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
I have just found this thread!! And am very tired, so I will just say this one thing. In the OT God gives us a understanding about this very thing, and I believe it is similar to what you are expressing. If there is among you, a brother who tries to lead you into worshiping other deity's,
In other words lead you into false doctrine's, do not listen to them!! And if by all means Ignore them, for they shall reap their own Reward!
There is an old saying, Kill them All, and let God sort them out. Refuse to respond, and they will find another source to spew their stuff!
God has Your Back, The Spirit has Your Heart, and Our Savior has Your Soul, and the Truth will Expose Itself!!
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
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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