[drstevej]

NOTE: Almost 1 year ago I posted this thread.

Where Have All the FR Protestants Gone?
drstevej
Posted on 04/08/2003 12:29:25 PM CDT by drstevej
OBSERVATIONS:

[1] There seems to be a significantly reduced number of Protestant Threads (KJV Only being the exception for sure) in the FR Religion Forum.

[2] There seems to be a reduced number of FR Protestant posts in the Religion Forum.

This thread is a place to discuss these observations.
 

Compare that to the present. Again, the FR Religion Forum has virtually become a Catholic Chat Room. Note the predominance of threads and posts that are RC. Now, I have no problem with RC FReepers posting as much and as often as they want.

My question is why are there so few Protestant threads and posters. Your thoughts?

[irishtenor]

I'm still here.

[JWinNC]

"My question is why are there so few Protestant threads and posters. Your thoughts?"

I don't know, but I'm curious as to why. There was definitely a shift somewhere along the way. I've never thought FR was a very conducive place for religious discussion, but I don't think that has anything to do with it.

JWinNC

[Gamecock]

Many of our dearly departed elect brethren are now in the outer darkness.

[Ex-Wretch]

My question is why are there so few Protestant threads and posters. Your thoughts?

Since the Religious Forum went PC there is less tolerance for those that walk the straight/narrow way and reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. We are labeled "bashers".

Just the other night I asked a poster why they implored Mary and did not go directly to God with their petition. Their prayer was offensive and insulting to the Lord. I sought not to dishonor Mary but to seek more honor for Mary's Maker. My post was pulled. (Sigh).

True Holy Spirit-filled believers can discern sheep from goats. They hear their master's voice and they follow Him.

The ecumenical poison is in the well. Don't be a partaker in the facade.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

My question is why are there so few Protestant threads and posters.

Its dead Jim.

BigMack

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

My question is why are there so few Protestant threads and posters. Your thoughts?

It's not an "Anti-Calvinist" conspiracy, folks.

That kinda thinking is counterproductive, and besides... even if it were an "Anti-Calvinist" conspiracy (which it ain't, IMHO), "irishtenor" has the right attitude: "2 Calvinists against 4,000 means the Calvinists have an unfair advantage".

If you want more Calvinist Threads, then post more Calvinist Threads. I just did a "quick-search" on the "New Articles" in the Religion Forum, and the first screen turned up one explicitly-Calvinist article -- Gamecock's article on the Salvific Will of God.

Gamecock's article already pegged 22 responses on the first go-round -- not bad when a lot of Religion Forum articles die after 8 reponses or 3 responses or none at all.

The last new Article I had time to post was, as I remember, "Baptism does not Regenerate". Every Calvinist -- Presbyterian or Baptist or Dutch Reformed, Dunker or Sprinkler -- can agree on that; but it is a subject which is of interest to the Papists and Greeks as well. Got 56 responses on the first go-round -- and I haven't even had time to shepherd the Thread. If I decide to "resurrect" the Thread by posting some Responses, it'll go to 100+ responses real quick, maybe 200+.

So, here's the scoop (IMO). If you want more Calvinist threads, here's my suggestions:

• POST more Calvinist Threads. You can't complain if you don't vote.

• Post Threads which are INTERESTING to the other (dare I say "lesser"?) Christian Faith Traditions. The Catholics can have their "Daily Rosaries" and what not, but aside from necessary Prayer Requests and other emergencies of Fraternal Calvinist Charity, let's try to Post Threads in which the other (dare I say, "lesser"?) Christian Faith Traditions will have an interest in participating.

  A few years back, I read a funny Arminian post which complained that Calvinists were "Sheep-stealers" who took their Converts not only from Atheists and Cults and Romanists, but (oh my!) from other Protestants. Damn straight, I say! We are indeed "Sheep-Stealers" most foul; though I contend instead, "Sheep-Rescuers"... as in addition to Evangelism, one of our purposes on this Forum is that of Discipleship. We do not merely rally round the sheep-fold... we actively seek to rescue Lost Sheep from the brambles.

• And lastly, consider this: Martyrdom is no Virtue when you're winning. It's all fine and dandy to "Go Out in a Blaze of Glory" when All Odds are against you and All Earthly Hope is lost. But if the FReeper Roman Catholics or Arminians or Mormons enjoyed anywhere near the unparalleled success we Calvinists have enjoyed in gathering Converts unto our cause from their ranks, and losing none of our own... they'd be dancing in the streets of Free Republic, trumpeting their success as evidence of their blessings as the One True Faith.

  Well, we are the One True Faith. The Reformation was NOT in vain. So let's start acting like it. Why tempt Bannings and Suspensions when we have work to do, and our work here is bearing fruit?

  As I said in a (somewhat-unrelated) post to PolycarpIV on another thread, I don't think that the "Martyrdom perspective" is necessarily the appropriate perspective for the American Church to have, when the Secularists are apparently determined to Abort and Homosex themselves into demographic annihilation. That's hardly a good long-term recipe for Secularist Success. Well, in reverse manner, constantly winning new Converts and losing none of our own is hardly a recipe for Calvinist Failure on this Forum, unless we decide to take our ball and go home. Then, you can be sure, we will have failed.

  Think about it.

Grist for the Mill, OP