Question

[JM]

Originally Posted by NCAngelFire

Perhaps I should have asked this before now, but in cruising through threads here just now, I've noticed a couple of comments that made me curious, if not confused. In one place someone said there weren't actually many Christians in this forum nowadays and in another place I saw someone I assumed was a Christian, because they are a moderator, disagree about a major tenet (at least to me) of Biblical teaching.

So what kind of place is this "nowadays" and are there more Christians here or what? In other words, introduce yerself! (please*)



*polite to a fault

The topics where people try and determine who is a christian are always interesting.

We make so many assumptions and each have our own expectations of what we will accept before we will class someone a christian

The lines of what is a christian are determined by each person based on their current beliefs and accepted theology, yet this does not determine what is a christian

It certainly has little bearing on what matters to God.

We have multiple groups of believers in Christ who try and distinguish what a true christian is, and usually its based on their interpretation of the bible and their standards that they feel a person must live up to

Most of it is just nonsense and so we have today One christian or One christian Group saying.. " This person isnt a christian because they said this " we have another that says " This group isnt christian because they do this and we dont " we have others that say.. This person or group isnt a christian because they dont fit in with my understanding of what a christian is based on my denominational teachings..

As you can see, trying to Box people into some idea that you may have.. is not going to work.. its like trying to box God into your views of who God is.. it never works and achieves little more than creating more divisions between us as people.

Its an illusion: Thinking that everyone around you who says they believe in Jesus and doesnt differ from you in their interpretation of scripture is a christian or not a christian.

What seems more important?

Asking questions like Does this person act like a christian?, does this person fit my theological scope of what is a christian is? Or how do I respond to a person, if they dont fit in with my theology?, with our own individual way of thinking about belief in God?

Will we try to minimize them and maximize ourself because we feel we are right and they are wrong, we are more enlightened and they are less?

I am not saying you wont debate, or disagree on issues and interpretation but, how you go forward from there is personally what I think matters more now than I used to.

This place is what you make it, If you want this place to be peaceful, it entirely rests with how YOU respond to threads and posts

Its our response that determines what this or any other place is i.e

Fearful
Hateful
Lonely
Loving
Peaceful

Its not a place that makes you peaceful, if that was the case, you would need to change the world before you could be peaceful first.

It resides in you

Without over dramatizing this, I just wish to point this out from a Biblical persepective too.

" Though I walk through the valley of Death, I will fear no evil "

For some death is fearful, for others fear is nothing than a response that we allow.

This place is, whatever you choose to make it.

This place is simply a forum where people come from all over the world, with their various faiths and beliefs and they get to chat about God, Life and people

[JM]

Originally Posted by NCAngelFire

Thanks everyone! I do like the diversity here because it makes this place less "stuffy" and I use the word "flavors" also to describe different kinds of Christians and churches.

Last question, are the posters here mostly from the US with scattered posters from across the globe or 50/50-ish?

Thanks again for the welcome!

Im from the Uk but live in Eastern Canada.

[Grace]

Hi AngelFire,
I'm a Christian, though many don't care much for my flavor---LOL!
I've lived in Florida most of my life. My husband is a native NC'ian from the hills near Charlotte.

[Mycernius]

Hello.
I'm am one of the atheists on this site and used to post under a different name, but was banned. Not for religious differences, but a personality clash with one of the old mods. I will not go into that anymore, but AFAIK my old posts and threads are still about under Hyuio.
It is quieter forum than it used to be and is the reason why I rejoined just to find out what had happened. Although it is now smaller I feel that is friendlier than it used to be in some ways.
BTW I am from, and live in the UK.

[JM]

Originally Posted by Mycernius

Hello.
I'm am one of the atheists on this site and used to post under a different name, but was banned. Not for religious differences, but a personality clash with one of the old mods. I will not go into that anymore, but AFAIK my old posts and threads are still about under Hyuio.
It is quieter forum than it used to be and is the reason why I rejoined just to find out what had happened. Although it is now smaller I feel that is friendlier than it used to be in some ways.
BTW I am from, and live in the UK.

Interesting..

" I feel that is friendlier than it used to be in some ways "

How different each of us are in our perspectives.

[Mycernius]

Originally Posted by JM

Interesting..

" I feel that is friendlier than it used to be in some ways "

How different each of us are in our perspectives.

If everyone had the same view and perspective the world would be one very dull place

Mycernius,
Watching atheists debate is a great blessing to me. I pray that I could have as great and stalwart a faith as you have.

