Christian Forums....Why did you join?

[2 Chr. 34:19]

Not sure if anyone has suggested that you have been offensive. But your choice of 2 Chronicles 34:19 is quite an enigma.

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

Back to the OP, I join Christian forums primarily to share Bible truth.

Aah I was reading about Josiah when i joined forum.

 

[2 Chr. 34:19]

I first came on a Christian forum in December 2005. It is when I graduated high school in May 2005 and was allowed to get on social media. I was really looking for support for anxiety/depression issues. I opened up about self injury on Christian Forums and really did find support and prayer. I sort of "grew up" on forums. I found this post on worthy back in 2006. I had forgot I joined on there until I went and checked it out again last month:

---Hello everyone. I am Lily00 and this is my first post here! I just figured I should just go ahead and get it out since I know it is coming sooner or later. I am nineteen years old and by the grace of God, I am still alive! I am getting through one day at a time but support would really be nice. I guess I haven't been depending on God as much as I should. About 4 years ago I had memories come back to me where I was molested when I was young ( I really don't know what is allowed here so please tell me if I need to edit this). Not wanting to believe it, I tried to ignore the feelings that were there and I just let work and school just numb out my feelings. It is true though when the Bible says, "You reap what you sow..." There comes a time when you can't numb something like that out any longer... in a desperate attempt, I stooped to self injury rather then turning to God and letting Him heal my hurting heart... It happened about a year ago and now it is so hard to stop... I learned a little to late. It has left me confused, beaten up, and with feelings of degredation and sorrow. I tried to go to therapy at school when I finally broke down and told my Mom, but the therapist graduated. I had recently went to one counseling session about 10 hours long... but it ended up being fake and more hurting then it actually helped ( I really can't go into it)... Finally I went to my "pastor" at church and though our old pastor resigned and we are recently trying to find a new pastor (financially unstable) the church wanted to help... He found me a christian counselor, she is really nice, and now I am beginning to slowly feel better about myself. I still need your prayers though. If anyone has a similar problem I would like to hear about it. I just feel so alone at times, too weak to stop or even get up... I need to build up my support system but I have always been quite a loner also and with more memories coming back... Does anyone understand this? How do you'll keep focused? God is so good and I just know He is going to break me out of my shell and help me through this. My favorite verse is Phillippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Every word is true and I have recited it a lot in past times when I have thought the wrong things. When I still do. I just need an attitude adjustment I guess. Thanks for listening. Lily00 Confusion is just a little hard I guess.-----

So in May, when I saw I had been a member there (I really had no filter. I was hurting), I was grateful to be able
to share my testimony of what God has done:

I cannot BELIEVE I was a member on here when I was just a KID, got so many kind and uplifting responses, and then have never came back on until now. I haven't been on here in 15 years, because Ive mainly been on CF and been on and off forums through my life.



But listen. This is what God did in my life. He delivered me from depression, anxiety, and self injury. I have been able to forgive my dad for the sexual abuse I endured. I am way closer to God then I was back then. And the more I leaned on Him through those difficult years, the closer I got to Him. I am completely free from self injury. I went into a Christian based program called Teen Challenge and graduated there after a year and a half. Then got some extra support from another program in Indiana. I havent self injured in over ten years now and am completely delivered from this and the shame attached from it. June I will be married for 5 years to a Christian man of God. I have a two year old daughter and am having a son due in July. I am on fire for God and so grateful for what He has done in my life. And the best part? He is still leading and guiding my path. A friend invited me on here. I forgot I joined way back, but knowing how I was searching in my teen years, I tried my old username first. And sure enough. Yep. Gave my life story on a forum of people I don't know. But I guess I am still pretty much an open person.

But God bless ya'll and thank you for being such a support at that time. I was really searching for answers and freedom from childhood demons. And I am definitely grateful for where I am now. I hope to stick around some now! I really love the format and kindness from the people on here. And some pretty interesting threads.

