Christian Debate Etiquette: Lovingly Disagreeing

[Wynona]

I know some of the users see rudeness as "tough love to wake others from their delusion." But does it ever work?


James 1:20

New King James Version
for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

 

[Wynona]

A very successful Christian author told me that her rule for keeping her sanity on internet forums is to say what she has to say in one post per thread and never go back - not even to look at what others have said about her post. Disabling the alert feature so you don't even see when someone quotes your post can facilitate this approach. I adopt it from time to time. Even if you post more than once, the real nastiness can generally be avoided by not quoting others or responding directly to their posts (I say as I respond directly to your post!).

Wow. Hard to believe there's someone who eclipses my aloofness that much. That's some top tier sanity maintenance.

Sorry, but God has already assigned that persona to O'Darby. It's going over fairly well, at least in the short term.

Hopefully you feel at home. They put up with me for years, Im sure there's plenty of room for all types.

 

[Behold]

I know some of the users see rudeness as "tough love to wake others from their delusion." But does it ever work?
James 1:20
New King James Version
for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

If a Forum wants a forum that is a place of mostly peace, then its easily done.

Here is how you do it.

Ban certain Topics, as there are only a handful that cause the meanness and the strife and the chaos and "every evil work".

Ban these 7 topics, from DISCUSSION.. and this forum will become the only NICE Forum, " Christian Friendly", on the Internet.

Ban these 7 Topics, and mean it.........Change the TOS< to......>"if you Thread this Topic", If you post about this Topic".. You will be warned once. The 2nd Time, you will be banned for a MONTH,.
The 3rd time, you are Banned for Life by your IP Address so dont try to change your alt and come back...

What are the Topics?

1.) You can lose your Salvation

2.) Catholicism or Mary

3. ) Calvinism... including "TULIP" or any discussion related to "pre-destined elect"

4.) Trinity

5.) OSAS

6.) Water Baptism is Required for Salvation

7.) Law and Commandments are REQUIRED for Salvation


What Forum will do it?

Good luck with that.... and why good luck? Its because most people on "christian" forums dont want to learn any Bible, they want to kick and scratch and fight about those 7 topics, and so if you take them away, they have nothing left.. no reason to be here tomorrow.

Thats a fact.
Believe it.

 

[Wynona]

If a Forum wants a forum that is a place of peace, then its easily done.

Here is how you do it.

Ban certain Topics, as there are only a handful that cause the meanness and the strife and the chaos and "every evil work".

Ban these 7 topics, from DISCUSSION.. and this forum will become the only NICE Forum, "Friendly", on the Internet.

Ban these 7 Topics, and mean it.........Change the TOS< to......>"if you Thread this Topic", If you post about this Topic".. You will be warned once. The 2nd Time, you will be banned for a MONTH,.
The 3rd time, you are Banned for Life .

What are the Topics?

1.) You can lose your Salvation

2.) Catholicism or Mary

3. ) Calvinism... including "TULIP" or any discussion related to "pre-destined elect"

4.) Trinity

5.) OSAS

6.) Water Baptism is Required for Salvation

7.) Law and Commandments are REQUIRED for Salvation


What Forum will do it?

Good luck with that....

Would you like some virtual cookies?

Please take one. Have a blessed day.

 

[Stumpmaster]

If a Forum wants a forum that is a place of mostly peace, then its easily done.

Here is how you do it.

Ban certain Topics, as there are only a handful that cause the meanness and the strife and the chaos and "every evil work".

Ban these 7 topics, from DISCUSSION.. and this forum will become the only NICE Forum, " Christian Friendly", on the Internet.

Ban these 7 Topics, and mean it.........Change the TOS< to......>"if you Thread this Topic", If you post about this Topic".. You will be warned once. The 2nd Time, you will be banned for a MONTH,.
The 3rd time, you are Banned for Life .

What are the Topics?

1.) You can lose your Salvation

2.) Catholicism or Mary

3. ) Calvinism... including "TULIP" or any discussion related to "pre-destined elect"

4.) Trinity

5.) OSAS

6.) Water Baptism is Required for Salvation

7.) Law and Commandments are REQUIRED for Salvation


What Forum will do it?

Good luck with that.... and why good luck? Its because most people on forums dont want to learn any Bible, they want to kick and scratch and fight about those 7 topics, and so if you take them away, they have nothing left.. no reason to be here.

Thats a fact.
Believe it.

There would still be whack jobs showing how mixed up they are.

 

[St. SteVen]

I always say forums are like walking into a crowded Walmart and shouting "Hey, what does everybody think about the Dead Sea Scrolls?"

LOL

/

 

[Mr E]

Would you like some virtual cookies?

Please take one. Have a blessed day.

Wynona's in a mood.

Total eclipse of the heart.

 

[St. SteVen]

There is a very useful 'ignore' option on this site.

Sometimes I wish it worked an Staff Members. - LOL

/

 

[marks]

There would still be whack jobs showing how mixed up they are.

When I've moderated on forums, removing the whack jobs did a lot towards a more peaceable forum. Banning those who routinely engaged in ad hominem was sufficient for the most part.

Much love!

 

[Wynona]

Wynona's in a mood.

Total eclipse of the heart.

That was genuinely funny.

 

[Aunty Jane]

What Forum will do it?

