Online Forums, Christian Conduct, and Sin

[church mouse guy]

Then leave them

Can't count on you for anything.

 

[JonC]

I've read through 5 pages of this thread and in my estimation, it has wandered very far from its original intent, Jon.

What politics has to do with any of your OP, I have no idea.
What the "ebb and flow" of this world has to do with a people that, like Abraham, look for a city and world to come that are ruled by righteousness, I also have no idea.
But I do know that we as believers have this sin-tainted flesh that we are stuck in, and it causes a lot of problems for us.
I see the interaction on forums like this, and I agree that more can be done to curb our own responses, so that they are much more gracious and not "reactive".

There are many passages in God's word that have to do with our conduct as believers, and I have learned the hard way that it is far better to read and heed these, than it is to forget them, despite my occasional slips into what the Bible calls, "strifes of words"...
Here are a few:

Romans 12, the whole chapter.
Romans 13, the whole chapter.
Romans 14, same as above.
Romans 15:1-7.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33.
Galatians 5:13-26.
Galatians 6:1-10.
Ephesians 4:1-3.
Colossians 3.

...and many others.

I've noticed that one poster in this thread made the connection that Christ was not always nice...
But He is markedly different than us as men.
He knows peoples thoughts and the intents of the hearts.

He condemned people out of perfect condemnation, because He is God in the flesh...
So He was speaking from a position of knowing far more than we do.

I believe that is why He had men write these passages above, knowing that we as men are limited in what we see.
We judge after the outward appearance, He judges according to the heart because He sees each and every one.

Therefore, we as believers have a duty to follow His commands, because He sees much more thoroughly than we do.
We should trust that His direction on these matters is for good reason.



May God bless you, sir.

Threads always drift after awhile.

I agree with you. We judge the outward appearances. Even with Church discipline it is done in love. When one us expelled from the congregation it is with the hope God will use this to correct sinful behavior (that the person us a brother who will be restored).

Discussing online forums as an opportunity to sin, it occurred to me that we often look to some dibs (like sexual immorality) while ignoring other, perhaps more common, sins (like an unforgiving spirit, gossip, a haughty spirit, being unkind, ect.).

But it seems to me that disobeying God is wrong regardless of the disobedience.

 

[JonC]

Idealist drivel

I don't watch NASCAR.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I don't watch NASCAR.

Ain’t that part of Southern DNA?!?

A life of peace is not achieved by the absence of conflict... rather a life peace is achieved by acceptance of conflict.
​

 

[Yeshua1]

The SBC is silent on many human rights issues and property rights issues. They gave a blanket endorsement of the marxists, homosexual goals of BLM in the Baptist Press. They have drifted from the shore and they do not have a good reason to fly the BLM flag founded in memory of Travon Martin.

Will the SBC be willing to call out BLM for Lesbian agenda?

 

[JonC]

Ain’t that part of Southern DNA?!?

A life of peace is not achieved by the absence of conflict... rather a life peace is achieved by acceptance of conflict.
​

I would watch NASCAR if they divided into 2 teams - one group drives clockwise, the other counterclockwise.

I do not think conflict is bad. But I do believe attacking other Christians bad.

 

[JonC]

Will the SBC be willing to call out BLM for Lesbian agenda?

Hopefully not. That is not the role of the SBC.

 

[Yeshua1]

Hopefully not. That is not the role of the SBC.

Are we not to speak out against sin?

 

[JonC]

Are we not to speak out against sin?

What does the Bible say? Scripture gives a context for judging.

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you .”

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Are we not to speak out against sin?

Yes we are... providing it effects you

 

[BibleViz]

I have been involved with Christians and professing Christians across a few boards. One thing that I have noticed is that there are a few people who exhibit a spirit of ungodliness.

I just joined this forum after years of using Twitter heavily for professional reasons. Now, there's almost zero professional value and it's highly detrimental in other areas.

You point out that "a few" have an ungodly spirit in conversation. I hope that's true, because I'd rather find that it's just a few people and not the majority. I'm here because I recall having better two-way conversations in forums that I used to frequent. Massive social platforms encourage more one-way shouting by the nature of their design. In smaller groups, you're likely to be heard without being the most "extreme" thing available.

 

[JonC]

I just joined this forum after years of using Twitter heavily for professional reasons. Now, there's almost zero professional value and it's highly detrimental in other areas.

You point out that "a few" have an ungodly spirit in conversation. I hope that's true, because I'd rather find that it's just a few people and not the majority. I'm here because I recall having better two-way conversations in forums that I used to frequent. Massive social platforms encourage more one-way shouting by the nature of their design. In smaller groups, you're likely to be heard without being the most "extreme" thing available.

The majority of members here act in a Christ-like ,manner. Historically there has always been a few people who hold their theologies militantly. In these types of discussions I think that it is probably an issue of indoctrination and a lack of spiritual maturity (perhaps a "necessary defense" for people who cannot defend their views against opposing ideas).

But you will find that it is a minority and generally the worst regarding politics and Calvinism. You'll get to know who is who after a short time. My recommendation is to ignore some, take others with a grain of salt, and don't take online forums too seriously.

In Christ,

John