Debating with a passion

Thanks for the thread Tim.

I tend to post only on subjects that I have knowledge in. If I have no knowledge I tend to ask questions and just examine the answers by God's Word.

If the discussion is Political I tend to just watch and read. If the political discussion touches on something that I am passionate about then I might speak up.

If any subject is discussed that I am passionate about is being handled by a member that shares my view I tend to give that member a hardy AMEN! or some other word of agreement. If in that same subject I feel that member is getting beat up for their stance, I will jump in and add what knowledge I might have, to up hold my brother/sister.

If I have learned very quickly here that you just don't blurt out a reply to a subject until you have scripture or clear cut knowledge of the subject on hand. IOW, be prepared to defend yourself. I don't like to be called a heretic. :laugh:

If I can take some of the sting out of a subject with a pie to the face, I will do that, --------------- from time to time. :saint: :smilewinkgrin:

BTW, if you should see MCDirector and she asks if you have seen me, tell her I am on a mission trip to the South Pole. :smilewinkgrin:

 

Mostly Calvinism and Arminianism "debates". Although, you will notice that my join date and the number of posts to date indicate I usually like to just look and see what's going on.

It used to be I passionately jump in on "debates" in the C/A area, but have been ignoring that as well now. I just came to the conclusion that it ain't no use debating these things because what it all boils down to is one side trying to convert the other, and being Arminian or Calvinist, freewiller or doctrine of grace-er ain't what counts in heaven.

These are earthbound subjects which we will leave behind when we die, or when the Lord comes for His people, and more often than not, pride factors in when debating these things.

When the rabid Arminian or mouth frothing Calvinist enters the gates of heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ will not tell him to get himself a piece of paper and a pen on that yonder side and answer the Doctrine Exam by darkening the circle where he thinks the correct answer falls, and then assign him a place in heaven depending on the score.

We all enter heaven by the blood of the Lamb of Calvary.

That is why I find it disgusting when somebody from either side starts to insinuate that the other is espousing a doctrine which is anti-God, or accuses the other of trying to tailor God's word to fit his doctrine.

The passion has fizzled out.

 

First, I'll talk about the threads that I don't participate in very often.

One is the C/A debates. I read them all, but there are plenty of posters who have the stick-to-it-ivness that I don't have. I find that I can add nothing new.

Another is the eschatology threads. I know what I believe, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to get into detailed debates. I'd get eaten alive by Ed Edwards.

I do like threads dealing with ecclesiology and those dealing with how we present the gospel. Right now, I've been contributing to the "Invitation" thread over in the Fundamental Baptist Forum.

I confess that I sort of enjoy the discussions about ecclesiology because my Landmark leanings (I'm not a full fledged one) tend to touch some hot buttons, particularly those where I challenge the existence of the Universal Church.


You want to talk about baptism and the Lord's Supper? I'm your man.

 

I tend to post more in the BV/T, missions, and colleges forums, mainly because those align with my three big interests in life.

I tend to shy away from the C/A and eschatology forums. I can't hold a candle to those guys.

 

I just enjoy coming here for fellowship. I get passionate about some subjects, and others bore me to tears. Anything like storytelling, imagination, jokes, and blessings are a pleasure to read. I have problems dealing with two dimensional people. Or is it people with a one track mind? Hmmmm...

love,

Sopranette

 

Tim, I've learned that personal experience strikes a chord a lot of the time.

love,

Sopranette

 

Your question :"Where is your passion for debating coming from?"

Post to spread the Word of the dispensation we live in. Moses did not live in the time of David, and they believed God's Word as they lived. By faith they are justified, yet the gospel they believed was not the same. By faith we are saved, but we know (or should) we have another gospel, even another gospel to believe than what John the Baptist believed.


Yours "Why do you pick some subjects to get passionate over, and others to just let be
".
Low interest on my part, and/or don't feel qualified to discuss.

 

I do not respond a great deal just because I can not spend a lot of time on the board to keep up with all of the things going on. I admit at times I may respond or post thoughts just to stir the pot a bit just because I find it funny how serious some people get.

 

I am very passionate about doctrine as most of you know by my fierce debating on the issue of M.E.

