Top 100 Christian Forums

Churchwork · Post by **Churchwork** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 4:20 pm

Things are growing steadily. Combined, these Christian forums together, make the second largest Christian forum on the internet reciprocating with each other.

If you are able to change your holy huddle room to something respectful like Christians in fellowship room, you can join the Top 100 Christian Forums. It was not I that alone that came to this decision, but it was several forum owners who thought the same.

That would seem fair.

http://christianforums.itopsites.com/

I don't want to exclude anyone unecessarily, but that is the best I can do to include this particular forum.

We must do the right thing.

Piper Plexed · Post by **Piper Plexed** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:18 pm

Churchwork wrote:I don't want to control you.

I am just thinking of the little brothers and sisters.

Churchwork wrote:That is that.

Exactly what does That is that mean?

I must say that I sense we have been dismissed,

if that is the case the statement above "I don't want to control you." would seem untruthful.

If it is not the intention to control why so reactionary and dismissive? Let's see we have over 400 members but when 3 respond in a way that is not to your liking, we get...

Churchwork wrote:I suppose that is why Debate Christianity and Religion is not on the Top 100 Christian Forums, because your conscience can't see the problem as already explained.

Ya know if all that ever satisfied me in life was to have people agree with me well then I most likely spend my days talking to my pets.

and That is that

mrmufin · Post by **mrmufin** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:57 pm

Churchwork wrote:If you are able to change your holy huddle room to something respectful like Christians in fellowship room, you can join the Top 100 Christian Forums.

If you are able to pay for the hosting, invest the time, thought and effort into maintaining the software and database, you can name the forums to whatever you think is most appropriate.

Regards,
mrmufin

Churchwork · Post by **Churchwork** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:18 pm

This is the point (see bold),

1Cr 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1Cr 1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."
1Cr 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1Cr 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
1Cr 1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
1Cr 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1Cr 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Cr 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men

In other words, even Christians can not reach the unregenerated through debating, nor should we. We discuss, but soon such discussion becomes vanity if their is little or no movement on others. It becomes talk for talk sake. That is all.

nikolayevich · Post by **nikolayevich** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:21 pm

Dear Churchwork,

I am somewhat baffled by your changing position from once liking this site (which is called debatingchristianity.com) to speaking with other forum members and now thinking debating is wrong. Not only thinking it, but now using scripture as though you always knew it was incorrect- which from the former we know is untrue. From your own statements, other people and not scripture changed your mind. When this is perceptible you must realize people will take you less seriously.

As to the scripture, not every Christian will hold your interpretation. But let's have a look:

Churchwork wrote:This is the point (see bold),

1Cr 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

I'm not sure what this has to do with debate, but if the cross is folly to someone, what can you do to make it relevant? How will wagging your finger at a community of thinkers, saying that their reason for converging is false, change the way people view the cross?

Churchwork wrote:1Cr 1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."

This has more to do with deceptions of man and false humility... NOT debate.

Churchwork wrote:1Cr 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Ah, here we are. The word "debate". And it's used in a negative context, so perhaps debating is wrong? Or perhaps we must understand the context in which it is given to know that God is not saying that anyone who debates is foolish. If we thought this, then you must look at the terms, "wise man" and "scribe" and also declare the giftedly understanding and penners of thought to be bad. This is not the case at all. One only has to read scripture through part way to see that God sanctioned the actions of many a wise man and a scribe. Therefore, there is more to this verse.

Churchwork, do you know who the "debater of this age" is? If it encompassed the whole of the unbelieving community, then what you have quoted is a verse which says, "where is the man of this age- who questions God?" Yes, under that definition you may have found some on this site! What should your response be? How about caring about what they have to say; trying to see where their views differ from yours; sharing good things?

I will skip the rest of the verses as they are reinfocements of the first which I believe I have shown to be misinterpreted.

Churchwork wrote:In other words, even Christians can not reach the unregenerated through debating, nor should we. We discuss, but soon such discussion becomes vanity if their is little or no movement on others. It becomes talk for talk sake. That is all.

