Can Only Mods Solve This Problem?

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Hidden In Him

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I have come across a new problem this weekend (well, it's new for me anyway); one that appears can only be solved by the moderators, if they so choose to. I formally invite the mods to post on this thread as well.

Here is the dilemma:

Suppose you have a member or members who post threads espousing heresy, but when their arguments are challenged they refuse to address the counter-arguments, and instead use every evasive tactic in the book. But they then turn around and continue to post thread after thread openly claiming that no one can refute their claims. Now many may know who I am referring to specifically here as having inspired me to write this thread, and some may actually side with him doctrinally, and therefore not see what he is teaching as heresy. But for the sake of argument, just suppose we are talking here about someone you DO believe teaches heresy.

See, the situation leaves the forum (and by that I mean any forum) with the following problem, and puts moderators in a difficult position. Members who can pick apart the flaws in their theology nevertheless really can't fix the problem. Such members really have only one of two choices as I see it:

1. Either continue to refute and refute and refute them all day long, every day, as if that has now become their new occupation in life (even though their posts will be almost completely ignored by the offending party), or

2. Simply allow the person to continue teaching falsehoods unchallenged, day after day. And when you are dealing with someone who boasts openly in every thread that no one can challenge or refute their claims, onlookers who view such threads continually going unchallenged may therefore be inclined to believe they actually are un-refutable.

Because membership can't fix such a problem, it forces moderators to have to make a determination themselves about whether what is taught is heresy or not, since the problem can only be solved by outside intervention from site management.

Any thoughts? I post this out of concern for saving Christian forums in general from being undermined by a rather insidious problem, but especially ours. This is a good community, and it's a problem I'm having a hard time seeing can be solved by the membership alone.

This is not an attack on the offending party in question, nor is it posted out of resentment. I'm simply coming up empty, as it is an especially tough dilemma to figure out a good solution for.

Blessings in Christ, and thanks for considering the issue.
Hidden In Him
________________

Updated: Should anyone be just now finding this thread (as of Monday afternoon at 2:30 PM) and want to reply, please read through things first. Chances are your argument may have already been dealt with in the thread, possibly several times, so out of courtesy please read through things first before responding.

Thanks!
Hidden
 
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GodsGrace

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How does one determine heresy?
There are so many wild ideas out there today that are taught by
preachers and churches that I would be hesitant to have to decide this.

A heresy is any teaching that goes against the orthodox beliefs.

heresy
/ˈhɛrɪsi/

noun
  1. belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
    "Huss was burned for heresy"
    sinonimi: dissension, dissent, dissidence, blasphemy, nonconformity, unorthodoxy, heterodoxy, apostasy, freethinking, schism, faction; Altro
    • opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.

I agree with you that this is a problem.
If I see something said that is not biblical, I do make a comment.
It cannot be left alone.
 

Hidden In Him

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How does one determine heresy?
There are so many wild ideas out there today that are taught by
preachers and churches that I would be hesitant to have to decide this.

A heresy is any teaching that goes against the orthodox beliefs.

heresy
/ˈhɛrɪsi/

noun
  1. belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
    "Huss was burned for heresy"
    sinonimi: dissension, dissent, dissidence, blasphemy, nonconformity, unorthodoxy, heterodoxy, apostasy, freethinking, schism, faction; Altro
    • opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.

I agree with you that this is a problem.
If I see something said that is not biblical, I do make a comment.
It cannot be left alone.

I think the issue of how to determine what is heresy and what is not is a separate discussion in and of itself. In this particular situation, it would be incumbent upon the moderators themselves to determine, so it would be more important to them than to us as the membership.
 
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GodsGrace

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I think the issue of how to determine what is heresy and what is not is a separate discussion in and of itself. In this particular situation, it would be incumbent upon the moderators themselves to determine, so it would be more important to them than to us as the membership.
I'm not sure which thread you're speaking of.
I just started going through one which is rather alarming.

If we're to ask the mods to do what you're saying...
a determination would have to be made as to what a heresy is.

If someone does not wish to reply and only insists on playing a game...
maybe we should not reply? I don't know.
 

Not me

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I have come across a new problem this weekend (well, it's new for me anyway); one that appears can only be solved by the moderators, if they so choose to. I formally invite the mods to post on this thread as well.

Here is the dilemma:

Suppose you have a member or members who post threads espousing heresy, but when their arguments are challenged they refuse to address the counter-arguments, and instead use every evasive tactic in the book. But they then turn around and continue to post thread after thread openly claiming that no one can refute their claims. Now many may know who I am referring to specifically here as having inspired me to write this thread, and some may actually side with him doctrinally, and therefore not see what he is teaching as heresy. But for the sake of argument, just suppose we are talking here about someone you DO believe teaches heresy.

