Discussed with the Arguing

[4x4utilityman]

I have been watching and reading this forum for about a month now and I am totally discussed. All I see in the religious section is people agruing who is right and who is wrong. There are a few who seem bent on twisting everones words and views of the Bible and they think their own views of the Bible are the bottom line truth. I have been a christian for only a short time and now I wonder why I am after reading this sicking stuff. I didn't become a christian for the longest because I saw christians in general always arguing and debating. Then when a friend showed me this hunting site and the religious section, I am just sick b/c it proves why I stayed away so long. A couple of my friends who are still not christians have read these post too and tell me there is no way they want to be christians b/c of all the bickering going on here.

And, yes some will reply saying they are "defending the truth or the word of God," but no matter what you call it, it looks like little kids agruing. I have enjoyed reading the hunting post and was waiting on joining for a while, but after becoming discussed with the religious forum, I had to reply from a new christian/non-christian stand point.[:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(]

[trouthunter]

Thank you for this post! I came into this section a few months ago looking for a peaceful place, but found the a-typical banter you find throughout Christianity. I guess these age old bickeringsis why there are so many Christian denomonations out there today.I consider myself aChristian, but it is the reasons you stated as to why I find myself without a Church.

Don't let this forumdiscuss you too much. I feel it is what is in your heart that matters most, and not whatparticular view someone has ofwhat the Truth is. If you pray and feel good about your own personal beliefs, that is all that matters.

[Leafrivermac]

One solution would be to just not read the posts. If your looking for everyone to be in agreement I suggest that you find a church bible study/fellowship to attend. I think you'll find most folk there in agreement. Also, there are many websites devoted to a particular faith or denomination where everyone agrees doctrinally pretty much.
Folk here pretty much get along as hunters, we will all bring each other up in prayer . . . .but many here like to hash out differences of scriptural interpretation . . .denominational teachings.
I like the debating that goes on here up to a point and I find it a good study tool . . .but I would'nt for a minute consider using this site for my only place to be fed as a christian needs to fellowship primarily in accord with other christians of the same beliefs.
I basically view this site as a theological bullpen and have made many good friends here.

A couple of my friends who are still not christians have read these post too and tell me there is no way they want to be christians b/c of all the bickering going on here.

Your friends are not too worldly are they?

[Leafrivermac]

If you pray and feel good about your own personal beliefs, that is all that matters.

Suppose I pray to Jim Baker and spend all my time smoking opium. It may be alright with you and many others but my understanding would be a little warped don't you think?

[etothepii]

This is definately not a place for "Baby Christians." And please don't be put off by that term. Not sure where it came from, but it just refers to "newbies" of Chritianity, so to speak.

I think that many times, the debate here is unhealthy, unloving, and hurtful. Sorry, but that's how I've come to feel.

My resolve for this site is to defend my faith to non-Christians, even if that means arguing. However, I'm not debating doctrine anymore.

What I am doing, though, is reading what people say here, then reading my Bible and other resources like Strong's Concordance, etc. and I'm trying to grow and learn from that. I stop reading threads that get down-right nasty.

If anything, this place will show you the fallibility of us humans. We can take something Holy and perfect and make it the source of our own discord.

[Serioushunter1]

I relatively a "baby Christian" I have posted here on a more than a few occasions. I find the people here a genuinely interested in my spiritual growth with my Lord and Savior. I have gathered insight and support from probably everyone that post in this forum.

I do not get involved in the debates and at times do not always understand the scripture that perhaps in being debated. But all are my Brothers in Christ. Think about it do you and the person whom you love the most always see eye to eye. My guess is probably not. You do not nessecarily always have to agree with your Brother to love him.

Peace and Grace
Steve

4X4, you are right on target. I know I felt the same way, so I walked away for a few months. We, Christians do not always put on a good witness. We are all sinners. We all will fail, but God will pick us up like a child fall off a bicycle, dust us off, and smile and tell us to give it another try.

There are many on here that I do believe, believe in God. But are so drawn back to the flesh. I am guilty of it on other forums. Your post has recalibrated me, and brought me back to understand, witness always, 24/7/365. There's not a time to quit witnessing, just because one likes to debate, and then a time to pick it up. And I thank you for it. Maybe God convicted you to come and talk to us. Maybe you only helped one or two people. Maybe thats enough. Maybe it will help others on here.

