Doctrine or attitude?

How about both are important. Right doctrine is very important and in matters of controversy and generous and loving Christian spirit is needed, and as often the case is, must be strived for.

 

I voted for "depends on how bad doctrine/attitude is", so I believe both are important. HOWEVER, if you could only eradicate one or the other from the Baptist sections of the board, would you eliminate posts with bad attitude, or posts promoting bad doctrine?

Put another way, which would you rather NOT show up as an argument against Baptists? A post showing a Baptist behaving rudely, or a post showing a Baptist preaching a heretical doctrine?

 

I don't think the two can be separated. To quote one of my seminary professors, "Right theology is not righteous living."

On debate forums, where we expect a difference in doctrine, I think attitude, that is to say, a Christ-like spirit is very important.

Likewise, as members of the BB we have agreed to adhere to certain doctrinal limts.

 

Attitude is most important. If there was no differences in doctrine then there would be very little to discuss. However, we should be Christlike in our attitude and Loving in our responses. When fights break out and tempers flare our testimony suffers and the body of Christ suffers.

Ro 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

 

Was Paul being Christ-like when he said the Judaizers should go the whole way and cut themselves off? I've repeated his "advice" in humor, but he wasn't kidding around.

 

I thank that if you have the spirit of Christ the true doctrine of Christ will fallow.

 

We need both: Right Theology and Right Attitude in our debates, but generally speaking, Right Theology is the basis for Right Living (1 Tim.6:3; Titus 1:1).

 

Actually if everyone would read the rules and abide by them they would not be banned...

That is the most important thing to keep from being banned.

 

With bad doctrine, you will probably go to H E double hockey stick.

With bad attitude, you will be banned from the board.

You tell me....which is worse?

 

C/A debates are always heated. When you are called dishonest and you respond is that what you are calling a bad attitude?

I debate with every article I can find and all scripture to defend what I believe, is that a bad attitude.

I am not going to lay down and give in to Calvinist doctrine, is that a bad attitude.

If I am considered to have a bad attitude, then the moderators should tell me and I will leave. If I do not agree with their doctrine because someone I never heard of said it, is that a bad attitude.

I really do not see how to have a C/A debate without some hard questions and answers. We are talking about some pretty serious doctrine, whether children go to hell, are all children that die, children of the elect. You can see where this does not leave the non-cal with much hope whatsoever. It is a way of telling you, that you are not Christian, is that a bad attitude.

What I have just posted, is that a bad attitude? It is my personality and most of all what I believe in. If being steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work is a bad attitude, then I guess I am one. You be the judge. I harbor no ill feelings against no one, but I will defend what I believe to the upmost of my ability. You please tell me. I will summit to your answer.

 

We all have bad doctrine, according to the "other side".
We've all been victims of bad attitude, from our end and from the other end.

So, what's the point of the OP ?

Oh, by the way, I voted attitude more important in that with right attitude one can put forth his doctrine in a way that the other/s might better understand - in a discussion board, that is.

 

And not a one of us is going to have a great attitude all the time.

Sometimes things happen to us in life, and it shows up here as a bad attitude.

 

Brother Bob I am glad what you believe in and respect that. There are alot of people that beleive that it is the right way and the scripture clearly tells them that it an't. Keep fighting that fight brother.

 

There are so many different doctrines represented here that it would be very difficult not perceive any one who has a different opinion as not having an attitude. The same person who is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are right is posting to others who have totally opposing view points and believe they are right without a shadow of doubt.

If you are writing what you think is true you will think that someone is having an attitude because they do not agree with you, not simply that they do not agree. Yes we should stay away from saying things that are obivously filled with attitude. But even then there are 50 different ideas on what is attitude.

I can tell you right now I told my kids to sit down and be quiet. But because you cannot hear me say it you will never know the tone or "attitude" I had. Someone can say "Can you show scripture". And you will never know if it was with attitude. Unless it is obvious maybe we should give the benefit of the doubt to someone who just has an opinion and not assume it is from a place of anger or bitterness.

 

That's true. But there's doctrine and then there's doctrine. Do you know if aborted babies go to heaven? I don't. I have my opinion, and it may be the most WRONG doctrine there is. But is it really that important if I'm right or wrong?

On the other hand, you have people preaching another gospel of works. In my opinion, that is a far more serious "bad doctrine" than what anyone thinks happens to aborted babies.

I think the free will vs. election debate is almost as serious, but not as easily proved to be heretical, and therefore not as "bad" in doctrine.

The point is, where are YOU willing to draw the line?

 

Dale-c I really understand what you are saying but I would like to point out that each person here has different things that matter much and do not matter at all. For you music in Church is not a big deal. But for me it is. Already we have a debate over is someone having an attitude or is someone just more passionate.

Like I said before we should try to use words carefully and that it is hard to detect tone in a post. But all of this is opinion. Yes good doctrine should lead to good attitudes, but in the short time I have been here I have seen many viewpoints on what people consider good doctrine. And if you consider someone elses doctrine bad are they having an attitude or are they just expressing what they believe to be good doctrine to them.

We should try to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to what we consider rude or having an attitude. Only because it is far too easy to mistake someone objecting to your doctrinal view point by point as an attitude or standing up for what they believe just as you are doing.

 

Your doctrine can be perfect, but if your attitude stinks, you'll accomplish nothing. No one will want to - or even try to - listen to you.