See, the situation leaves the forum (and by that I mean any forum) with the following problem, and puts moderators in a difficult position. Members who can pick apart the flaws in their theology nevertheless really can't fix the problem. Such members have really one of two choices as I see it:

1. Either continue to refute and refute and refute them all day long, every day, as if that has now become their new occupation in life (even though their posts will be almost completely ignored by the offending party), or

2. Simply allow the person to continue teaching falsehoods unchallenged, day after day. And when you are dealing with someone who boasts openly in every thread that no one can challenge or refute their claims, onlookers who view such threads continually going unchallenged may therefore be inclined to believe they actually are un-refutable.

Because membership can't fix such a problem, it forces moderators to have to make a determination themselves about whether what is taught is heresy or not, since the problem can only be solved by outside intervention from site management.

Any thoughts? I post this out of concern for saving Christian forums in general from being undermined by a rather insidious problem, but especially ours. This is a good community, and it's a problem I'm having a hard time seeing can be solved by the membership alone.

This is not an attack on the offending party in question, nor is it posted out of resentment. I'm simply coming up empty at the moment.

Blessings in Christ, and thanks for considering the issue.
Hidden In Him

Hi;

The question than becomes who’s the arbiter of what’s correct doctrine and what’s not.

Something like this I think it’s best left up to God and the fruit the doctrines cause. In the course of time truth has a way of manifesting itself and showing all for what it is.

So I will have to say as Gamaliel said;

‘Leave these people alone, if what their putting forth is of God you can not overcome it, if not it will come to nothing’

(My paraphrase but the intent is mostly there.)

As far as the younger believers that might be swayed. God has a way of protecting His people. So I would always point someone who’s in doubt to what their own personal relationship with Christ is teaching them. For their relationship is their Christianity and it is that relationship that will teach and keep them. (my thinks anyways.)

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me
 

Hidden In Him

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If someone does not wish to reply and only insists on playing a game...
maybe we should not reply? I don't know.

But it still leaves the problem of them boasting to the world that their position cannot be refuted by anyone, which is what makes this problem especially difficult to deal with.

Besides, there's always someone willing to bite, and usually several, LoL.
 
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GodsGrace

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But it still leaves the problem of them boasting to the world that their position cannot be refuted by anyone, which is what makes this problem especially difficult to deal with.

Besides, there's always someone willing to bite, and usually several, LoL.
I agree.
Most of the time I post for those reading along.
New Christians might become confused.
Some persons cannot even HEAR what the other person is saying.
In order to reply,,,one has to listen.
Some don't listen....they just talk.

The problem is that if they're quoting scripture...I don't think the mods
can do too much about it.

I think they just need to be refuted for the sake of those reading along.
 

Hidden In Him

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Something like this I think it’s best left up to God and the fruit the doctrines cause. In the course of time truth has a way of manifesting itself and showing all for what it is.

So I will have to say as Gamaliel said;

‘Leave these people alone, if what their putting forth is of God you can not overcome it, if not it will come to nothing’

Good response. But now, the uniqueness of online Christian Forums comes into play here. When these words were spoken, the dynamic was different. Had Gamalial been asked how to deal with those among his own fellowship his answer would have been different. He would have urged that the member be rebuked, and if necessary excommunicated. As I see it, this becomes the role of the moderators in a Christian community.
As far as the younger believers that might be swayed. God has a way of protecting His people. So I would always point someone who’s in doubt to what their own personal relationship with Christ is teaching them.

Umm... I think we take a slightly different view here. There is such a thing as Christian leadership in such instances, and protecting the unlearned from deception (2 Timothy 4:2). The question is, is this indeed a matter that only leadership at the forums can solve.
 
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GodsGrace

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@Hidden In Him

Hard moderating is also a problem.
Can you believe I've been banned from a forum?
I posted there exactly as I do here....but persons there
"report" you and to moderators make it easy and just give you
points. This is very unfair and I don't care for that.

We also should be able to speak our mind as long as we're not putting down anyone in a serious manner. I feel like we're all adults and should be able to handle ourselves.

I do agree with you about new Christians being helped along and not left to their own thoughts. The problem is that we all think we're right!
 
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Hidden In Him

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@Hidden In Him

Hard moderating is also a problem.
Can you believe I've been banned from a forum?