I am also passionate about the subject of eternal security. It really bothers me that some people think God will abandon them if they mess up or their faith wavers.

My hearts desire is to know the truth. Sometimes it's plain to see. Sometimes it requires lots of study on my part. But God will always lead me to the truth if I trust in Him instead of my own understanding, or lack of it.

Since I've been on the BB, I have grown and changed and changed and grown. I've gotten some things right and some things wrong. The things we debate have made me dig deep into God's word to see "if these things are true". I try to remember that I'm never above learning and must always remain teachable, for only a fool thinks he's got it all figured out.

And.......I just like to argue. :laugh:

 

My passion for debating is often instigated by liberalism. It is a cancer in the church. It destroys all that it touches. Insititutions like Harvard and Princeton which were founded to train preachers are now bastions of liberal postmodern mindset. More recently Stetson University was overcome with this disease. The Methodist church has sucomb to it as well as other denominations. They promote heresy and disgusting lifestyles. It is to be exposed at its earliest phases and destroyed.

 

Jude 1:3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

2 Cor 12:20
"For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:"

2 Tim 2:24
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,"

Key words here are contend, debate, and strive.

My lexicons don't give me much other than "contend" for the word contend. I would submit that to contend must not mean to be contentious.

Interestingly enough, the word debates from 2 Cor is defined as contention or strife. Interestingly, the word strive in 2 Tim 2:24 is yet another word meaning to fight. In terms of words, a war of words so to speak, quarelling, wrangling, or disputing.

It seems apparant to me that Jude does not give us liscence to be sharp against one another, to be contentious, or strive against one another. If our disposition is so, then we have errored in the Lord.

Think on these things when you find on these boards and opponent who is opposing your beliefs in some way. If you are convinced that they are your brother or sister then be slow to speak and hesitant to enter into dialogue with them. Do not try to win an arguement. If you believe your brother to be sinning, seek to win your brother with great patience, gentleness and kindness.

I backed away from these boards because I became caught up in the debating that is sinful. And I suppose we all fall short in these areas to some degree at times.

 

Like what you say, which may repel you.

We can all "grow" in His Word, and I have seen your "booties" are no longer without dirt, and dust, as you trod the centuries of His Word. Hope you will take this as a compliment, which doesn't mean you and I must believe exactly the same in His Word. He has many parts in His Body, and I have been moved from the "Kingdom gospel to come as preached by John the Baptist", also shown in Acts 2:38, to "The Body of Christ".

I knew nothing of the Body of Christ, until I came to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ from heaven revealed to my Only Apostle, Paul. Moses was of the "Kingdom to come, as was David. Today it is only we that can be Once Saved, Always Saved while we live.

 

I tend to get into threads when I see people pushing preference as Scripture.

I seldom respond to the C/A threads. I just don't.

I tend to respond in KJVO and music threads, because that's where I see "preference as Scripture" more often.

I'm bad to allow myself to get sucked into debates when I see posters who are never willing to admit another person may be right. The pride thing gets me every time.

 

There are a few names I look for in the posts list, like Sopranette, Palatka, Tiny, Webdog, TCGreek, the Scribe, or SBCPastor which indicate that the thread is worth participating in. There are a couple of other names I can't remember that 'invite' me in as well.

This is not a suck-up. I can't stand any of them...I just have to be honest.

I like to delve in most any topic; I have been fortunate enough to learn or read something about it. But certain people just aint fun to read or respond to, like __________ (fill in the blank).

We should have a thread on who is on your ignore list... We could even have a poll including certain posters--Hmm.

 

I am the new kid on the block.

I have a singular passion. The gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why?, you ask. Because I was set free from spiritual darkness last year at the good age of 40.

I like what the unshackled song says:

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.

 

Ain't that the truth. I've been guilty of that on a few occasions myself.

I also get seriously annoyed with folks who hijack discussions and take it off-course for 452 pages before being civil enough to remember that there were 10 other people who started out on the thread who might have wanted to contribute a comment. Two of the 10 could have died and gone to meet Jesus by the time the discussion comes back to earth! Sorry Lord for being irreverant!

It's hard isn't it to act as God commands with love and compassion towards those who are pig-headed, prideful, so unwilling to admit they might be in the wrong