Just be patient. Maybe it will sink in on others too. I have found out God uses us in ways we can't understand. God bless ya.

[LBR]

Is there an easy way to try and convince someone of what you feel is the Truth?

Something you might consider--I know at least some of us spend time debating and argueing not out of spite, but out of love and concern. A computer screen does not display emotions, and it's easy to take them the wrong way.

I know I'm blunt--that's just me. I'd be a hypocrite if I tried to be something I'm not. I don't mean to come across as mean or spiteful, but I don't believe in trying to sugar-coat my words either.

Christ himself could be "hard" when the situation called for it--remember, he plaited a whip and drove the theives and money changers from the temple. Not that I'd compare myself in any way to Christ, but sometimes you can't get your point across by just saying "A-men".

Take this example for what it's worth. Say you have a friend, or accquaintence, that is about to marry, and you know for a fact the person they are going to marry has them fooled into believing they are someone they are not. Only you know this, and you know that if you don't speak up the marriage is going to be a miserable failure. You also know that if you do speak up, your friend is going to be hurt, mad, may not listen anyway, andwill probably take it out on you. What would be the Christian thing to do--sit back and let your friend learn the hard way, or do your best to inform them of the facts?

I know discussions sometimes get heated. I know I am guilty of getting carried away myself--I'm just as human as anyone else. I believe it's better to do what you can though, rather than not do anything at all. To me, it's like the parable of the talents--you do what you can with what you have. I consider myself to bea one talent man--but I'm going to try to do what Ican with that one talent, rather than bury it. I'll risk making someone made at me if something good comes from it in the end. Just sitting back and doing nothing is not what God wants us to do.

Not getting involved in religion at all because of disagreements is, to be blunt (as usual), nothing more than an excuse and a cop-out. Do your friends quit their job because someone on the job has a disagreement? Do they stay out of politics completely? Do they only hang around with people that they agree with 100%, 100% of the time? Study your Bible--you will find that Christ and the apostles had to deal with a lot of disagreement, but they didn't quit because of it.

Talking, debating, and discussing, for my part, makes me think harder about what I believe, and study harder to defend it. Anyone that is truly interested in God can learn from these debates--you can see what beliefs come from opinion, what beliefs require personal interpretation and denominational doctrine, and which ones are based solely on scripture. Of course you have to do your own studying and form your own opinions, but you can get a head-start on the topics we discuss.

When it gets right down to it, there's not one person on this board I wouldn't try to help, even those I have had the most disagreement with. I don't hate, or even dislike someone because I don't see things the same way they do. If I didn't care, I wouldn't bother posting at all, or I'd just agree with everyone on every thing and let them deal with the consequences.

Chad

[4x4utilityman]

I understand about defending the faith as well as helping others, but what I have seen here from some makes questions where Christ's love is in words. LBR, you said that is just the way you are, but all your post come across like you are the ultimate authority on the Bible and everyone else interpretes it wrong. And your approach is very negative. You can be straight forward and not come across as rude and all knowing. I don't mean this to hurt you or anyone else, because even though I am a new christian, I know I must always show love 1st so others see Christ's love in me, not just a legalistic approach to the Bible.

Yes diving into the scriptures for more spiritual meat is needed to grow, but it must be done in love as well as an understanding that we might not understand everything that God says in the bible. Remember, He said His ways are so much higher than ours. I truely understand why it is harder to become a christian the older one becomes. That is because the "child like faith" is overshadowed with legalistic reasonsing.

And, no matter how much we want to discuss issues of the bible, we must remember that non-christians are always watching us. So, we must make sure all that we say and do is from the love of Christ 1st and foremost. Yes, computer screens can't show emotions, but the words are just like a book------written in a way that conveys emotions.

Just remember others are always watching.

PS: LBR and a few others, I have enjoyed some of your discussions, but just remember to always reply in love 1st.

Thanks

[LBR]

Thank you 4x4--I do appreciate it. I really don't know how to post any other way but straight-forward. I don't consider myself to be any kind of authority, but I am confident in the scriptures and nobody is going to convince me that an opinion is right and a scripture is wrong. My confidence is not in my own words, it's in the Bible.

Again, I wouldn't bother if I didn't care--but I will try to be less harsh. TRY being the key word here!

Chad