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Featured Online Forums, Christian Conduct, and Sin

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by JonC, Jun 27, 2020.

  1. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I have been involved with Christians and professing Christians across a few boards. One thing that I have noticed is that there are a few people who exhibit a spirit of ungodliness.

    Many of us, myself included, have responded inappropriately and with insults. I think that we all recognize this is not proper conduct. But things get heated (and this is no excuse). There are a few people who have been banned from these boards for their behavior. I understand someone having to take an involuntary break because things got out of hand. I think that this is normal as we are human beings discussing diverse beliefs that we hold as foundational towards our faith.

    But there are some people who have been banned several times on different boards. This is a different issue as it shows, IMHO, that there is a serious problem.

    God has taught and commanded how believers are to interact with one another. I think it is fair to say that we all can stumble in our interactions. But what if this is the mark of a professing Christian? If it were any other sin we would automatically consider that person a “nominal Christian” as he or she would be given over to the flesh.

    Is the sin of disobeying God’s commands regarding how Christians are to act any less a sin against God than any other sin?

    Is the sin of being abusive to another person any less a sin against God than any other sin?

    Is the sin of being unkind any less a sin against God than any other sin?

    Is the sin of holding a grudge against another person any less a sin against God than any other sin?

    One thing to consider is that those who are unkind on these boards are not only sinning, but they are sinning “with a high hand”. It is willful and indulging the flesh.

    I often see prideful people screaming about what they believe is a splinter in the eye of a brother while walking around with a log protruding from their own. Sometimes that prideful person is me. We contend with sin in our own lives. We contend with the flesh. We do not contend with the sins of other people.

    But I have noticed a few people for whom this behavior is the mark of their online presence. I have considered the explosion of pornography due to the internet. I wonder if this does not also apply to other sins. It is too easy to indulge the flesh when a ready made "enemy" is only a few clicks away.
     
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  2. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    I think you are on to something Jon C. I had not considered that the influence of "digital" interaction with fellow believers, might be a significant snare, inviting callous rather than courteous behavior.
     
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  3. evenifigoalone

    evenifigoalone Well-Known Member

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    It's easier to be discourteous online since we are not face to face. Something about it just makes it so much easier to see an opinion we hate, rather than the person holding said opinion.
     
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  4. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I think both of you are right. The internet has made it much easier to sin and be disobedient, becoming a significant snare for a few.

    I suspect some think that their behavior here "doesn't count". But perhaps it is places like this where it counts the most.
     
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  5. RighteousnessTemperance&

    RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member

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    My experience has been that writing can also bring it out more because so much is lost in the exchange—facial expression, body language, tone of voice, inflection, and other dramatic cues—and so much can be said in response before the other has a chance to explain.

    But when it happens to me, I've no doubt the real reason is that they hate me because I'm beautiful. :Wink
     
  6. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    I dont think its always our Christian duty to be nice. Jesus was not always nice. I recall Him calling people some names like "snakes", vipers, fools, graves" to name just a few.
     
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  7. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Perhaps not, at least when dealing with the world (which would include those Jewish leaders).

    But often in online forums we see professing Christians attacking believers. Personally I stress the "professing" part as there are weeds in the crop. But even Christians can stumble.

    I have seen professing Christians who have denied Christ on this forum by their conduct. I do not mean getting "hot under the collar" but a presence marked by disobedience.
     
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  8. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    For this discussion to be productive, I must be honest. I dont consider those who support the murder of the un-born as Christians. Supporting the candidates who support that murder, is partaking in the murder.
     
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  9. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    While I would never question anyone's salvation on this board (per rules) I am unfortunately confident not all here are in fact Christian. This is to be expected. The wheat and tares grow together. We can judge actions, though.
     
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  10. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    1 John 3:15, ". . . that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. . . ."
     
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  11. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. Voting is a work. Besides, there is no Biblical warrant to say that in order to be saved that one must vote for Trump, or must vote for Biden, or must vote Democratic, or must vote Republican, etc., or even must vote at all.
     
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    which has nothing to do with is post
     
  13. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Saved people wont vote for the butchers of babies.
     
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  14. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    I prefer that a Christian not vote for an abortionist. There aren’t very many of those. I’ve never met someone who performed an abortion.
     
  15. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Vote for a Democrat and the blood is on your hands.
     
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  16. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    Using your reasoning, it would be best for a Christian to never vote at all, as anyone you vote for is a corrupted human being, with no telling what he/she has done in the past that you may not know about, much less what he/she may do in the future, including how they may legislate.
     
  17. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    I don't believe the internet aided in discourteous intercourse, it just helps to reveal what's already in our hearts.
     
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  18. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    From Rod Dreher's column on The American Conservative website:

    "A conservative friend e-mailed this morning to say that he recently had an argument with his father about the Republican Party in the age of Trump. His dad said he was sticking with the GOP because “it all comes down to abortion.” Wrote the friend this morning, “That argument is null and void after today.”...

    Roe v. Wade will never be overturned. Civil rights laws will continue to be interpreted by the High Court to favor the Sexual Revolution in all its manifestations. We are no longer a socially conservative nation, and have ceased to be a Christian nation in any historically orthodox sense. The Christian leaders who told you to be cool, and trust the Republican Party and its judges — they were wrong. Maybe they meant well, but they were wrong. If you want to be a useful pawn for Conservatism, Inc., be my guest — but please stop deceiving yourself that this strategy is a winning one."

    Abortion Forever | The American Conservative
     
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  19. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    Platform. One candidate runs on sanctity of life. Other runs on guaranteed right to murder babies. It would take a fool to not be able to figure that one out.
     
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  20. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    The problem is Republican appointed judges who were committed pro life were blocked by.....wait for it.....Democrats.
    Republicans have to appoint fence sitters because Dems block true Conservatives.
     
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