Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
Here's just a quick thought for all of you who have been engaged in discussions/debates about what the Bible really teaches about certain topics.
This is a Christian board, and I think all of us here profess to believe the Bible and have studied it on at least some level.
That being the case, don't you think it's likely (regardless of what your own position is) that the people here who happen to disagree with you, are also convinced that THEIR beliefs are based in the Bible?
Therefore, I think it's disingenuous of anyone promoting one side or other of a debate to proclaim that they are "only stating/explaining what the Bible says". I think we all believe the Bible, and we all think our beliefs are based on what the Bible says. Therefore, when there's a disagreement, "what the Bible says" is the very point at issue -- and needs to be discussed as such, not as something that is the sole property of one side or the other.
I would also like to caution everyone against the abuse of words like "obviously", "nothing can be clearer", etc. -- to say that your position is "obviously" true is to insult the intelligence of anyone who would disagree with you. Friends, I submit that if these points were "obvious" we would have no need of discussing them! Let's all have a little humility and realize that others here may not read the Bible in the same way we do -- and that the difference we have probably amount to more than simply ourselves being right, and the other side being wrong.
I'm not sure if debates of the nature we have been having recently can successfully be had without ruining the spirit of a Fellowship group -- but I am sure that it CAN'T be done if we all approach them from the standpoint that our own view is the "obvious", "Biblical" view. Remember that those on the other side probably think their views are "obvious" and "Biblical" too. So state your views if you wish, back them up with your interpretation of Scripture if you can -- but please respect the views of others accordingly!
Yours in Christ,
Adam
This is a Christian board, and I think all of us here profess to believe the Bible and have studied it on at least some level.
That being the case, don't you think it's likely (regardless of what your own position is) that the people here who happen to disagree with you, are also convinced that THEIR beliefs are based in the Bible?
Therefore, I think it's disingenuous of anyone promoting one side or other of a debate to proclaim that they are "only stating/explaining what the Bible says". I think we all believe the Bible, and we all think our beliefs are based on what the Bible says. Therefore, when there's a disagreement, "what the Bible says" is the very point at issue -- and needs to be discussed as such, not as something that is the sole property of one side or the other.
I would also like to caution everyone against the abuse of words like "obviously", "nothing can be clearer", etc. -- to say that your position is "obviously" true is to insult the intelligence of anyone who would disagree with you. Friends, I submit that if these points were "obvious" we would have no need of discussing them! Let's all have a little humility and realize that others here may not read the Bible in the same way we do -- and that the difference we have probably amount to more than simply ourselves being right, and the other side being wrong.
I'm not sure if debates of the nature we have been having recently can successfully be had without ruining the spirit of a Fellowship group -- but I am sure that it CAN'T be done if we all approach them from the standpoint that our own view is the "obvious", "Biblical" view. Remember that those on the other side probably think their views are "obvious" and "Biblical" too. So state your views if you wish, back them up with your interpretation of Scripture if you can -- but please respect the views of others accordingly!
Yours in Christ,
Adam
I think I have learned a lot about my faith, by responding to some of the posters. But they don't seem to have learned anything about what we believe. They are not open minded. Like you, I have studied theology. When I studied, we were given all sides of a debate and told to make up our own mind. (Baptist are so undogmatic!) We were given the opposing views. Sometimes that means 4 or 5 different views, with scriptures. Sometimes, I confess, I do not agree with any of them, or all of them! But there are some fundamental concepts that we just have to have in common for this to be a Christian forum. One of those is the deity and humanity of Christ. If we had gnostics coming here and claiming Jesus wasn't really a man, just a manifestation, I think most of us would be upset, too. So far, (fingers crossed!) that hasn't happened.
So like Annie, I am tired of the twisting of scripture to suit pet theories, rather, than encouraging people to press on and persevere in their faith, despite the trials, temptations and personal issues which we all have. I think that we do need to draw the line, and perhaps a belief statement like the Nicene Creed would help. Not that it is from scripture either, but at least it would be a starting point.