I have too, and for ridiculous reasons. It's why I rarely visit there much any more if at all. But that's again part of what makes this dilemma so difficult to solve. I like the freedom we have here, yet nevertheless this is a problem that would generate endless strife, and could be exploited by the enemy until a solution was found, and I'm not just talking about Satan using one member in particular to do it. Once it became apparent that forums had no solution for this problem, you would see increasing numbers of people using this same tactic. It allows them to save face and promote themselves as great "wise men" while not having to answer for what they are teaching to anyone; anyone other than "God" that is. :rolleyes:
 
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GodsGrace

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What Jesus taught was condemned by the entire "official" church of that day as, HERETICAL HERESY.
We'd best just heed the words of Gamaliel when he told the Sanhedrin they needed to back down. We are not God.
Great point.
 

Hidden In Him

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What Jesus taught was condemned by the entire "official" church of that day as, HERETICAL HERESY.
We best just heed the words of Gamaliel when he told the Sanhedrin they needed to back down. We are not God.

Respond to post #8 for me Willie. I understand we are not God, but inaction when action was called for has led to the downfall of many.
 
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GodsGrace

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I have too, and for ridiculous reasons. It's why I rarely visit there much any more if at all. But that's again part of what makes this dilemma so difficult to solve. I like the freedom we have here, yet nevertheless this is a problem that would generate endless strife, and could be exploited by the enemy until a solution was found, and I'm not just talking about Satan using one member in particular to do it. Once it became apparent that forums had no solution for this problem, you would see increasing numbers of people using this same tactic. It allows them to save face and promote themselves as great "wise men" while not having to answer for what they are teaching to anyone; anyone other than "God" that is. :rolleyes:
Sometimes I wonder why someone undersands a person so much better than I do.
A couple of persons understood that member and, quite frankly, I STILL don't.
I think it's because I know less about some topics...for instance I still don't understand dispensationalism too well.

So I wonder if it maybe isn't "language".
We don't all speak the same language.

Another thing I've seen is 2 or 3 travelling together to swarm the forum with their beliefs and just attack everyone.

And nothing could be done unless they specifically broke a TOS.

Maybe there is no solution?
 

Not me

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Good response. But now, the uniqueness of online Christian Forums comes into play here. When these words were spoken, the dynamic was different. Had Gamalial been asked how to deal with those among his own fellowship his answer would have been different. He would have urged that the member be rebuked, and if necessary excommunicated. As I see it, this becomes the role of the moderators in a Christian community.


Umm... I think we take a slightly different view here. There is such a thing as Christian leadership in such instances, and protecting the unlearned from deception (2 Timothy 4:2). The question is, is this indeed a matter that only leadership at the forums can solve.

1) You are only speculating on what Gamaliel would say now a-days

2) We are God’s workmanship not ours, He is building His body not us. I believe/feel God will protect the hearts that are His. If your or anyone’s heart says they should speak, they need to do so. But in the end, obedience to the Spirit of Christ in us is what is necessary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But that’s fine, if you have different thoughts than me, you asked for thoughts, I put forth mine.

For;

Each and every person will have to stand before God and give account of themselves. But only up to the standard to which they have obtained. So you might be right, and see more, but as long as the peace of Christ in your heart is that which you are following, I wish you all good things in Christ.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me
 

Willie T

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Respond to post #8 for me Willie. I understand we are not God, but inaction when action was called for has led to the downfall of many.
I do that sort of thing in almost half the posts I make. We need to reply with what "we see" as the truth.... NOT be like the mods of other forums we complain about who ban people because their posts do not align with the thinking of the majority. (Frankly, this is the exact thinking of most of the political party people today)
 
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Willie T

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Sometimes I wonder why someone undersands a person so much better than I do.
A couple of persons understood that member and, quite frankly, I STILL don't.
I think it's because I know less about some topics...for instance I still don't understand dispensationalism too well.

So I wonder if it maybe isn't "language".
We don't all speak the same language.

Another thing I've seen is 2 or 3 travelling together to swarm the forum with their beliefs and just attack everyone.

And nothing could be done unless they specifically broke a TOS.

Maybe there is no solution?
Do you really want to control the thinking and language of others?
 
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GodsGrace

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Do you really want to control the thinking and language of others?
No.
What I'm saying is that it's not easy to speak spiritually.
We might totally misunderstand what someone means....
Different denominations use different phrases for the same idea.

Far be it for ME to want to control thinking or language.
I grew up with 1984/Brave New World/Farenheit 451 (the temp at which paper burns).

I believe in freedom...trouble is; there's not much of it left.
 

GodsGrace

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Take all the "action" you want.... but do any of us have the right to tell others they cannot have an opinion that differs from ours?
But is Christianity an "opinion"?
Does being a Christian mean anything anymore?

It's one thing to understand baptism differently....
It's another thing to declare we need not obey God.