You’re an inspiration-victory in The name of Jesus...I Thank The Lord for your openness...may The Lord bless you and keep you, May He make His face shine upon you and give you peace... ............forever and ever

 

[Mike Waters]

For many years I had been compiling, modifying, and updating, a journal comprised of my discoveries during my search for "What might have happened to the Faith first delivered to the saints".
When I felt that it was near to completion I published it (and still have a few copies).
I then enthusiastically joined my first forum thinking that I would post bits and pieces and use responses as a sort of 'sounding board' to either confirm or correct what I had been compiling.
The signature line that I accordingly adopted was "I say what I think I know in order to help me know what I ought to think" (Rita and Helen may remember).
But 'Forum' soon turned into a compulsive obsession which, over the course of time, I have gradually learned to abhor because of the bigoted opinions of those who clearly think that they have 'seen the light' that, IMO, can never be more than a distorted view of things that can only be seen "as through a glass darkly until we see Christ face to face and finally know even as we are known".
I have now, well and truly expunged both the obsession and the enthusiasm.

 

[Mayflower]

Well Mayflower you have more likes than you have messages, that should tell you something.

Beautiful children,, good job!

Well, God sure did break me out of my shell. Social butterfly now and a lot stronger in my faith. Tests and trials definitely do work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Roman's 8:28)

 

[Mayflower]

You’re an inspiration-victory in The name of Jesus...I Thank The Lord for your openness...may The Lord bless you and keep you, May He make His face shine upon you and give you peace... ............forever and ever

All glory goes to God for sure. And I still have a lot of growing to do, but thankfully nowhere near where I was.

 

[Heart2Soul]

Hi there, @Heart2Soul,

I joined my first forum more years ago that I care to remember, for the same reasons, have had similar experiences to those you express, and have learned similar lessons: but what I am more grateful for than anything is the way that taking part in a discussion has taken my mind to the word of God, to learn what it has to say on the subjects raised. I have learned a great deal by having to do so, and find that the answer to every queried truth is there within the context, either near or far.

I do not take anything said personally now, although that was not always the case, but do wish that it were possible for sarcasm and name calling to be eradicated, so that discussion can be engaged in sensibly, and without acrimony.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

That's awesome and it does take you to His Word a lot!
So thankful for this forum!

 

[Phoneman777]

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.

Christians are daily falling into either the one or the other of the two great ditches that flank the Path of the Just - License and Legalism. License, in which most fall, says continuing in sin with no intention of repentance won't keep me out of heaven. Legalism says my good works can earn my way in. Popular errors regarding end times prophecy, spiritualism, Christian obligation, OSAS, etc., all work to turn the minds and hearts away from the truth -- and if "the truth shall make you free", then satanic lies about the truth enslave.

The church is fighting a battle that intensifies with every second as the return of Jesus draws nearer and Satan's time grows shorter...true rest and fellowship does not drive us from the battlefield, but comforts us in the midst of it. Alas, most want to be called "Christian soldiers" but have gone AWOL in search of "peace" instead of remaining under the trustworthy command of the Captain of the Army of the Lord.

 

[Enoch111]

I have gradually learned to abhor because of the bigoted opinions of those who clearly think that they have 'seen the light'...

Which implies that either (1) all Christians are bigoted or (2) none have seen the light. Which is a rather bigoted opinion.

 

[farouk]

