Christian Forums....Why did you join?

[Heart2Soul]

I remember when I first joined a Christian Forum it was my hope and expectation to find a place where I could find fellowship and develop friendships with like-minded Christians...a place to find encouragement and support.

It didn't take long to realize that it wasn't such an easy task to accomplish....yes there were a few that I have truly enjoyed conversing with and others I have come to love as a brother or sister.

What surprised me the most was the amount of anger and abuse exchanged between members...especially in the spiritual gifts area.

I continued to go to the forum everyday and even had hopes of being a blessing to others who were seeking the same thing as myself. However, it didn't take long for me to get defensive against the scorners and haters of my posts or threads and soon I was responding to them with the same amount of anger as they were using towards me. I had to take a few breaks away from the forums to pray and seek God about this issue...He finally helped me come to the point that I can love my brothers and sisters in Christ here even if we don't believe the same things. (I still get angry and have to take mini breaks but it's better than staying involved and becoming the very thing I am opposing.)

I am kind of ranting here without any purpose other than to express openly how many feel on this forum.

This is an open forum to many denominational doctrines of faith and we must learn to accept one another's beliefs without trying to shove our own down their throats.

I came here to find my family and my church....a place where I felt I belong.....Why did you come here?

@Helen @amadeus @Nancy @Josho...

just naming a few...to get you to come in and join the convo.

 

[Bobby Jo]

... because 1 Cor. 14:26 says we are ALL PARTICIPANTS in the Body of Christ, -- not just the HIRELING who pronounces his perspectives Week after Week after Week after Week after ... -- well, you get the idea.

So exactly who joins a gym to watch the "trainer" use each piece of equipment, and then walks out the door weaker than when he/she came in? -- It's EXACTLY what happens in a church. We "pay" membership but how many of us have been handed the Book of Isaiah?

I tell you, the Scribes and Pharisees which we disdain are MORE RIGHTEOUS than our own "pastors", because they at least gave Jesus an opportunity to Teach/Preach. But we're not only denied the ability to participate, -- I've specifically been EXCLUDED from participation and TWO "pastors" made BALD FACED LIES in the process. But that happens when we have HIRELINGS.

And so "fellowship" comes in Saturday Coffee at the Donut Shop; in casual conversations; and in this Forum!
Bobby Jo

 

[Heart2Soul]

... because 1 Cor. 14:26 says we are ALL PARTICIPANTS in the Body of Christ, -- not just the HIRELING who pronounces his perspectives Week after Week after Week after Week after ... -- well, you get the idea.

So exactly who joins a gym to watch the "trainer" use each piece of equipment, and then walks out the door weaker than when he/she came in? -- It's EXACTLY what happens in a church. We "pay" membership but how many of us have been handed the Book of Isaiah?

I tell you, the Scribes and Pharisees which we disdain are MORE RIGHTEOUS than our own "pastors", because they at least gave Jesus an opportunity to Teach/Preach. But we're not only denied the ability to participate, -- I've specifically been EXCLUDED from participation and TWO "pastors" made BALD FACED LIES in the process. But that happens when we have HIRELINGS.

And so "fellowship" comes in Saturday Coffee at the Donut Shop; in casual conversations; and in this Forum!
Bobby Jo

Well put Bobby Jo!....I think that is the error of many pastors....they are to train up others to be disciples of Christ and skilled in the Word as they are....sadly all they have done is made us pew warmers.

 

[Philip James]

I came here to find my family and my church....a place where I felt I belong.....Why did you come here?

Hello H2S,

I came to hand out invitations to the wedding feast of the Lamb of God.

All are welcome to come to the Feast!

Peace be with you!

 

[Heart2Soul]

Hello H2S,

I came to hand out invitations to the wedding feast of the Lamb of God.

All are welcome to come to the Feast!

Peace be with you!

Awesome! I plan to be there!

 

[Hidden In Him]

I remember when I first joined a Christian Forum it was my hope and expectation to find a place where I could find fellowship and develop friendships with like-minded Christians...a place to find encouragement and support.

It didn't take long to realize that it wasn't such an easy task to accomplish....yes there were a few that I have truly enjoyed conversing with and others I have come to love as a brother or sister.

What surprised me the most was the amount of anger and abuse exchanged between members...especially in the spiritual gifts area.

I continued to go to the forum everyday and even had hopes of being a blessing to others who were seeking the same thing as myself. However, it didn't take long for me to get defensive against the scorners and haters of my posts or threads and soon I was responding to them with the same amount of anger as they were using towards me. I had to take a few breaks away from the forums to pray and seek God about this issue...He finally helped me come to the point that I can love my brothers and sisters in Christ here even if we don't believe the same things. (I still get angry and have to take mini breaks but it's better than staying involved and becoming the very thing I am opposing.)

