Re: Where Is Everybody?

[Guest Guest]

This is really strange. When I first joined OB, activity was booming! But, now, there seems to be very little.
I sure hope it picks up soon.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[candlelight]

Hey Crushmaster... didn't you know? We have all been Raptured. :-S

J/k... I just had to put this in here for ya. No... it is Spring (in many areas) and I am out enjoying the weather. Between the rain... I like to get out of the house as much as possible. I will check back more frequently. I'm still here. :-)

God bless,

Molly

[John81]

Several members have told me they were moving on because they were tired of being censored and attacked over various issues. Most of these used to post here a lot so that would account for a great deal of the slow down.

[1Timothy115]

Conspiracy theory. Not liberal enough for them.

[Revelation3:20]

The liberals got tired of the conservatives and the conservatives got tired of the liberals. End result, a good number of each left or curtailed posting.

[John81]

There is a vast difference between liberals and those who simply have some different views or are at different levels of biblical understanding.

An actual liberal is one who takes CLEAR commands and statements of Scripture and rejects them or says they mean something else. Such as the example of homosexuality; Scripture is CLEAR homosexuality is a sin yet liberals reject this.

Areas where the Bible doesn't give a clear command or statement are areas where some can disagree but that doesn't make them a liberal. Such as the example of hair length. Scripture says mens hair is to be short and womens to be long but there is no clear statement of what constitutes short or long. Just because a brother or sister in Christ holds a different idea of short/long doesn't make them to be liberals.

As well, the vast majority (maybe all?) of liberal "Christians" are not true, biblical Christians at all while many of those who simply hold some differing views are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

[Anon]

Oh goody an argument. (Haha JUST kidding)

Actually liberal/conservative could mean anything...even in the "grey" areas.

Taking the hair length for instance...you could take that passage of Scripture and hold to a "conservative" view or a "liberal" view. "Conservative" meaning "stricter" and "Liberal" meaning more "loosely".

Yeah its gotten quiet. I still check in but there aren't a whole lot of discussions going on....new discussions anyway. I stay away from the old faithfuls...KJV...pants on women...tithing...rapture....etc. I had my time of doing that and it got old. LOL

Actually too I think Facebook takes some action away from discussion boards.

[Revelation3:20]

An actual liberal is one who takes CLEAR commands and statements of Scripture and rejects them or says they mean something else.

I don't know where you get that definition, but define it however you like, there is no set standard for liberal or conservative, maybe you think "liberal" should only be applied to those who fit the definition you gave, but I would describe those who fit your definition as unbelievers, false brethren, or apostates and a liberal as one I felt fit definitions four and five. Regardless, you knew what was meant, and there is no point arguing it.

Liberal
1 a: of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts barchaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2 a: marked by generosity : openhanded b: given or provided in a generous and openhanded way c: ample, full
3obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious
4: not literal or strict : loose
5: broad-minded ; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
6 a: of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism bcapitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism ; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives

[John81]

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my meaning. What I was trying to get at is those who are biblically born again and hold to the fundamentals of the faith are our brothers and sisters in Christ even if we disagree on one or more aspects of other areas.

Those who deny one or more of the fundamentals of the faith would truly fit the "liberal Christian" definition and these tend to be, or may always be, yet lost.

The main problem among those who are biblically born again and yet have some different views in some areas is how they interact. We are to interact in love and kindness not in heated attacks, not out of emotion but out of a heart filled with the Holy Ghost. We should be able to discuss all day, every day (not that any of us really want to! ) what does or does not constitute proper hair length (example) for men and women in a civil, kind and loving manner.

Sadly, there are those who start tossing out accusations that one isn't even saved or they are in some wicked state before the Lord because their idea of proper hair length isn't the same as anothers. That's not how we should conduct ourselves.

At all times we (and to be clear, if I saw WE, that most certainly includes me) are to be examining our own walk with the Lord. If we can't carry on a discussion without our emotions taking over and with a proper heart then we should remove ourselves from the discussion and take the issue to the Lord. Often as not, it's not the actual topic being discussed that's the problem (as many Mods have pointed out repeatedly) but rather the wrongful and sinful attitudes of some of those within a discussion.

We are called to personal holiness. Scripture tells us that we must mind the beam in our own eye rather than focusing upon the speck in anothers. Even while we attempt to explain to another how we see an issue differently we should be ever mindful that we are doing so in Christ and not in our own flesh.

[Anon]

I think a discussion board is different than real life....its easy to get upset with others online unfortunately.

[blossom]

John.

[John81]

I think a discussion board is different than real life....its easy to get upset with others online unfortunately.

If that is so for some, it's still not a good excuse. In fact, it should be easier to avoid an upset response online. Online one isn't face to face with another, there is plenty of time to compose oneself, to pray, to delay responding or to not respond at all. There is absolutely no need to respond immediately or in the heat of emotionalism. Online discussions offer the wonderful opportunity for each of us to examine ourselves and be sure we are responding in a Christlike manner before we reply or hit the post button. We should read our replies before posting them, praying the Lord would help us to see if we are posting in His will or in our flesh.

However, after being on many online forums, groups and clubs over the years I know there are a great many (Christians and non-Christians alike) who use the anonymity of the online aspect as an excuse or liscense to post in ways they wouldn't likely respond in person. For the non-Christians such is to be expected to an extent but for Christians we are to conduct ourselves the same online as we would in our living room or as we would in the church sanctuary or elsewhere. We, Christians, are commanded to submit ourselves to Christ and to speak/post in a Christlike manner wherever we may be.

[BlessedChristianlady8]

I have been sick with Sinus flare ups left and right and I been having emotional changes. I keep getting reacourant sinus infections which it's driving my batty and majority of the time I can't go to church because i am so inflammed I feel like I am contagouis.

[John81]

I have been sick with Sinus flare ups left and right and I been having emotional changes. I keep getting reacourant sinus infections which it's driving my batty and majority of the time I can't go to church because i am so inflammed I feel like I am contagouis.

That's tough to deal with. You are in my prayers. :pray

[BlessedChristianlady8]

Thanks for the prayers my husband is getting me a machine to clean sinuses soon. We don't have a choice to get this. I want to try it to see if it works and so on.