Christian forums have been part of my life for some 20 years , they were a way of linking up with other believers around the world. Many of us have gone round different forums together, varied ones that either folded for different reasons or we simply moved on from. I was invited to this one a few years ago.
There are nuggets of gold within some of the threads and the Lord has used some of them. Willie use to post some of those nuggets - so I miss him as well ( I miss him generally as he became one of those I could align with )
At the moment I am fed up with the bigger birds ( @Nancy will know what I mean ! )
I also know that I don’t relate to things in the same as many here, you know they say that the UK and the USA speaks the same language - well I have discovered that our cultures are very different and that our outlooks are so different at times !
In some respects sharing a space with different cultures can be a learning and productive curve, but it can also be very draining at times as well. I don’t think it would be so bad if it were possible to be more open without those bigger birds swooping down and condemning your views or words.
I can take disagreements, and sometimes I learn through listening to other people’s thoughts ect, but when you share a space with many who are so rigid ( which is not the same as being on firm ground ) It’s difficult to want to join in and share. They have no desire to really listen to what you have to say , all they want to do is pick your words to pieces.You question whether it’s right to waste your words.
I spent so many conversations within church life where I listened to others, took notice, cared only to find that that the person I was ‘ listening to ‘ like the sound of there own voice and was only interested in their life, their prospective - it wasn’t ‘ fellowship ‘ because it was just so one sided.
However I would agree with bobby jo - we link up with many people in different environments- and this is a mixture of environments and offers different things at different times.
I don’t really like putting many on ignore, I mean when you go to church you have to mingle with many people that are not your cup of tea - but some of the bigger birds are getting in the way, so I might have to so that I don’t have to keep flying away !! Lol
Right this little bird needs to fly to work - have a blessed day everyone xx
Rita xx

@Rita Yes, I do love to sense a gentle spirit in the ppl who post thoughtfully.

 

[2 Chr. 34:19]

All glory goes to God for sure. And I still have a lot of growing to do, but thankfully nowhere near where I was.

Amen and don’t we all

 

[friend of]

I'm here for fellowship and I'm here to learn. It's a little hard to learn here sometimes because some of the positions are argued very well despite the fact that they may even contradict each other at sometimes. I have faith that I will be able to discern the truth when it comes present. I wish I could participate more, but my own inability stop me.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Just looking at your pics... And forgive this kiwi from thinking this way, but are you sure you weren't sent here by the Lord of the rings?

 

[Hidden In Him]

Your post looks a bit CATaclysmic.

 

[dev553344]

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.

Took me a while to get used to it also, reminds me of the movie "Holes" (Holes (film) - Wikipedia) Quote: "Why are we digging holes? We diggin holes to build some character!"

 

[Mayflower]

I'm here for fellowship and I'm here to learn. It's a little hard to learn here sometimes because some of the positions are argued very well despite the fact that they may even contradict each other at sometimes. I have faith that I will be able to discern the truth when it comes present. I wish I could participate more, but my own inability stop me.

I felt that way when Il

 

[farouk]

Aah I was reading about Josiah when i joined forum.

@2Chr. 34:19 Really good to keep up an active Bible reading habit!

I do like to quote Scripture on the forums...

 

[Mayflower]

I'm here for fellowship and I'm here to learn. It's a little hard to learn here sometimes because some of the positions are argued very well despite the fact that they may even contradict each other at sometimes. I have faith that I will be able to discern the truth when it comes present. I wish I could participate more, but my own inability stop me.

I felt that way a little when I first came on here, and I am not much into debate. But from reading and observing, I'm stronger in what I believe now as far as theology goes. The important part is letting the love and light of Christ shine through in however you respond.

 

[Giuliano]

Which implies that either (1) all Christians are bigoted or (2) none have seen the light. Which is a rather bigoted opinion.

I read the same thing you read and didn't take it personally. . . .

 

[Heart2Soul]

I first came on a Christian forum in December 2005. It is when I graduated high school in May 2005 and was allowed to get on social media. I was really looking for support for anxiety/depression issues. I opened up about self injury on Christian Forums and really did find support and prayer. I sort of "grew up" on forums. I found this post on worthy back in 2006. I had forgot I joined on there until I went and checked it out again last month:

