- Jun 23, 2006
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I admit that I've used this web site, and this forum, as a "time-waster" -- nothing better to do, so go to CF and the Baptist Forum. Unfortunately, most others treat this ether-spot the same way. There literally is no "here" here.
When we seek fellowship, we are looking for companionship, friendship, solace. After over a year, I've come to realize that there is no such thing as a cyber-community of Christians. All have their own agenda, and that agenda is almost universally selfish, arrogant, and loud. We are far better off seeking fellowship in the flesh, at our local church, and leaving the Web to itself, meeting together in a group that can look one another in the eye and realize the zinging one-line put-down is absolutely out of place in such a community.
Look at the examples in this forum and others. Here we see fellow Baptists dividing along doctrinal lines: The SBC lines up against the ABC, and the IFB touts legalism while the Anabaptists (Mennonites) preach love without repentence, or responsibility to God or fellow man.
I come on here hoping things have changed, only to be disappointed time and time again. Members bash members, and moderators wield their power against the wrong people, and the wrong posts, teaching "tolerance" which is actually enforced acceptance. Catholics and Pentecostals come here wearing the guise of Baptists for the purpose of bashing our various Baptist denominations -- and some of our Baptists do the same, unfortunately, to the Catholic and Pentecostal forums. All of them, to my way of thinking, deny through that dishonesty the very faith they claim.
There seems to be a tremendous need among our members (and for that matter, everywhere on CF) to be right, to the exclusion of modeling Christ. News flash folks: God doesn't care if you're right so much as He cares if you show L-O-V-E. There is sadly little of that particular act around here. Perhaps that is why there is no "here" here.
In short, this place resembles the world. It shouldn't. It ought to look better than that. Unfortunately, it doesn't even look as good as most churches, and as bad as many of them look, the fact that most look better than this forum, and this web site, is indicative of a very sad state of affairs for this place, a place that claims to be about and for Christians.
A community of believers does not chide and chastise the less learned, but loves and cares for one another.
A community of believers does not debate doctrine with ferocity, but embraces the hurting and the lost with tenacity.
A community of believers does not shoot its own wounded, but disciples and encourages everyone.
Those things are what makes a church worth going to, what makes it a place to enjoy, a place in which to worship and fellowship. Those things make a church "here" for us.
There is no "here" here. Therefore, I will no longer be "here" but "there" -- in my church, where people are real, with all their foibles, follies and faults. Where there is an actual, physical "here" to be.
Electrons don't make a community. People make a community. We are bits and bytes in this forum, not fleshly people who can touch, talk, and encourage each other. Electrons can't replace flesh. Nor should they. Get out from behind that screen, push your keyboard and mouse aside, put on your coat, grab your car keys, and go be with people! Go to church, or small groups, or prayer meeting, or just call a couple friends from church and go eat pizza.
Don't hang around "here." There is no "here" here.
When we seek fellowship, we are looking for companionship, friendship, solace. After over a year, I've come to realize that there is no such thing as a cyber-community of Christians. All have their own agenda, and that agenda is almost universally selfish, arrogant, and loud. We are far better off seeking fellowship in the flesh, at our local church, and leaving the Web to itself, meeting together in a group that can look one another in the eye and realize the zinging one-line put-down is absolutely out of place in such a community.
Look at the examples in this forum and others. Here we see fellow Baptists dividing along doctrinal lines: The SBC lines up against the ABC, and the IFB touts legalism while the Anabaptists (Mennonites) preach love without repentence, or responsibility to God or fellow man.
I come on here hoping things have changed, only to be disappointed time and time again. Members bash members, and moderators wield their power against the wrong people, and the wrong posts, teaching "tolerance" which is actually enforced acceptance. Catholics and Pentecostals come here wearing the guise of Baptists for the purpose of bashing our various Baptist denominations -- and some of our Baptists do the same, unfortunately, to the Catholic and Pentecostal forums. All of them, to my way of thinking, deny through that dishonesty the very faith they claim.
There seems to be a tremendous need among our members (and for that matter, everywhere on CF) to be right, to the exclusion of modeling Christ. News flash folks: God doesn't care if you're right so much as He cares if you show L-O-V-E. There is sadly little of that particular act around here. Perhaps that is why there is no "here" here.
In short, this place resembles the world. It shouldn't. It ought to look better than that. Unfortunately, it doesn't even look as good as most churches, and as bad as many of them look, the fact that most look better than this forum, and this web site, is indicative of a very sad state of affairs for this place, a place that claims to be about and for Christians.
A community of believers does not chide and chastise the less learned, but loves and cares for one another.
A community of believers does not debate doctrine with ferocity, but embraces the hurting and the lost with tenacity.
A community of believers does not shoot its own wounded, but disciples and encourages everyone.
Those things are what makes a church worth going to, what makes it a place to enjoy, a place in which to worship and fellowship. Those things make a church "here" for us.
There is no "here" here. Therefore, I will no longer be "here" but "there" -- in my church, where people are real, with all their foibles, follies and faults. Where there is an actual, physical "here" to be.
Electrons don't make a community. People make a community. We are bits and bytes in this forum, not fleshly people who can touch, talk, and encourage each other. Electrons can't replace flesh. Nor should they. Get out from behind that screen, push your keyboard and mouse aside, put on your coat, grab your car keys, and go be with people! Go to church, or small groups, or prayer meeting, or just call a couple friends from church and go eat pizza.
Don't hang around "here." There is no "here" here.