1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

A Code of Ethics for the BB

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by John of Japan, Nov 13, 2012.

  1. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Please understand that first of all, this is my own code of ethics. If it works for you, great. But feel free to add, subtract or rewrite. Next, note that a code is not a list of rules, but of principles. And also, I freely admit that I don't hold to these all of the time, but have human failures. Maybe my biggest is that several denizens of the BB have said that I can be condescending. Sorry if I've been so to you. :flower:


    A Code of Ethics for Internet Forums

    (1) Those are real people behind those screen names, and we are to love them as we love ourselves, according to the royal law of Christ.

    (2) Each of us are made in the image of God, so when we insult, bully and otherwise personally attack another you are doing so to the image of God.

    (3) Keep my integrity by always seeking the truth and telling the truth. Also, obey the rules and respect the monitors of the forum. I agreed to this when I signed on, and a person of integrity keeps his word.

    (4) Only make it a debate to the bitter end when I am fighting known heresy. Otherwise, speak up and then shut up when I've said enough. "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise" (Prov. 10:19).

    (5) The Biblical rebuke can be useful in helping others to grow. But be careful--many people, even Christians, hate to be rebuked and will turn against me.

    (6) Know myself and as Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true." In other words, know when I am knowledgeable and when I am ignorant. Refrain from false expertise and false humility, both.

    (7) When someone offends me, tell them so, since they may not realize it and deserve a chance to apologize. When I offend someone and they tell me so, immediately apologize sincerely. Both of these steps are commanded by Christ. If they don't apologize, that's on them. I have done my Christian duty.

    (8) When a debate becomes irretrievably personal, withdraw to avoid marring my integrity. (I learned this from my grandpa, a championship college debater who always stopped writing articles in his Christian paper about a subject when others attacked him personally). If I do not follow this principle, the problem with me is not that I'm being weak but that I'm liable to be insulting and offensive right back, thus disobeying Christ!

    These last two are hardest. I've been called a wimp, a whiner and other things for carrying out these two principles. That's okay. I'm at peace with the commands and demands of Christ.
     
    #1 John of Japan, Nov 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 13, 2012
  2. drfuss

    drfuss New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2005
    Messages:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    0
    A good code of ethics. I see a problem with #4.

    "(4) Only make it a debate to the bitter end when I am fighting known heresy." The problem is various people define "known heresy" differently. Known heresy should only include things like: Denying the Trinity, and Salvation by works as defined by the other person making the statement. Different interpretations of scripture concerning things like the Gifts of the Spirit, should not be considered heresy even if one disagrees with the other's interpretations.
     
  3. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Thanks for the input. You have a good point. Maybe I should have put instead that I will only debate to the very end things I believe deeply in or oppose very strongly.

    My idea here was that often we will go the whole 20 pages of an allowed debate just to prove ourselves right, save face, etc. I know I've done that. But I don't think it necessary to keep debating to the bitter end things that don't matter much.
     
  4. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2006
    Messages:
    13,977
    Likes Received:
    2
    John,
    The biggest problem I have is with #8. It seems when one writes a private message to someone either apologizing or seeking to start over, one usually gets slapped in the face with a smart alec response. Personally, I find someone who rejects an attempt to forgive or become friends after a difficult period, has a very flawed inward character, to put it nicely.
     
  5. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    How ungracious! I can't understand acting that way towards someone who is genuinely trying to do the right thing.

    I believe Christ taught keeping short accounts, either calling to account one who has offended you (Matt. 18:15-17) or apologizing to one you have offended (Matt. 5:22-24), to be a mark of a strong Christian. It is obeying Christ. It takes a courage which some here on the BB do not have. Your willingness to apologize is a sign of spiritual strength which those who mock do not have.

    A quote sticks in my mind from a Western novel (can't remember the book) about the hero: "He was strong enough to be gentle."
     
  6. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2008
    Messages:
    18,441
    Likes Received:
    259
    Faith:
    Baptist
    John, I feel a code of ethics is an excellent idea. Perhaps one can be developed and enforced.

    I believe all personal attacks should be deleted by the moderators and the person cautioned about continuing such attacks.

    Also, replies that have nothing to do with the topic should be eliminated. I realize this would require a good amount of work on the part of the moderators, especially in the beginning. However, once people realized that such postings would be eliminated then, I believe, they would start being more responsible and rational in their posts.
     
  7. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I suspect from the BB viewpoint the rules are enough. I'm not sure a code can be enforced like a set of rules can, since it is a set of principles.

    Here is the code (basically unenforceable) of the Christian martial art I am a leader in:

    I Pledge:​

    1. To always practice my martial art to the glory of the only true God and His son, Jesus Christ.
    2. To never use my martial art for the purpose of glorifying myself.
    3. To only use my martial art for defense, never for attack.
    4. To defend with my martial art my family and the weak and helpless as well as myself.

    I agree with these proposals. Probably though the BB would have to pay the moderators to accomplish this--volunteers aren't they?
     