If the point of debating was to "win" an argument then you may have had a point. But the point of debate is not always to win, and I think it is clear that on this site it really isn't the point. People don't come here to change their views. Some come here to test their ideas, to clean up misunderstandings, and some even just to hang out and converse with other people thinking on the same concepts as they (with oft differing outcomes). I personally have enjoyed the debate and discussion with the folks here, not because I've won people to my side- so far as I know I really haven't. If that were my reason for being here I guess I would have to be disappointed. But contrarily, I have only enjoyed the debate. Over time, Christians on this site get to know Agnostics and Atheists... some even celebrate their birthdays or talk about their kids. So friends are made.

If you still feel that is wrong, then I am unfamiliar with your kind of Christianity. Feel free to express or debate your alternate viewpoints on the forums throughout this site. Perhaps we can learn more about each other.

Best,
Nikolayevich

Churchwork · Post by **Churchwork** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:42 pm

This is not so hard to understand, so let us not promote debating for debating is not the truth.

Churchwork wrote:This is the point (see bold),

1Cr 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1Cr 1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."
1Cr 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1Cr 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
1Cr 1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
1Cr 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1Cr 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Cr 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men

In other words, even Christians can not reach the unregenerated through debating, nor should we. We discuss, but soon such discussion becomes vanity if their is little or no movement on others. It becomes talk for talk sake. That is all.

Icarus · Post by **Icarus** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 5:22 pm

In other words, even Christians can not reach the unregenerated through debating, nor should we. We discuss, but soon such discussion becomes vanity if their is little or no movement on others. It becomes talk for talk sake. That is all.

Presenting the Gospel to a non-believer is debating. You are challenging their belief or thinking.

Churchwork · Post by **Churchwork** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 5:13 pm

That's the problem, which is ineffective, treating it as debating. If in your heart you could not do so, and treat it as the Holy Spirit leading in your spirit to lead others to Christ, then it is no longer thought of as debating in your stony heart.

http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/Christianity.htm

Piper Plexed · Post by **Piper Plexed** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 5:36 pm

Churchwork wrote:That's the problem, which is ineffective, treating it as debating. If in your heart you could not do so, and treat it as the Holy Spirit leading in your spirit to lead others to Christ, then it is no longer thought of as debating in your stony heart.

Why do you assume it is ineffective? Show me how it would be more effective to lead a believer to the Holy Spirit? I would tend to think that by nature of being a believer that they already believed.

Churchwork wrote:We discuss, but soon such discussion becomes vanity if their is little or no movement on others. It becomes talk for talk sake. That is all.

I would tend to think that only talking to Christians about Christ would be in actuality the sentiment expressed above. Sorta like the I'm OK your OK can't wait to see you after the rapture society, now that would seem quite vain and really quite selfish, at least to me.

Icarus · Post by **Icarus** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 6:04 pm

That's the problem, which is ineffective, treating it as debating. If in your heart you could not do so, and treat it as the Holy Spirit leading in your spirit to lead others to Christ, then it is no longer thought of as debating in your stony heart.

You can rationalize it all you want, it is still debating.

(The link gets into Watchman Nee, who doesn't have very good credentials in the search I did on him.)

Churchwork · Post by **Churchwork** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 6:22 pm

I did not assume debating is NOT effective. I know it is not. In the Word of God it is not, and experimentally it is not. Praise the Lord!

Watchman Nee's credentials are not dependent on the flesh that you appealed to in a vain and generic google search lazily. You will find no more spiritual Christian in the past 1900 years.

http://www3.telus.net/trbrooks/Misreading.htm

Obviously in the Holy Spirit there is a higher standard of being in new life than generic google searches. Has google become an idol for you?

Refine your terms and see what comes up first. Search for, for example,

Watchman Nee The Spiritual Man
Partial Rapture Watchman Nee
Church locality
Co-death Identification Watchman Nee
Church locality finder

These are just a few

Debating Christianity and Religion

Top 100 Christian Forums

Top 100 Christian Forums

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The truth in Christ. How to be.

Re: The truth in Christ. How to be.