Featured World 3:16

You are absolutely permitted to post a quotation of me posting (in my words) where I posted you said not to read Scripture, where I posted in my words that Murray said not to read Scripture, or where I posted in my words that the Puritans taught not to read Scripture.

But I do not give you permission to speak for me. You have no right to post what you assume I may have meant by something I have posted.

The reason you can quote me on this thread where I made those statements is that it is relevant to the OP in how we determine correct doctrine.

I think the difference is obvious. But here is an example:

If you insult @Dave Gilbert on this thread then I will moderate that issue. I may edit the thread. I may issue a warning. I may let it slide depending on how inappropriate you are.

If you insult me on this thread then I report the post and allow other staff members deal with you.

In other words, just because someone insults a staff member they do not get a "free pass" to insult other people without being addressed.

Read this thread.

My comment is that Scripture advocates that men have free will but are enslaved to either the flesh or spirit, that the issue is their desires and not their will. Your insults started at that point.

Look, brother, if you have any questions then PM me but stop hijacking threads to use as a tool to slander me. I am a member of this board, a Christian, and a staff member. I have opinions and should not have to deal with being slandered simply because I disagree with you.

I have been a member here for almost 20 years, and a moderator for only a little of that period. I have never received a warning. You have over 30 warnings, have been banned at least 3 times, have warnings from about every staff (I don't think @Salty has given you a one) member to include Calvinists who viewed your behavior as abusive. Please stop. Discuss the topic at hand and stop trolling me, stop insulting me, stop slandering me.

It is easy. Read the topic (here the use of "word" in John 3:16 with a diversion to "free-will"). Deal with the topic. Don't even look at the member making the point if it is an emotional thorn in your side. Deal with what is said, not the person you assume a member to be.

 

Yes. I do claim that I speak for me and am the only person who has the right to tell other people what I mean.

What I am asking is where I posted that you said not to read Scripture, where I posted in my words that Murray said not to read Scripture, or where I posted in my words that the Puritans taught not to read Scripture.

In fact, where have I posted that ANYONE has said not to read Scripture?????

I was asking if this was a really something I said, if it is a "straw man" argument", or if you actually imagined that I posted that. That's all. I was wondering if you believed what you posted was true and accurate or if you were pretending I had posted those things to try and make some point or add weight to what you were saying. That's all.

It is easy, brother. Just quote where I made those statements, unless they were invented for effect. Either way is fine with me. But please trying to slander and insult me. I am not doing that to you. I believe this one point can settle the whole thing and we can get on with the doctrines at hand.

 

That is where you were wrong.

If you want to discuss a topic with @Reynolds and have no one else join in then you should do so via PM.

You do not get to pick and choose who you want to engage your threads. We do not censor active members from participating in these threads.

What I am asking you to do is to stop slandering me, stop insulting me, and stop making everything so personal. I disagree with your view of "free-will". So what?

No. I will not open up to allow you to speak whatever you want about me and I will not do so about you. The reason is, as a Christian, I believe we are to be obedient to God. We are to be able to control our tongues and not get carried away by our emotions, we are not to slander other Christians but we are to uplift and encourage others.

For that reason I continue to say that you need to stop your insults and slanders. Get on with the topics at hand. Get on with life.

What you can do is address where you believe I posted that anyone is saying we should not read Scripture. I do not recall thinking that or making the comment.

No. That is not true. For you to answer me only requires you to quote me saying that someone has taught that we should not read Scripture.

I believe that you only want permission to slander me and trample a brother because of the hatred you have shown me over the years. I do not know why you hate me, but I am not going to play that game. For me to engage you in that way, especially if I gave you that type of forum, would be for me to directly encourage sin.

What you want is not what Christ commands of us.

I do enjoy truth, and I am very open and honest (sometimes too much) about myself and my beliefs. At the same time we are commanded to love one another and what you are suggesting seems to be the opposite of Christ's command. It is "walking in darkness". I forgave you long ago for some of the slanderous claims you made about me. I do not know if you believe your claims to be true or know that they were false, and it really does not matter to me. I continue to forgive your insults and slanders, and unlike in the past I have not been personally offended (you do not know me).

I have resolved not to return to where you now stand. By God's grace I moved beyond that place, and although I may occasionally stumble I will not live there.

