A general observation to the board before I leave it for good.

It is very sad that you have based your opinion of an entire denomination on a half-dozen or so posters to a forum. I wish you the best.

 

Unfortunatley there are some posters that do carry on in that manner and justify their poor treatment of others as though they are outworking the will of God anyway. It puts me off too at times.

Yet there are some Baptist Denominations that I have come across that are very much encouraging of people in Christ, rather than looking to wound people. The Seventh Day Baptist Church is one that I have found to be really helpful and uplifting for me. I have heard good reports also on the Freewill Baptists also in the same regard.

Please dont give up on the Baptists, For the few unhelpful ones, there are many more people here that the love of Christ radiates through.

 

dh is right, TexasSky!! We have an administrator board plus moderators who work hard to "throw out the bath water" without throwing the baby out with it---if you know what I mean! But out of 10,000 members---there's always that possibility that a handful will be noticeable "rebel rouzers"---stirring things up and fanning flames of whatever.

I pray that you will reconsider---and when a problem you see arises---notify a board administrator or moderator and let us investigate the matter.

Bro. David

 

"BLESS them that curse you".

"They that live Godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution".

Put on the WHOLE armour, Brother, the fiery darts of the devil will bounce right off.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

I agree with the original post of the attitudes of some on the board. Many seem harsh, and just as the lost world has its "internet tough guys", little thin fellows who talk like they are tough because they can hide behind a computer and the others they taunt will never have the privilege of meeting them face-to-face. Here on this board, there are quite a few who post some hateful things.

That said, let me add my own observations and feelings. To begin with, there is a such thing as righteous anger, and it should never be focused on a person. The anger can and should be focused on the act or transgression rather than the person himself. I hold a deep hatred for false religions who aim to take the eyes of people off the Lord Jesus Christ. It angers me when I see people posting good things about different faiths that I know are false. I might respond harshly, but I am old enough to separate the sin from the sinner.

The term "Baptist" is a label I accept and denotes the group closest to the Bible in belief. I have tried them all, grew up in a Catholic family, have studied the denominations and world religions and have come to the conclusion that the Baptists are closer in belief to the Bible than any other group.

I spent many years studying and the SBC seminary I attended had in excess of 4,000 students. The vast majority were like my good friends here on the board, but there were some who fit the description given by the originator of this thread. Some of the most precious people I ever met were students and faculty of that school in New Orleans, and I will NOT allow the few who I knew were either wolves or terribly backslidden to cloud my opinion and give me a wide brush to paint a negative picture of the school or the Christians in it.

Funny as it may seem, this morning I will deliver my third sermon on the valley of dry bones story in Ezekiel. First time I preached about the dream itself, and last time I preached was about the attitude of the man of vision. This morning I will focus on the "dry bones" and explain to my deaf congregation who and what the dry bones could represent, how they became dry, etc. One point in my message is about quitters. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how a person can possibly know about the suffering of Christ, all that He experienced and never quit, and then hear of the faithful Christians who have given up and quit because a small portion of Christians have insulted them or hurt them, etc. How blessed we are to have Christ carry our cross than someone who threw up his arms and quit at the first sign of discomfort.

Brother Tex, I encourage you to look past those who have done wrong, pray for them and forgive them, and continue to pray as to whether or not you participate on these boards.

Finally, let me warn you... you can step out from the Baptist umbrella any time you like, but then to what group will you go? Our Charismatic friends are rocked with some of the most embarrassing examples of preachers and doctrine today. Should you join the sacrementalist and formalistic groups that have religion but no real presence of the Spirit?

Tim

 

Did somebody actually say that they hope the lost go to Hell? I am not doubting that there are some out there, but I just haven't seen it. Would you please provide a link?

The most disturbing and upsetting thing I have found on this board is the attitude of many of the posters.

When I speak of the love of Christ - I'm called a heretic and a liberal.[/QUOTE]

No. When you claimed that we should consider one part of scripture more important than other parts of scripture is when you were called a heretic and a liberal. Furthermore, the person who called you this even tried to give you the benefit of the doubt that maybe you didn't think it through and asked if maybe you wanted to retract your statement. Instead of doing so, you tried to shift the focus on this person and question his salvation. What a shame. BTW, here is an actual quote and a link so everyone can see the truth about what really happened:

Do you worship Paul or Christ?