I am kind of ranting here without any purpose other than to express openly how many feel on this forum.

This is an open forum to many denominational doctrines of faith and we must learn to accept one another's beliefs without trying to shove our own down their throats.

I came here to find my family and my church....a place where I felt I belong.....Why did you come here?

@Helen @amadeus @Nancy @Josho...

just naming a few...to get you to come in and join the convo.

I came because I was led by the King of kings and Lord of lords...

a bit like a lamb to the slaughter, LoL. But I wear so much armor now I'm like a tank with arms and legs.

On my better days, I'm not even taking things seriously. But I'm still packin', just in case:

What a shame for such a tender-hearted soul!

Food for your thoughts, sister.

 

[Heart2Soul]

I came because I was led by the King of kings and Lord of lords...

a bit like a lamb to the slaughter, LoL. But I wear so much armor now I'm like a tank with arms and legs.

On my better days, I'm not even taking things seriously. But I'm still packin', just in case:

What a shame for such a tender-hearted soul!

Food for your thoughts, sister.

Good job on wearing that armor! it is definitely a requirement these days!
Always love your sense of humor!

 

[Yan]

I like to share my struggle against the works of the sins (devil snares), so that others can learn how the devil snares works into our lives everyday through tv, movies, internet, etc. And how they does affect our lives to brings us into sins, by knowing the reality we can filter which is good and bad to our lives. I hope you can be more aware of current world situation, how to acknowledge them and how to take an action as a Godly children about our current world environment and live with that.

 

[Heart2Soul]

I like to share my struggle against the works of the sins (devil snares), so that others can learn how the devil snares works into our lives everyday through tv, movies, internet, etc. And how they does affect our lives to brings us into sins, by knowing the reality we can filter which is good and bad to our lives. I hope you can be more aware of current world situation, how to acknowledge them and how to take an action as a Godly children about our current world environment and live with that.

Testimonies are an excellent way to help others and it gives God the Glory!
scripture says....they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of out testimony!

 

[amadeus]

@Heart2Soul
My introduction to Christian forums happened during the same period of time I was struggling to come back from 10 years away from any purposeful connection with God. I was backslid. God finally allowed me to return but with severe chastisement. I came back to the physical church group where I had been 10 years before and at about the same time I encountered and joined my first Christian Internet group with a Yahoo group. From there by necessity as forums changed, or closed, or died, I passed through probably 12 to 15 different forums. I knew what I was looking for in my heart but could not formulate it in my brain or express with my mouth or on a keyboard for some time.

I wanted an openness where I could hear from others what I did not know or understand about God and the things of God. I did not know really initially that God would want me to sometimes share things with others.

I thought I was supposed to have that openness already where was I attending offnet in a physical church building. They were better in some ways than others, but as I came to understand they had their own set of unwritten rules which also taught people to quench the Holy Spirit in favor of something... Something that turned out to be mammon... I believe that there is a lot of that mammon here on this forum too... even in me... but is there also help available to grow closer to God.

So then in the better part of 20 years on forums I have grown at least in part due to what I have heard from the multitude of views expressed in by others. The first 'good' forum was probably that CF I hear people here periodically complain about. After a good year or so there they came under new management and implemented a new rule which required a person to confirm his belief in their "Statement of faith" in order to remain a "Christian" able to participate in all of their sub-forums. Due to my refusal I was reclassified as a "non-Christian" with only limited access. The place had gotten too big anyway.

Then began the bouncing from this forum to that one through many different ones until a few years ago I was invited back to this one. I had been an inactive member here for years before the new invitation by @Angelina

Some things I don't like here, but overall there is nothing better around of which I am aware. I wish there something similar where I could visit in the flesh, but I haven't found such a critter and the Covid 19 lockdown makes further searching difficult. [I cannot return to the one where I was last.] So here I am now sometimes too much of the time.

 

[Yan]

Ephesians 5:8-16
8. for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light –
9. for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth –
10. trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.
13. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.
14. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”
15. Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise,
16. taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Teach your children to not be apart of current sinful world environment, so that you can forward the kingdom of God on this earth.

 

[Heart2Soul]

My introduction to Christian forums happened during the same period of time I was struggling to come back from 10 years away from any purposeful connection with God. I was backslid.

Me too!....I mean I had already come back to having a relationship with Him but I had no fellowship with other believers....at the time I didn't have a vehicle so I couldn't get around and attend any churches. I would watch TV preachers but still no fellowship or interaction....one night I searched for Christian chat rooms and found the forums....@Hidden in Him has kind of led me around from the CF forum where we first met to this one....God is so good because He knows who and when to put someone in your path.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

I joined because I enjoy chatting with other people whom love Christ.