An undefended faith is not worth having, so if you banned those topics, with no discussion allowed, the faith of those who can’t defend what they believe, would stagnate and remain weak.
What should be banned is not the subject matter, but the vitriolic personal attacks, made in ignorance of the subject matter. Debate is healthy when responses correct faulty thinking on matters of scripture. How can people make an informed choice if they don’t hear all the arguments, well supported by God’s word instead of just blind ignorance?

Jesus taught many things that the Jews had lost due to bad leadership and false teachings….but he did not mince words in his defense of the truth….he defended it so that honest hearted people could see the reasoning behind what they were being taught, and the harmony that is maintained in all Bible teachings.

The forum you dream about would just be full of your beliefs, with no challenge allowed….who would bother?

 

[St. SteVen]

Debate is healthy when responses correct faulty thinking on matters of scripture.

Can you name a forum interchange where you accepted correction?
That would seem uncharacteristic in my memory.

Other than that, I liked your post.

/

 

[APAK]

An undefended faith is not worth having, so if you banned those topics, with no discussion allowed, the faith of those who can’t defend what they believe, would stagnate and remain weak.
What should be banned is not the subject matter, but the vitriolic personal attacks, made in ignorance of the subject matter. Debate is healthy when responses correct faulty thinking on matters of scripture. How can people make an informed choice if they don’t hear all the arguments, well supported by God’s word instead of just blind ignorance?

Jesus taught many things that the Jews had lost due to bad leadership and false teachings….but he did not mince words in his defense of the truth….he defended it so that honest hearted people could see the reasoning behind what they were being taught, and the harmony that is maintained in all Bible teachings.

The forum you dream about would just be full of your beliefs, with no challenge allowed….who would bother?

That's a fair and balanced assessment AJ.

I find there are too many folks who assume the wrong ideas about a poster and their message, quick to judge without acquiring more information; especially when a new subject is addressed. Now I must say in all fairness that if that poster/person does not clearly explain their 'unique' position or attempts to hide it, then they do ask for this type of negative exchange and response.

Nevertheless, many do have preconceived ideas about some posters by their usage of certain words and their confidence and persistence in their message. And then those suspicious of their motives, or ignorant of their subject matter, search for the closest label or tag to call them, especially if their own arguments go south or are weak or they still do not bother to ask for more feedback and clarification. This then enables them to close down the discussion prematurely on their own terms, and that's what they think they have done. Or did they? This can easy fester...

And this is also usually encouraged by others of the same persuasion and beliefs towards that particular poster. An inconsiderate mental bandwagon effect ensues and a kind of group-think where a mindless mob is formed, ganging up on on particular person. Seen this many times on forums, although on this site, not so much.

 

[Mr E]

And this is also usually encouraged by others of the same persuasion and beliefs towards that particular poster. An inconsiderate mental bandwagon effect ensues and a kind of group-think where a mindless mob is formed, ganging up on on particular person. Seen this many times on forums, although on this site, not so much.

This site has become one of the best. It's not so much things they've done here, but things that they resist doing.

Now..... about the Trinity.... lol

 

[APAK]

This site has become one of the best. It's not so much things they've done here, but things that they resist doing.

Now..... about the Trinity.... lol

Ok Mr. E you are hitting a low blow and I can take it though..ouch....

 

[Aunty Jane]

Can you name a forum interchange where you accepted correction?
That would seem uncharacteristic in my memory.

Other than that, I liked your post.

I will stand corrected on anything that is proven to me to be in error….I have not had such an exchange and if I was so ‘wishy washy’ in my beliefs as to be swayed by every wind of teaching, then I have no conviction….(James 1:5-8)
An unconvicted faith can very easily be derailed…..which is why I study and prove to myself that what I acept as truth is backed up 100% by God’s word……what it actually says in its entirety, not what I want the words to say to satisfy my own view of who I believe God should be….and how he should conduct his business.

 

[St. SteVen]

New topic to explore.

Where did the Bible come from? - Shot out of a canon

/

 

[St. SteVen]

St. SteVen said:
Can you name a forum interchange where you accepted correction?
That would seem uncharacteristic in my memory.

I will stand corrected on anything that is proven to me to be in error….I have not had such an exchange and if I was so ‘wishy washy’ in my beliefs as to be swayed by every wind of teaching, then I have no conviction….(James 1:5-8)

I'll take that as a "No."

I liked your whole post. Thanks.

/

 

[Behold]

An undefended faith is not worth having, so if you banned those topics, with no discussion allowed, the faith of those who can’t defend what they believe, would stagnate and remain weak.

You are confusing false theology with Faith.

Listen, the reason that "christian forums'" are spiritual poison, is because people who have no understanding of God's Grace, and have no relationship to the Cross of Christ, are allowed to park and preach and teach and lie, on FORUMS.

And that is proven over and over, day after day, as they rant their obsession with their ONE TOPIC... and don't care about anything but SPITTING that out over and over.

And i showed you the 7 Topics.

 

[Mr E]

You are confusing false theology with Faith.

Listen, the reason that "christian forums'" are spiritual poison, is because people who have no understanding of God's Grace, and have no relationship to the Cross of Christ, are allowed to park and preach and teach and lie, on FORUMS.

And that is proven over and over, day after day, as they rant their obsession with their ONE TOPIC... and don't care about anything but SPITTING that out over and over.

And i showed you the 7 Topics.

You've been allowed to park and preach and rant more than 15,000 times. -and you spit when you shouted SPITTING.