have rules.

There ar eplenty of other sites out there.

But defining and narrowing the talk to that for christians, they can still read and understand, and heck ask questions.

Preaching to the converted has it's own value.

I think it is up to God to make the final judgement on a soul's destiny.

 

[Nadiine]

With this in mind should we even have a Non-Christian Forum on this board, then?

I used to evangelise on an Islamic board, because they welcomed interfaith dialogue, this then got removed, so you could no longer to it. Also on Jewish boards you are not welcome to evangelise either.

Should we allow other religions to proselytise here on Christian forums? As an analogy it is a bit like a church, and then in the foyer is hell. Your thoughts?

That's a fine line and I see both sides of this.

I do think they should have a split section of Christians only and non's only... (but lets not kid ourselves, I'm finding posts that don't sound Christian at all even in this section... it's sad when you have to defend the faith within your own camp. )

Anyways, Online is a different type of ministry and it's a way to invite the unsaved & skeptics to chat with Christians...
I see it can be helpful, and I also see when many of them are here to just fight against us. Debate for the sake of debate without sincerety of the issues - after awhile you can tell who's sincere & who's just ranting (then I shake the dust from my strappy sandals).

I honestly don't have an opinion on it yet - we're also told to contend earnestly for the faith.

I think since CF has set up boundaries of saved & non tho, it is a way of dividing us up which actually does need to be there for our sakes! (for mine anyway).

 

[CyberPaladin]

That's a fine line and I see both sides of this.

I do think they should have a split section of Christians only and non's only... (but lets not kid ourselves, I'm finding posts that don't sound Christian at all even in this section... it's sad when you have to defend the faith within your own camp. )

Actaully I think it gives a good healthy look at the state of Christianity and besides that I can't really think of an alterntive that wouldn't be so judgemental that by it's very nature would be unchristian.

I have noticed there are 3 main groups you have the nonchristian, Christians who stay in the Christian only forums, and Christians who stay in the General forums, I'm not saying thatit's hard fast rule but the Christians around here do seem generaly pick one or the other stay there most of the time.

 

[catlover]

I am a regular on the Non-Christian forum. I have therefore witnessed one person BostonLass conver to Islam.

We aren't talking here about prostitutes and tax collectors, but people espousing another religion to try and win converts to their religion. As the verse mentions, we should not even repeat the name of their gods..

Really? Do you feel the same way about Jewish people and their religion?

Not only does it increase hostility between posters of other religions, it can cause those who are weaker to stumble and doubt their faith. Some Christian posters have been horrible, but that's only because they are retaliating to incorrect information, facts that are untrue, and trying to defend their faith.

Well, if they can't stand the heat, the Christians who can't act nicely around non-believers, stay out the kitchen.