 

I think that I have already made my decision and am not exactly sure what part of it you did not understand.

I believe that slandering other people, anyone but perhaps especially other Christians, is a sin. So if I agree to your desires, which I believe are the desires of the flesh (going back to the OP) and nothing put pride talking, then I believe I would be condoning sin. That is not something I am willing to do.

I suggest that you stop trying to condemn me, stop slandering me, stop insulting me....just stop that agenda all together.

I do not know why you decided to hate me, but I do not believe this is unnoticed by members here. I suspect that most members would join me in saying "Iconoclast, get over it. You are not that important. I am not that important. Stop trying to tear apart other people". Discuss the topics, the doctrines, and the ideas at hand. Fellowship with believers. But end this silly agenda, this crusade you have devised against me.

 

Iconoclast,

This is not a movie or a trial. This is a discussion board which is designed to be discussion of doctrine and fellowship among Christians.

Do people sometimes end up at odds due to insults or overly harsh comments? Yes. As a group we do not agree on many things and we all hold our beliefs very personally because they are our beliefs.

I do not share @Reynolds Reformation Arminianism view. I have enjoyed his dialogue and his explanation of his view. He is a brother I can learn from. @Martin Marprelate and I have a bad history of bumping heads. But we reconciled and at least get along. I respect him and have learned form what he has presented even though I strongly disagree on several issues. @Dave Gilbert holds a different view than I, but you do not see him going around trying to slander people's character. @davidtaylorjr and I have had bad encounters (believe it or not I can be a stubborn person), but he has proved himself a godly man and his character shines through his posts. I could go on and on.

But you keep on keeping on. You have decided sometimes in the past that you would hate me. If that is what you need then go ahead. But please hate me as if it were a sin and keep it to yourself. Hide it as if it were being disobedient to God and trampling the blood of Christ. At least give an effort even if it means pretending.

I have no idea what crawled up your skirt, brother, but you need to end your agenda against me. Deal with the doctrine. Stop hijacking threads as your tools to slander me. Stop asking for a forum to engage in ungodly behavior (you will not get it here). Learn from your brothers. Learn from the thread.

How can @Martin Marprelate and I possible disagree so strongly and refrain from insulting and slandering one another? Several reasons come mind. We know that path and where it leads because we walked it for a short time. We have a respect and love for one another because we have been bought with a Price and are not our own but servants of another. We cannot hold each other guilty because of the guilt that has been forgiven us. And we are commanded by our Lord and Savor to love one another.

If it is for pride you have continued, it is misplaced. I can guarantee I am not worth you continuing to forfeit your character. I am not worth trampling the blood that was shed for both of us, to unite us for the Kingdom. If it helps you move on, consider refraining from slandering me as an insult to my value. That's fine. Just get over it and start life. If you stay here, try to use this forum to express a Christ-likeness and encourage others while strongly expressing the doctrine you hold. No one is asking you to abandon your beliefs. Just stop playing the accuser of the brethern. It is not the role to which you were destined.

The answer is the same. No. I am not willing to argue what I have long ago forgiven you of. I am just asking that you find a way to stop hating and move forward. I am asking that you stop slandering me, stop with the insults, and have a godly presence on this board. I am asking that you give up the role of accuser and assume the role of a brother. Discuss doctrine in a godly manner. Stop with the assumptions, accusations, and slander.

 

That is fine. Good for you. Acts 24:16 is not the reason I will not. I can't because it would cause me to bring up too much that I've already forgiven you for. Stop trying to get me to be disobedient to Christ's commands.

Those are not just "noble reasons why I do not want to do it".

Believe it or not, there is a part of me that does. BUT those are commands given by my Lord and Savior NOT to do it. So I will not. It is a matter of simple obedience, first and foremost. But it is also a matter of character and sanctification.

I found out last year that when I forgave you all of what you had said, all of your accusations, and moved on that it became not only easier to forgive but in a way forgiveness became its own reward. Perhaps it is prideful, and maybe I need to consider that as well, as I believe that the more you slander me and the more I forgive you the greater the dichotomy is demonstrated between our character. I am sure there is some of that in me. But I hope it is the least part of why I have forgiven you.