Why I Have Been Gone and Will Seek to Stop Debating

Hello everyone,

I left the BB for a time, because it felt as if, for some reason, my time at the BB was hurting me spiritually. It ended up being my growing pride, and the feeling I was violating the command to not even eat with false teachers.

In this time, I have read the Word more and watched the wonderful program "Fighting 4 the Faith" with Chris Rosebrough. That program has helped me, and is helping me, ditch the last vestiges of Charismatic theology, eisegetical theology, and Purpose Driven theology, that I bought into.

However, regularly reading the stuff put out by "discernment ministries," like Pirate Christian Radio, as well as spending more time in the Word, has changed my whole perspective on theological debates. When using a historical-grammatical hermeneutic consistently, I believe there are some false teachers on the BB and many in the American churches. In line with Paul, I believe these people should be called out and excluded by the Brethren.

I have finally put biblical explanations to the qualms I was feeling all along about the churches. I have also left my current church, Aloma Church, after realizing it was suffused with Purpose Driven theology and the idea of a "vision casting" senior pastor, who preaches his ideas more than the Word. I will look for a new church more in line with the theology I regard as critical, in an era of what seems like growing apostasy.

Of course, most of our debates are about issues in the Word that may seem minute, yet are not as we discuss the Word of God. Such debates are good, and give us a greater understanding of the Word. That said, I believe there to be genuine false teachers on this board, especially in regards to important theological questions that define the era of growing apostasy we are in. I will not name names as is required of me for agreeing to the posting rules.
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To put it bluntly, I believe being honest about my beliefs, especially in reference to the Word, may cause quarrels, anger, and offense here. On top of that, when I have gotten into quarrels on this board, I have hurt my race of faith as it tempts my pride and makes me wonder as to when I have crossed a line of acceptance for false teachings.

I have concluded that this will mean, that even trying to act in grace, I will come off as insulting or mean-spirited to some posters, who may take me to be questioning their faith. Rather than openly flaunt the rules, I have decided the best thing to do, after thinking on it a long time, is to leave and seek another pathway for debating the Word than the BB debate forums.

I have also found that the BB's debate forums are not a good place to grow up in the faith in my early years of being a Christian. I need something that will disciple me more than going to church, going to small group, and hanging out at the BB.
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I am also thinking of spending time in the Christian Fellowship Forums away from debates.

That said, for all of you, including TCassidy, who saved me from the misery of false doctrines found in Charismatic Christianity and beyond. I say:

Thank You and God Bless You in Jesus' Name!

 

Thank you very much, Earth Wind and Fire.

I would love to read a good book on the historical part of my go to hermeneutic, so I can handle the Word of God rightly.

 

Thank you Brother Glen for that scripture!

The truth is ,as I have delved more into the Word itself, I have come away stunned over and over again that much of what I hear in "Purpose Driven" SBC churches and beyond just warps the scriptures. I love the term Chris Rosebrough uses so often: "narci-gesis" or "Narcissistic Eisegesis." The more I encounter this Yahweh, I sit stunned just dwelling on him right now...the more I get to know Yahweh the more I know something was wrong with the teachings I heard every Sunday. Having found Pirate Christian Radio has opened my eyes to the many, many false doctrines in the church. I believe even Pirate Christian Radio may have missed a few!

Now, I know I could argue with people on the BB in a way against the posting rules, but that would be wrong and would go against my conscience.

I will likely post in the fellowship forums occasionally. I actually have big news: I have my first scientific journal article in peer review by none other than Marine Corps University Journal. An article on the Future of Amphibious Warfare. The first of two I have planned.

Thank you Brother Glen.

 

Thank you Brother Glen and Earth Wind and Fire, that looks like an excellent read.

 

Thank you, that article was so stressful to write though. Amphibious warfare is such a big and important geo-strategic subject. I learned from my family today to take things easy for a while, before going to write more. My mental health and chronic pain illnesses worsen when I write such weighty stuff. I also realized the troops don't want me in great pain much, in order to help them. I will certainly take a published article, the first of many I hope, to the Vets and Friends Board.