JM,
While I understand what you are getting at, the mentality of of us saying "can't we just all get along" results in *IMHO* Christians not knowing how to tell a wolf from a sheep. Maybe it's not important in a cozy little forum like this, but *opening big ol' can of worms here* I'm personally appalled at the number of Christians here in America planning to vote for a Mormon for president cause he has similar values to themselves. Excuse me? They have NO clue the earth shattering differences between what the LDS SAY and what they actually MEAN.

Yeah, I'm extrapolating a lot from your innocent post, but let's be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, not stupid as stupid does as Christians.

Two sides to the same coin perhaps. *shrugs*

[JM]

Originally Posted by Mycernius

If everyone had the same view and perspective the world would be one very dull place

Exactly I couldnt agree with you more.

[One-Lamb-of-God]

Originally Posted by Dave Robb

Hi NCangelfire.

I am a Christian.

I believe that God sent His only Son to earth to die for us that we who believe in Him might live forever with Him.

I believe that the Bible is Gods Holy Word.

I believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father.

I believe that we are saved by Grace and not by works.

I believe that we should continue to do good deeds as this is Christly.

Hi Dave,

I believe God came and saved a wretch like me.
I believe God gave me New Birth through His Holy Spirit that the world will never recieve nor understand.
I believe God calls me to Be Holy for His His Holy and He will be a God unto me and I will be His Daughter.
I believe God gave me songs to sing which mainly sing about "Jesus" being Lord alone.
I believe to never stop Singing Praises to God before all creation.
I believe many of first martyrs sing praise to God while they were being put to death.

I believe with endurance and love everything is in good time.
I believe one liners reminds me of each line in a song.
I believe one liners reminds me of each verse in God's Song Book.

I believe in loving one another as Jesus loved us;
I believe then disciples will walk together.
I am still believing that this computer needs to be shut off.
I believe a disciple can fellowship with those who come to Christ with a pure heart.

I believe laughter and Singing to a disciple as unto The Lord is the best medicine there is;
I believe you can take that to the bank.

I believe in short order Chrisa might be able to hear my same 'I believe''s in all my posts;
I believe it's only with God's help though, in patience;
I believe it's just all a matter of time those post-songs will leap off the pages for her.

I believe that we can see Jesus in all disciples, whether we are a part of the toe, an ear or a singing throat.
I believe disciples can celebrate the whole body parts.

I believe Jesus' prayer of us becoming One as He is One with The Father will be answered;
I believe with every Praise Song sung it gets closers to that time.

I believe blessed are a disciples eyes for they do see.
I believe belesed are a disciples ears for they do hear.

I believe the God Kind of Love suffers long and is kind.
I believe a disciple only knows in part.
I believe when the first disciples were abused they soon were glad as Jesus said in the Bee-Atitutudes.
I believe the God Kind of Love is not easily provoked.
I believe the Cross of Christ was the Best Love Song displayed.

I believe I like this musical melody: Bee Attitudes

I believe now abides, faith, hope and Love (charity);
I believe the greatest of these is Love (Charity).

I believe therefore I sing.
I believe I will be finally be nominated for enterance in the poem board.
I believe then again, maybe not.

I believe the only thing to fear is God and to whom fear is due.
I believe the cup can also been seen as full though it's not.
I believe Jesus turned the other cheek.
I believe that everything that does not come from of Faith is sin.

I believe Dave is a true Disciple in Christ.

I believe I have sung most of these lists in my posts.
I believe I have sung in different tunes and in different keys but the Song has always been the same;
I believe Jesus Is Lord.
I believe man strives to be lord over their own lives, but a disciple has a change of heart.

I believe a one sentence statement really help others at a times and I can't honor that;
Because I believe God is Love.

I believe we should make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

I believe there's more to list;
I believe some other time though.

[friendly hardline atheist]

Hello NCAngelFire,

I'm one of the atheists here. I grew up in a Catholic family but lost faith completely. And I feel very happy to have done so. A healthy dose of skepticism may have helped me go into science, I'm working as a physicist. And I tend to staunchly stand up for science as a way to learn things about the world, critical questioning (there's that skepticism again), etc. Unfortunately, I sometimes tend to lose it a bit when doing so. But don't worry, the other atheists here are much more pleasant than me.

I live in Belfast, N.Ireland.

greets,
Peter