Some people here I really get along with. Some people like to engage in certain conversations/methods that I don't, so I duck out of those.

 

[amadeus]

Me too!....I mean I had already come back to having a relationship with Him but I had no fellowship with other believers....at the time I didn't have a vehicle so I couldn't get around and attend any churches. I would watch TV preachers but still no fellowship or interaction....one night I searched for Christian chat rooms and found the forums....@Hidden in Him has kind of led me around from the CF forum where we first met to this one....God is so good because He knows who and when to put someone in your path.

But absolutely! I have several testimonies as to how God led me to one place or away from another place, where there is no doubt in my mind that it was Him. He does use people to do this... but sometimes... not!

One of my hardest breaking away or "coming out of her" was when I had to quit my last offline church group. When I was not backslid I always had a home church. Now for a year and a half I have been serving God without a home church. I have gotten used to it and have kind of resigned myself to the possibility that God will never put in a place like that again... but then who am I to second guess God? Praise His name!

 

[Heart2Soul]

I joined because I enjoy chatting with other people whom love Christ.

Some people here I really get along with. Some people like to engage in certain conversations/methods that I don't, so I duck out of those.

That's wisdom sister.....avoid any form of strife and conversations that do not bring Glory to God!

 

[Heart2Soul]

But absolutely! I have several testimonies as to how God led me to one place or away from another place, where there is no doubt in my mind that it was Him. He does use people to do this... but sometimes... not!

One of my hardest breaking away or "coming out of her" was when I had to quit my last offline church group. When I was not backslid I always had a home church. Now for a year and a half I have been serving God without a home church. I have gotten used to it and have kind of resigned myself to the possibility that God will never put in a place like that again... but then who am I to second guess God? Praise His name!

I know without a shadow of a doubt that God brought me here....and made you guys my family and my church. I get really sad when I haven't seen or heard from a member in a while....sometimes due to personal tragedy other times due to the kind of rhetoric happening here on the threads....well by God's Grace and Wisdom we will overcome these striving spirits and become even closer and stronger as a body of Christ.
A three-stranded cord is not easily broken...Amen?

 

[Bobby Jo]

Well put Bobby Jo!....I think that is the error of many pastors....they are to train up others to be disciples of Christ and skilled in the Word as they are....sadly all they have done is made us pew warmers.

Dear H2S,

I believe the saddest commentary is that if the church doesn't "exercise", it won't have the strength to stand when endurance is required. And how many will participate in the Great Falling Away because of the pew-warmer system?!?

Rev. 13:10 ... Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Rev. 14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.​

WVBR,
Bobby Jo

 

[Heart2Soul]

Dear H2S,

I believe the saddest commentary is that if the church doesn't "exercise", it won't have the strength to stand when endurance is required. And how many will participate in the Great Falling Away because of the pew-warmer system?!?

Rev. 13:10 ... Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Rev. 14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.​

WVBR,
Bobby Jo

I feel you....I know I have a voice to speak....I just need a place to say what He wants us to hear.

 

[Waiting on him]

I remember when I first joined a Christian Forum it was my hope and expectation to find a place where I could find fellowship and develop friendships with like-minded Christians...a place to find encouragement and support.

It didn't take long to realize that it wasn't such an easy task to accomplish....yes there were a few that I have truly enjoyed conversing with and others I have come to love as a brother or sister.

What surprised me the most was the amount of anger and abuse exchanged between members...especially in the spiritual gifts area.

I continued to go to the forum everyday and even had hopes of being a blessing to others who were seeking the same thing as myself. However, it didn't take long for me to get defensive against the scorners and haters of my posts or threads and soon I was responding to them with the same amount of anger as they were using towards me. I had to take a few breaks away from the forums to pray and seek God about this issue...He finally helped me come to the point that I can love my brothers and sisters in Christ here even if we don't believe the same things. (I still get angry and have to take mini breaks but it's better than staying involved and becoming the very thing I am opposing.)

I am kind of ranting here without any purpose other than to express openly how many feel on this forum.

This is an open forum to many denominational doctrines of faith and we must learn to accept one another's beliefs without trying to shove our own down their throats.

I came here to find my family and my church....a place where I felt I belong.....Why did you come here?

@Helen @amadeus @Nancy @Josho...

just naming a few...to get you to come in and join the convo.

Honestly, I just came here to punk my wife.

 

[Waiting on him]

Awesome! I plan to be there!

Would someone please help me reference the wedding feast of the lamb in scripture I asked BOL earlier but he wouldn't answer?