Discipleship Team VS Encounter Team?

[JesusIsFaithful]

I understand the value of an Encounter Team. New Members should be welcomed into the forum by the Encounter Team, and encouraged by the Encounter Team to share.

But I was wondering if a Discipleship Team is not needed? Or are the goals of the Encounter Team contrary to what discipleship would entail as it might discouraged members from sharing where they are in their walks with the Lord if corrections follows and not just encouragements?

And if it is not contrary, how can a Discipleship Team function if it uses a different Bible from other members of the forum for discipleship when all the Bibles are not saying the same thing for keeping the faith which is the good fight?

Maybe a Discipleship Team is impossible then, and only an Encounter Team can be implemented?

It looks that way to me right now.

Thoughts?

Will I be getting a response from the Encounter Team or the unofficial Discipleship Team? :unsure:

 

[lforrest]

I think every Christians here would offer advice that is keeping with their wisdom and understanding of God's will. Seldom does someone confess their own sins here, but when they do they have shown their repentance. These need encouragement, and not further admonishment, as they have already admonished themselves. More often though, people do not air their dirty laundry in public.

You really have to get to know someone to see hidden sin in their lives. I think it is impossible to have proper discipleship on an anonymous forum. It is also a common failing of many churches, whom meet in person only hour a week on Sunday. The best we can hope for here is that a post will impact someone's life in a constructive way.

 

[HammerStone]

JIF, we experimented with the route of being an online church in one form a number of years ago and it was not the proper route for an online forum to take. I don't use than as an excuse, rather we did not have the necessary personal knowledge and level of relationships to truly be a gathering of believers that could hold one another accountable and, as lforrest said above, know enough to uncover sins and properly address those struggles in a Biblical context.There is simply not enough familiarity and intimacy in an online virtually anonymous relationship for us to try and replace being active in a local church.

Yours truly made that error, and I acknowledged it.

With that said, our forum has both the Encounter team which is here to encourage, assist, and welcome new members (and all members for that matter). In our view, they are the first responders. Working in tandem with the group would be the Moderators, Super Moderators and Administrator. Simply because we choose not to label something doesn't mean it's not taking place in one form, or another. Our primary vehicle of discipleship is the local church, and our general goal will be to get anyone to a local gathering of believers where true discipleship can take place.

All that said, it doesn't mean we don't have discipleship. It takes on other forms, and several of the team here are heavily invested in one another and members who approach them needing guidance or wrestling through sin.

We are always open to suggestions and ideas. That doesn't mean we will implement every one of them, but I would appreciate a little grace in the matter rather than almost back-handed questions. Although imperfectly at times, I think we act in a way that points to Jesus as Lord of all, but one of the primary means we have is to encourage local church attendance. Someone promising something to someone else here will not fill that roll. I am not here to sin-examine every member, either. I am certainly here if needed if anyone needs help, discipleship or just someone to talk to who will do his best to seek what the Bible has to say on the matter.

As much discipleship takes place in iron-sharpening-iron discussions as it will in any other form on this forum.

Again, I do appreciate the feedback side of this.

 

[JesusIsFaithful]

Thanks 1forrest & HammerStone for your responses.

It does give me something to think about.