Much of the worst behavior on the Religion Forum is obviously the fruit of intemperate and/or indiscreet zeal. Once we all realize this, it should change our posting habits here.
From your lips to God’s ears, however, I wouldn’t hold my breath and turn blue. Some of those posters are too far gone.
Something to consider. You may know others who would benefit from a ping to this thread.
This is about 21 mos too late. The zeal of some voting for Obama could have been curtailed.
Disagreement is characterized as "hate," dissenters become trolls or shills.....
In part it's the curse of the internet -- a place where manners are not required. But it's also a sign of the times.
I do see disagreements on unimportant matters on the RF, and minor things that cause division in the Body of Christ, and that grieves me.
However, I get much grief and accusations for my role in posting about the LDS, their teachings and doctrines and THOSE are NOT minor or unimportant differences. As we often show, Mormon teachings and doctrines exclude them from the Body of Christ. That is not intemperate or indiscreet zeal in the least. That is telling the Biblical truth.
However, I get your point, maybe the detractors and "social justice activists" who choose to attack the messengers instead of the message may benefit from your post as well.
Now now . . .
some of us ENJOY water fights.
Of course . . . some few use the very WRONG kind of water!
LOL.
There is an unfortunately large number of people who believe that “right and obnoxious” is an effective tool of evangelism — thus putting the “tool” in “tool of evangelism”. Haha.
Pride is a nefarious sin ... there comes a point when being “right” in a debate is no longer about what is right, it is about vanity (i.e. proving you’re the smartest, holiest, most Christian one in the room).
We are called to spread God’s word, not to convert people. We don’t convert people ... Christ converts people through us, and he does so more often through love, service and humility than through arrogance and belligerence.
Is it possible that we’ve gotten so caught up in being “right” that we’ve lost sight of what it is to be “good”? Is “right and obnoxious” on doctrinal matters really preferable to “wrong and humble” (though wrong and obnoxious would clearly be the worst of all possibilities)? Do the doctrinally wrong require more forgiveness (Grace) to correct doctrinal errors than the right need to correct for pridefulness?
SnakeDoc
Many could take this as mind reading or an intemperate statement on your own part. Ecclesiastes notes that for every thing there is a time. There is a time for more 'temperate' or 'descreet' discussions. Then there are times for more zeal (such as the Apostle Paul's statement that he wished the Judiazers would castrate themselves (Gal 5:12)).
Indeed.
The problem here is that the author didn't allow Scripture to balance itself. The author of this article engaged in Scriptural cherry-picking, citing 1 Cor. 13, vv. 4 & 5...but did an "abortion" in cutting it off before v. 6.
Yes, love is patient; kind; not ambitious; not self-seeking. But what does love do according to 1 Cor. 13:6? Love rejoices in the truth!
Too many people want to only focus on love, without realizing it's also wedded to truth.
A lack of Christian zeal is in many ways why we are in the state we have found ourselves in the 21st century.
Tolerance is all good and well, but when the faith itself is being slandered and attacked from outside, we are called to defend it.
ping
Your effort here is appreciated, but reading through the comments so far has provided for a few chuckles as ingrained posting habits are already being made manifest. From questioning who on the religion forum might have voted for Obama, to parsing the religion forum rules, to projecting, to personalizing and internalizing comments which were meant to be generalized; by the time this thread dies, I suspect it will provide a pretty good exhibit of fallen man.
Thanks for the ping - I will read it today.
Oh?
How does one DISCRIMINATE between INtemperate & temperate?
How does one DISCRIMINATE between INdiscreet & discreet?
So, complain to Big Sis Janet, she hates free speech and will fix it for you
ping for later reading