When people talk about giving vaccines to children they are accused of "failing to have faith in God."[/QUOTE]

Now, this claim on the other hand, I have actually seen evidence of. Furthermore, not only were these parents accussed of not having faith in God, but were also accussed of abusing their children. Since I didn't like the way the thread was going, I chose not to participate in it. I did not, however, threaten to leave over it. They have their opinions and on a discussion board, that is what you do: Post your opinions and then try to defend them.

People who use different translations of the Bible tell one another they don't love God.[/QUOTE]

This has been true for a long time. I don't generally like the tone of that whole forum which is why I don't ussually participate there. But, then again, I was recently told by someone that I was not saved because I didn't agree with them. What a shame.

I'm very ashamed to wear the tile "Baptist" after seeing what goes on in the name of "Baptist Church." The back-biting, the bitterness, the anger, the rudeness.

It is no wonder the lost don't listen.[/QUOTE]

Nope. The lost don't listen because they are lost. Only a miracle of God opening their hearts will save them. It is the grace of God which saves the lost, not me or you or anyone else.

I think, perhaps, I'll stick to just being a Christian from now on. I don't think this kind of rudeness and bitterness is Christ like at all. [/QUOTE]

I think that is a good idea. Does that mean you would now like to retract your statement when you said:

Does that mean that you are now going to stop judging people's salvation because you don't agree with them? Perhaps, these two things here would be a good start for you in your endeavors.

It actually breaks my heart.

Because until I came here, I really believe the Baptist faith tried the most to emmulate Christ. [/QUOTE]

It really breaks my heart also that you seem to have got caught up in the liberal heresies of pitting Christ against Paul, and judging your fellow brothers in Christ based on outright slander and half-truths.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Please stay, TexasSky. We'll never overcome bitterness without facing it.

 

What I have noticed on here is that you ask some good questions. I would hate to see you leave.
One of the things that the Lord Jesus found that was commendable in the Ephesian church was "Thou canst no stand them that are evil" (Rev 2). Here I agree with Dr. Tim above. There are some posters on here that have departed from the faith, or ones that I am very fearful for, because of their views.
That said, I feel there should be a more civil tone among responders, such as, "I disagree with that, and here is why..." NOT, "That's dumb!" or some such thing.
I disagree with the Calvinist and amill brethren, but I do not believe in posting nasty responses.
I hope that you will take brother Blackbird's advice and stay.

 

That is so true Dr Tim. I have stated that also.

 

Good Grief Charlie Brown!

May I please ask?

What if Paul had quit the first few weeks he had run into hateful brethren?

That's all I have to say.

In HIS service;
Jim

 

Dear TexasSky,

I hope that you will reconsider and stay. I have really enjoyed your posts and have looked forward to them.

At times, I have felt just like you, but then I realize that not all Baptists are alike, but remember that you can set an example by staying on the Board.

When I joined this Board, I thought all Baptist believed just like me. Oh dear, now I must laugh at that idea because even all the Southern Baptist on this Board to do believe the same way that I do.

As Blackbird says, let the moderators know if there is a problem.

In Summary, please stay and enlighten us with your views.

 

Ditto Thankful!!
You have many in your corner TexasSky! Every post I've read of yours has been thought provoking and I like that! I've enjoyed reading them.
I especially hope you don't give up on all Baptist's and Baptists denominations because of these few here.

God Bless you,
Rachel †

 

Don't let those "Real" Baptists run you off

There are plenty of us "Liberals" here that would welcome the healthy discussion that I have seen in your posts.

 

TexasSky, you have been a wonderful blessing to this board.

There will always be folks who have trouble disagreeing with other people in Christ-like manners. They exist on all sides of the political and religious spectrums.

While we can't ignore them, we must still love them and try to exemplify Christ in our disagreement.

I hope you reconsider your decision to leave.

 

TexasSky:

I do wish you would stay. I've been called a "liberal" too, whatever that really means.

Don't judge all Baptists by the attitudes of a few. We are not all alike.

God Bless!

PA

 

What are our options when the offenders are administrators and moderators?