Dear CF Friends,

I'm only recently back from a non-intentional hiatus from the group (due to a crashed laptop), and have just started participating in some of the recent threads. Now, though, I'm wondering whether my participation there has been such a good idea.

I may not be qualified to say so since I wasn't around when the group was founded, but I believe the first and foremost purpose of this group was for "fellowship" -- that is, to be a place for those who share a faith in the name of Jesus Christ to support one another, encourage one another, and so build up the body of Christ. As anyone who has read any of my posts will know, I am not by any means one to shy away from good and healthy debate as part of legitimate fellowship -- the idea being that we exchange ideas and opinions in a loving and friendly way, we are forced to re-evaluate our own positions and consider the merits of those who differ from us, and afterwards, continue to love and support one another as brothers and sisters in the same faith. That's at least what I think the role of debate in Christian fellowship should be. Now, however, I am troubled by the notion that something fundamentally different may be going on.

In a series of recent "discussion" threads, certain users (I don't think I need to name any names) seem to be on a mission to systematically question and challenge a number of what most of us would probably consider "core beliefs" of the Christian faith. Although I respect the mostly diplomatic and courteous manner in which they have presented their views, it is becoming increasingly apparent to me that their purpose here is not to share fellowship with those who share in a common faith, but to win converts to their own particular point of view. The exact name or nature of their particular viewpoint does not matter. The important reality (as has become increasingly apparent to me) is that these posts do not seem to have any bearing on building up or strengthening the body of Christ, except possibly that narrow segment of the body of Christ (if it may indeed be called that) which agrees with this particular narrow point of view.

Just to make myself crystal clear -- I am a Christian of what might be called a Reformed persuasion. I have no doubt whatsoever that I would have serious disagreements with some (or most) of you if we were to discuss certain topics that are particular to the Reformed faith -- e.g., sacraments, predestination, eschatology and other areas where my faith tradition would think quite differently from (for example) a Roman Catholic, Baptist or Evangelical tradition. I am not saying that there is no place here for discussing issues like these if it is done in the right spirit. However, I believe that the Roman Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals (etc.) here are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and as such I seriously question whether it would be appropriate or well received this group if I were to start making posts to the effect that the Reformed view of things like the sacraments, predestination or the end times is the only valid Biblical view, that these views were "obvious" from a proper view of Scripture and therefore that all other views that disagreed with mine were misguided, unbiblical, or just plain wrong. That (to me anyway) seems entirely contrary to the intended spirit of a "fellowship" group -- and that is very much the vibe I am feeling from the recent series of posts to this board.

What do the rest of you think? I think we could continue arguing the Scriptural truth with these "agitators" (to use a Pauline word, one that I think is very apt in this case!) until we are blue in the face -- and I do not believe that any of their positions or arguments would change, but the atmosphere of this group as a supportive, helpful and loving place for believers of all stripes would undoubtedly be severely damaged if not completely destroyed as a result of that course of action. I have already (in my two days back) heard from multiple individuals who have stated that they have left this group as a result of the nature of the recent discussions. I think we are headed down a road where "Christian Flame Wars" might replace "Christian Fellowship" as the de facto name for this group -- and I, for one, would not wish to see that happen.

I don't necessarily have a proposed solution to this problem at the present moment in time, but I think the time has come for the group to come together in a serious discussion of these issues. I am not saying this because I do not think I can win an argument with these people -- I actually believe quite the contrary, as anyone who has known me long can attest. :) What I am saying is that it is not worth winning this type of argument if it comes at the price of destroying the soul of this fellowship group. I would very much like to hear others' reactions to these observations as well as any suggestions on how we can move forward from here in a way that maintains the integrity of our Christian Fellowship group.

Yours in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit --

Adam