  8. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2004
    Messages:
    3,517
    Likes Received:
    4
    I, too, tend to agree w/ what's been posted above.

    OTOH, I must reflect on how sad a commentary it is that WE, as blood-bought, HS-filled, saved by HIS matchless grace, etc., etc., professing Christians have to have a "Code of Ethics" to which we must affirm our allegiance here on BB. :tear:

    I guess it's just another "sign of the times," so to speak, that we, as professed "Ambassadors of Christ," have to have something like this---in addition to the Holy Spirit that, as professed children of God, we're supposed to have dwelling w/in us.

    Maybe if we all (me included!) had a "spiritual skype" screen BB program into which we could see the other BB person's reactions (&, vice versa, he/she could see our own body language!) to our BB postings, some things that we on BB read would be a little more "kind-er, gent-ler," but, then again, maybe not.

    I'm reminded of an old Mark Fox dialogue/song that had a line something like this in it as an indictment for many of us:

    After we first shoot the messenger, we then turn right around and shoot the very warriors who are on OUR side fighting our REAL enemy!!
     
  9. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Brother, keep it up. :thumbs: I consider you one of the ethical ones.
     
  10. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2008
    Messages:
    3,822
    Likes Received:
    1
    This the best posting guide I know of...

    It has caused me to lighten up a harsh response many times

    It is....


    .

    :wavey:
     
  11. Timsings

    Timsings Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2006
    Messages:
    585
    Likes Received:
    0
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Thanks, John. These principles are all about being civil and respectful of one another. This should apply to all of one's dealings with others, not just internet forums.

    Tim Reynolds
    Nashville, Tennessee
     
  12. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Excellent! You get it.
     
  13. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Exactly, Tim. That's where I have to watch myself when I'm posting to "Cool theology dude on the BB." I sometimes have to remind myself that is a real person, not some disembodied Internet spirit with no feelings.

    And by the way, are the Titans going to have a winning season? (My home church is in TN.)
     
  14. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2005
    Messages:
    9,031
    Likes Received:
    2
    John, I have to confess that I have a little sarcastic streak in me, and that it is a great temptation to use sarcasm in some of my postings. One of the things that inhibits that streak is a question I constantly have to ask myself.

    That is, would I use these words I'm about to write if I were face to face?

    The other debate principle I have adopted is, even when you're disagreeing, don't be disagreeable. It is entirely possible to express strong disagreement without stirring up anger on the other end.

    Which of these is likely to irritate you? "You're just wrong." Or, "I see it differently."

    See what I mean?
     
  15. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Good principles, Tom. Thanks for the input.

    You are certainly right about how to tactfully phrase things. I've been guilty in that department.
     
  16. Timsings

    Timsings Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2006
    Messages:
    585
    Likes Received:
    0
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Last year someone posted a Peanuts cartoon on Facebook:

    Charlie Brown: "I hear you're writing a book on theology. I hope you have a good title."

    Snoopy: "I have the perfect title. Has It Ever Occurred to You That You Might Be Wrong?

    This is an idea that I have held to for years. As Scripture says, our ways are not God's ways, and, by extension, God's knowledge is not our knowledge. We do not know nearly as much as we like to think we do.

    I have recently gotten interested in the limits of human knowledge. I would recommend Wendell Berry's The Way of Ignorance and Other Essays which I have read, and The Virtues of Ignorance: Complexity, Sustainability, and the Limits of Knowledge which I have not read yet. It is a collection of essays by various authors. It also includes Berry's essay "The Way of Ignorance".

    As for the Titans, I am expecting them to finish no better than 8 and 8. I think 7 and 9 is a better possibility. A winning record would require them to beat both Houston and Green Bay which I think is unlikely. Since the Titans are off this week, I am focused on the Vanderbilt - UT game. Go Vandy!

    Tim Reynolds
    Nashville, Tennessee
     
  17. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2004
    Messages:
    3,517
    Likes Received:
    4
    Another "beef" I have is this: Why is it that some BB posters will hit the "Quote" button for what's often a 40-50+ line post when all they want to reply to w/in that quoted post often times is no more than a line or two?

    It only takes a minute or two to highlight and press delete for the part(s) in that quoted post to eliminate the superfluious parts(s) of that post--such as what I've done w/ JofJ's post above!

    BTW, JofJ, if you were planning to come home to go on deputation (or maybe a sabbatical to finsh your translation work), HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!!
    Here it is:
    There's this 6,114 sq ft "Hamptons style" Prophet's [PROFIT'S maybe] Chamber up for sale at a STEAL for a mere $3.63 million (down from a listing of $5 million!....[A REAL STEAL....I tell y'all!]) that fronts Center Hill Lake in Dekalb County. Amenities include a 4 BR, 2,600 sq ft guest house + a 1 BR cabin sitting on 3.6 acres w/a pvt dock (for your yacht) PLUS a helipad where your own private helicopter can wisk U off to your next series of missionary conferences!! You have to act RIGHT NOW because Benny Hinn's agents have been eyeing it too!