---Hello everyone. I am Lily00 and this is my first post here! I just figured I should just go ahead and get it out since I know it is coming sooner or later. I am nineteen years old and by the grace of God, I am still alive! I am getting through one day at a time but support would really be nice. I guess I haven't been depending on God as much as I should. About 4 years ago I had memories come back to me where I was molested when I was young ( I really don't know what is allowed here so please tell me if I need to edit this). Not wanting to believe it, I tried to ignore the feelings that were there and I just let work and school just numb out my feelings. It is true though when the Bible says, "You reap what you sow..." There comes a time when you can't numb something like that out any longer... in a desperate attempt, I stooped to self injury rather then turning to God and letting Him heal my hurting heart... It happened about a year ago and now it is so hard to stop... I learned a little to late. It has left me confused, beaten up, and with feelings of degredation and sorrow. I tried to go to therapy at school when I finally broke down and told my Mom, but the therapist graduated. I had recently went to one counseling session about 10 hours long... but it ended up being fake and more hurting then it actually helped ( I really can't go into it)... Finally I went to my "pastor" at church and though our old pastor resigned and we are recently trying to find a new pastor (financially unstable) the church wanted to help... He found me a christian counselor, she is really nice, and now I am beginning to slowly feel better about myself. I still need your prayers though. If anyone has a similar problem I would like to hear about it. I just feel so alone at times, too weak to stop or even get up... I need to build up my support system but I have always been quite a loner also and with more memories coming back... Does anyone understand this? How do you'll keep focused? God is so good and I just know He is going to break me out of my shell and help me through this. My favorite verse is Phillippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Every word is true and I have recited it a lot in past times when I have thought the wrong things. When I still do. I just need an attitude adjustment I guess. Thanks for listening. Lily00 Confusion is just a little hard I guess.-----

So in May, when I saw I had been a member there (I really had no filter. I was hurting), I was grateful to be able
to share my testimony of what God has done:

I cannot BELIEVE I was a member on here when I was just a KID, got so many kind and uplifting responses, and then have never came back on until now. I haven't been on here in 15 years, because Ive mainly been on CF and been on and off forums through my life.



But listen. This is what God did in my life. He delivered me from depression, anxiety, and self injury. I have been able to forgive my dad for the sexual abuse I endured. I am way closer to God then I was back then. And the more I leaned on Him through those difficult years, the closer I got to Him. I am completely free from self injury. I went into a Christian based program called Teen Challenge and graduated there after a year and a half. Then got some extra support from another program in Indiana. I havent self injured in over ten years now and am completely delivered from this and the shame attached from it. June I will be married for 5 years to a Christian man of God. I have a two year old daughter and am having a son due in July. I am on fire for God and so grateful for what He has done in my life. And the best part? He is still leading and guiding my path. A friend invited me on here. I forgot I joined way back, but knowing how I was searching in my teen years, I tried my old username first. And sure enough. Yep. Gave my life story on a forum of people I don't know. But I guess I am still pretty much an open person.

But God bless ya'll and thank you for being such a support at that time. I was really searching for answers and freedom from childhood demons. And I am definitely grateful for where I am now. I hope to stick around some now! I really love the format and kindness from the people on here. And some pretty interesting threads.

Beautiful testimony @Mayflower.....so in spite of the many controversial issues on the forums we can still receive blessings from time to time and in all honesty they do help sharpen our swords! Iron sharpens iron. Thank you for sharing this...God Bless!

 

[Heart2Soul]

For many years I had been compiling, modifying, and updating, a journal comprised of my discoveries during my search for "What might have happened to the Faith first delivered to the saints".
When I felt that it was near to completion I published it (and still have a few copies).
I then enthusiastically joined my first forum thinking that I would post bits and pieces and use responses as a sort of 'sounding board' to either confirm or correct what I had been compiling.
The signature line that I accordingly adopted was "I say what I think I know in order to help me know what I ought to think" (Rita and Helen may remember).
But 'Forum' soon turned into a compulsive obsession which, over the course of time, I have gradually learned to abhor because of the bigoted opinions of those who clearly think that they have 'seen the light' that, IMO, can never be more than a distorted view of things that can only be seen "as through a glass darkly until we see Christ face to face and finally know even as we are known".
I have now, well and truly expunged both the obsession and the enthusiasm.

I believe that we have the ability to turn this forum back around....and make it a place that we all can come and receive fellowship and wisdom.