there are a lot of debates ,arguing and harshness.I would love to learn more then this.I know I can do arguing and harshness not so good at debates.I have alot to learn still.Would love to learn more.

In places the Bible can be a very difficult book to understand, no wonder debate rages. When you also consider the multitude of Christian denominations out there, differences will arise.

No sincere questions should ever be rejected but answered honestly and gently. If anyone does not understand a point they should ask without fear of recrimination.

There are some people in TJ that I have the highest respect for. Some others not so much, but I will respect their opinions nevertheless.

I'm surprised it works at all.There will be clutter, diversions and divisions but where else can you get feedback like this from your views or questions?
In a denomination there will be little dissent over cloudy doctrines, couched opinions or baited questions.

It is an awesome training field because we are supposed to go out and be able to witness to non believers.So if I can't make a believer see my point I can pretty much guess that it would only get through to a very small portion of unbelievers.

20 years ago we had no way to actually discuss the differences and similarities between denominations because we had to pick a denomination and put up with it's doctrines out of convenience.

In rural America there may be only 1 or 2 denominations within 20 miles of where you happen to be born and raised.This meant that there was no opportunity to even know what questions you should be asking your pastor because you were to busy trying to catch up with what he (supposedly) knew.
Since we were busy working(a job) to pay pastor(10%) to misinform us, we could never catch up to what he knew.
Any studies we did on our own that did not match our denominational beliefs had to be held and cherished secretly,lest we be thrown out of the congregation.

The internet has only really been utilized in the last 12 years so I am amazed that a multi-denominational forum works as well as it does.To be able to search multiple translations and do etymology and history studies was a full time job 20 years ago.So in the last 10 years I have been able to correct my own beliefs for the first time.

Sometimes stubborn or annoying posters teach me things about how to approach different types of people that I will encounter among unbelievers in my walk.

Originally Posted by Thiscrosshurts

Sometimes stubborn or annoying posters teach me things about how to approach different types of people that I will encounter among unbelievers in my walk.

Agreed. Anytime I come upon stubborn believers I know that they are a test of my faith and love... so I appreciate them because I know God is just using them to help me :) I always say, if you can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen and I definitely think Christianity is a heated subject... one that requires firmness and stubbornness, but also love and respect. I try not to waste my time with those who don't respect me or my beliefs, and I try to help those that do.

The Bible says in Romans 14:5, "Let each be convinced in his own mind"... if you eat meat, then eat it to glorify God... if you don't eat meat, then don't eat it to glorify God. At the end of the day, as long as you love Christ and as long as your beliefs are glorifying God, I think you're good! (Even if others don't agree with you)

I totally agree with the OP, lately there has been tons of debates and arguments here, I joined TJ 5 years ago in 2007, it wasn't like this so I'm not sure what exactly happened. The non-Christians used to come here and try to learn about Jesus, not attack Jesus, and Christians here were more like Christ-followers, not bullies. it's really sad.

Hi,
I have been reading and talking with people about certain topics discussed here on TJ and it has upset that people refuse to "come all the way" and explain and prove their views from scripture in a way you could agree with them in the light of the bible. Unfortunately this is not often so. Many people seem to be just interested in showing their view about a topic and I think this is ok but when they want to argue without waterproof scripture evidence. it really upsets me.


Sometimes I ask people how do they know this is like they say and there is never no answer and always when I ask for evidence the people leave just so they can come back with their view thats not yet disproven.

Whats up with this?

Why do people claim things true when challanged they cannot prove it all the way? and rather leave their view partially a mystery even to them self and yet preach it again!

Jari,I think that happens to you because your not easy to fool.
I read many of your posts and you ask intelligent articulate questions.

When people can't back up there beliefs they get frustrated and try to blunt your question and then divert the subject then if that does not work they may demean,insult, insinuate and perhaps even accuse because they don't have an answer.

Originally Posted by Thiscrosshurts

I'm surprised it works at all.There will be clutter, diversions and divisions but where else can you get feedback like this from your views or questions?
In a denomination there will be little dissent over cloudy doctrines, couched opinions or baited questions.

It is an awesome training field because we are supposed to go out and be able to witness to non believers.So if I can't make a believer see my point I can pretty much guess that it would only get through to a very small portion of unbelievers.

20 years ago we had no way to actually discuss the differences and similarities between denominations because we had to pick a denomination and put up with it's doctrines out of convenience.

In rural America there may be only 1 or 2 denominations within 20 miles of where you happen to be born and raised.This meant that there was no opportunity to even know what questions you should be asking your pastor because you were to busy trying to catch up with what he (supposedly) knew.
Since we were busy working(a job) to pay pastor(10%) to misinform us, we could never catch up to what he knew.
Any studies we did on our own that did not match our denominational beliefs had to be held and cherished secretly,lest we be thrown out of the congregation.

The internet has only really been utilized in the last 12 years so I am amazed that a multi-denominational forum works as well as it does.To be able to search multiple translations and do etymology and history studies was a full time job 20 years ago.So in the last 10 years I have been able to correct my own beliefs for the first time.

Sometimes stubborn or annoying posters teach me things about how to approach different types of people that I will encounter among unbelievers in my walk.

I believe this response sums it all up. But we must be careful when defining who we deem stubborn or annoying. Sometimes it's pride and us not feeling heard, not getting the last word causes the other person in our eyes to be stubborn or annoying. And we use this to buff up our pride even more using those labels against the person. This changes the way you respond to the person and changes the tone and atmosphere. At this point you no longer have respect for the other person, you make yourself a victim saying they are being rude to you and your responses become blunt and theirs too.

Those who suffer with pride will butt heads with those who have issues with pride because they will never listen,agree to disagree or walk away from fruitless conversation. The problem is not the quote and quote stubborn and annoying..the problem is the so called righteous Christians not knowing what it means to be humble. The best teacher is a humble one, who does not think highly of themselves and know in this journey there's always something new to learn, something old to correct.

Gossip is also a problem. When people talk amongst themselves about other members they do not know. Lets be real someone asking a few question we don't understand do not give us the authority to know their heart. Therefore you must ask yourself how many broken christians did you destroy because they said something different beyond your doctrine. All you saw was their unbelief to your opinions and never once wondered about their heart, life, health and salvation. I see people leave this site because they ( the stubborn and annoying ) felt picked on, felt ganged up on and not embraced.

Again as I said before this is a non denomination site, a home for those seeking fellowship. The problem is Pride and people not being humble.

Property Of God I totally agree with the OP, lately there has been tons of debates and arguments here, I joined TJ 5 years ago in 2007, it wasn't like this so I'm not sure what exactly happened. The non-Christians used to come here and try to learn about Jesus, not attack Jesus, and Christians here were more like Christ-followers, not bullies. it's really sad.

I remember those sweet days. We would close threads if there was a slight hint of debate. I'll talk to the other moderators about it, and when we start closing threads the prideful ones will immediately start a thread about threads being closed because they didn't get the last word or prove their point. Sister do you remember those heated debates over women wearing pants, women preaching, bible versions, once save always saved, speaking in tongues, king james being the only authority, baptist church being the best, war of the denominations, keeping the sabbath. Those were some raw conversation. And those very threads filled with different opinions helped shaped my belief. Sometimes it takes someone else asking a question for us to learn. When people come on this site with a mindset to learn and grow the conversations would change, but unfortunately every one wants to be a teacher.

Paganmystic, Tcah, cody ,mounty ..Br.Bear those were the golden days. Things didn't change it's the same topics..so It's fair to say we changed.