    Surely what that BB poster has to say in response to the post from which he/she wishes to respond can't be THAT urgent such that one can't do some editing before he/she cuts to the chase and rights all the wrongs/heresies/whatever for which that "quoted" post set off his/her warning bells/alarms....CAN IT??!!?? :tonofbricks:

    OK, I've climbed off my soap box (BTW, Does soap STILL come in BOXES?? :smilewinkgrin:), and, Bro. JofJ, since yours truly also hails from the Music City USA (about 50 or so miles up I-24W from "The Boro" & FRBC BTW), here's the latest on the Titans:
    Currently they are in 3d place in the NFL's South Div of the AFC right below Houston & the Indy Colts--0.400 % w/ a 4 - 6 season; total PF = 219, PA = 311. This weekend (11/18) is a bye weekend for them w/ an away game @ JAX (W-L 1-8) scheduled for 11/25. The 8-1 Houston Cowboys [Their replacement for when they were the Oilers!] play them at home on 12/2, followed by an away game @ Indy (6-3) on 12/9; home game w/ NYJ (3-6) on 12/17; away @ GB (6-3) on 12/23; and then on 12/30 JAX again @ LP Field.
    They came off w/ a 37-3 victory over Miami this past Sunday (11/11). Up till then, they've been plagued w/a very inconsistent season. Just the prior week, the Chi Bears made (as 1 commentator put it) "Chicago-style pizza out of the Titans" w/a blowout @ Wrigley field.
    They've suffered because of uncertainty over who the starting QB for the team is, and also from both Kenny Britt's multiple injuries as well as those from recovering Chris Johnson.
    Right now, Coach Munchak still thinks they can at least hope for a wild card berth, but only if they play out their remaining six regular season games a whole lot better than they have during their first 10 weeks of the season.
    So, JofJ, that's pretty much how it stands for the Titans.
    --------------------
    Also, let the record show that ktn4eg isn't that much of a Titans fan @ all. When the late QB Steve McNair died under the circumstances he did + the departure of former coach Jeff Fisher after last year's season, what little support I ever did have for the Titan's was over.

    Actually, MY team no longer exists! It was the Philadelphia/Baltimore STARS! Remember the old USFL of the early 1980's? Yep, da Philly Stars were probably the best overall USFL there was w/ UNC's HB Kelvin Bryant as rusher, WR Scott Fitzkee as receiver, & Chuck Fusina (1978 Heisman Trophy runner-up as QB, the 1983-85 USFL Stars were it! Hey, with an owner w/a name like "Irish-sounding" Myles Tanenbaum ("O Tanenbaum....O Tanenbaum!! :thumbs:), and bad boy "Saint" Jim Mora (!!) as coach, no wonder they had back-to-back USFL Championships!!
    Of course, their swan song season of 1985 was the last one of the USFL. Having moved from Philly to Baltimore once the NFL Colts high-tailed it to Indy (w/ UTenn's stand out QB Peyton Manning as their starter!), the Stars hoped to fill the void.
    Alas, it was not to be! The Stars played (and won!) the very last USFL game in history. Even though a federal grand jury found in favor of the USFL in its 1986 antitrust suit against the NFL, for all their efforts and court expenses, the USFL was initially awarded $1.00 (later upped to a whopping $3.00!)

    (Yah think maybe money, power, influence, and (let's be "Biblical" here for a moment! :laugh:) "spiritual wickedness in HIGH PLACES!" had anything to do with the outcome of that suit??!)

    That's MY story & I'm stickin' w/it!!
     
    #17 ktn4eg, Nov 16, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 16, 2012
  18. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Good point, complete with a quote by Snoopy the theologian. :thumbs: Happy is the man who knows his own ignorance.

    Sounds like good recommendations. I've never heard of books on this specific subject before.

    8 and 8 would be good. I've only gotten to watch one of their games over here. The government satellite chanel has one US football game a week. But in that game they did show flashes of ability. Now if they can only put it all together against the likes of Houston and Green Bay! Falcons are doing much better, though, and I got to watch them play--unfortunately it was the one they lost. :flower:

    Unfortunately, we don't get college football games at all.
     
  19. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,349
    Likes Received:
    1,772
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Yeah, seems like "love your neighbor" would include discretion on those long quotes! :smilewinkgrin:
    Well, I'll just contact my biggest millionaire supporter and snap up that deal! (Har har.) Can't let Benny get that.
    Really, that close? Too bad I didn't know that on furlough, or we could have done lunch. We were there in August.
    Thanks for the Titans update. The game I saw showed potential to ending up with a winning record, but they were inconsistent.
    I was rooting for the USFL. Too bad they didn't make it. I really thought that the NFL was a monopoly. It's not like football is baseball, after all (lol).
    Loved your story. Thanks for the laughs. ; }
     
  20. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2004
    Messages:
    3,517
    Likes Received:
    4
    JofJ---I've PM'd U as 2 where I call home, etc.
     
Loading...