Today will be my final posting here in the forum. I am very sad and very grieved about it. I have spoken with many great Bible believers on this forum and found great fellowship. However, yesterday something happened that I can’t overlook that has really changed my opinion on whether this is a forum that is edifying and good for me to be involved with. See when I learned the gospel it changed my life,.It set me free from a lifetime of struggling to be good enough, to meet a standard I never could. Now many in this forum promote false gospels of WORKS. These are not the truth and these beliefs will send people to hell. Because the truth is if we believe that our works save us or keep us saved then we have not trusted that Jesus saved us by his death, burial, and resurrection. And believing he did this is the only thing that can save us. It breaks my heart that many will perish because they don’t understand this. And when I hear someone preaching against osas because they believe they must do good works to maintain their salvation, I tell them the TRUTH in hopes they will change their mind and believe the true gospel. I will not withhold that truth because I’m afraid of “offending” someone. What good is it that one is not offended when their soul is in jeopardy? Did Jesus care about our feelings when he told us to believe or perish in hell?? That our works are like filthy rags? Well I told someone they were on the wrong road, going the wrong way, and if they did not believe the true gospel then they were not a true Christian. I told them this because I care about their fate. I want to see them realize their folly in works salvation and be saved. Unbelievably I was flagged for this! For trying to help someone understand the true gospel! It was explained that we need to “cherish others beliefs on this forum” and that me telling someone they had the wrong gospel was against the code of conduct. Now let’s think about this… a supposedly true Christian forum is telling me I’m wrong to not just let someone continue in believing a lie that could send them to hell? I’m wrong to try and share the truth with them? That it would be better to be silent and let them walk right into the fire? This honestly shocked me and made me realize some of the moderators on this forum are more concerned with someone’s feelings then their eternal damnation. I just can’t continue here any longer… peace to all my brothers and sisters in Christ, I know we will see our savior soon. I will continue to watch Pastor JD but this forum has gone off the rails. I pray before I delete my account those that need to hear the below message do so, we are running out of time. This is not the time to be “politically correct” and “respect all people’s beliefs”. Or to say well they “identify” as a Christian so we must let them believe they are, even if they aren’t. I understand not arguing with the saved, but I got flagged for trying to save the lost, that’s where I draw the line. It would not surprise me if someone flags this and I’m removed before I do it myself. So please if you believe you have a part in your salvation. Please watch this message quickly
Salvation is of Grace/ all of God…He gets all the glory for this miracle of rebirth, not us…it is the Holy Spirit that quickens us…we are sealed and sanctified by Him. I am thankful that a God is sovereign. It is not a license to sin to believe we are OSAS…if it was a true rebirth, our desire to sin will be diminished as we grow. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and convicts us of our sins,…we will not like the grieving of the Holy Spirit…and we won’t like the barrier sin puts between ourselves and the Lord. you are correct in what you’re saying, please don’t let a couple of people cause you to leave…Man always wants control. All false gospels start and end with man making his own way to God. I think Jesus explained it so clearly to Nicodemus. It is of God. Please stay
What often happens is there are those who still do not understand the difference between sanctification and salvation. It is often incorrectly thought that sanctification and salvation happen continuously.
Salvation occurs only once, sanctification is then a lifelong process.
I have also been in the same position you have. It may be a kneejerk reaction due to this misunderstanding.
Do not let it dishearten you. Do not take it personally. Put on your armour.
The moderators are reasonable and will probably have a chat with you, as they have done with me, on a few occasions. They will explain decisions or ask you for your thoughts on the matter.
Whatever your decision God bless you and keep you.
I was ok with not all forum members understanding, I actually saw it as an opportunity to help them. But the forum moderators themselves telling me I’m wrong to correctly define the gospel and try snd save others?? That made me think “what is going on here?” - it feels like the ones speaking truth (the true Christians) being persecuted. It just hurt and really surprised me. I appreciate your encouragement though
I actually feel the ones promoting false doctrine (works salvation) should be the ones flagged, not the other way around. I would love to take those posts to the moderators but they are the ones telling me we should be “open and understanding of all views here”, I mean that tells me right there some of them don’t care about false doctrine being promoted, and worse yet to slap my hand for speaking the truth?? Just really is the opposite of what should be happening.
• Do not make posts that speak of any moderator/staff action related to you or another member (including any bans, warnings, or editing or removal of posts).
and
• Stating or implying that another Christian member, or group of members, are not Christian is not allowed.
that is all. If anyone wishes to discuss this further my inbox is open.
You may not understand this, so if you do I apologize for bringing it up.
Anyone as a member can flag a post or comment. Mods and Admins look into a flagging afterwards.
A forum such as this is a public one where everyone can say something. It’s only after some reveal themselves and what they believe that we can fix the problem.
I would say that you should not leave, but join with those that you do agree with and avoid those you do not.
Not every post or comment requires a response. Silence and/or disengagement are valid answers as well as tactics to combat false messages.
To answer is often a distraction and waste of time since these individuals came here just for that purpose, to tie us up in debate or worse.
Readytofly, just take a small break…since we are all still learning in different stages, myself too. Anyway, there are many who believe as you do here. If someone belongs to the Lord, and is wrong about a doctrine in the Bible, eventually the Holy Spirit will lead that person into the truth, myself as well. We kinda need everyone to stick around…don’t leave right now while we’re still in the race!..
@Ready2Fly22 as some have said we are all in different stages of sanctification. We need to remember that just like children there are some that have been crawling and are learning to walk.
It can be frustrating for them when they have just taken a couple of steps and then have a fall and then the temper tantrums start.
Understanding scripture is for me very similar. I find that as soon as I have understood what is being said it challenges previous ideas I thought were true which then makes me have a temper tantrum for a bit.
We need to discern the spiritual newborns, from the infants, to the toddlers, the kids, the teenagers and then the adults.
When you say something that you know to be truth, say it once and leave it there. Many on this forum can see the humdingers I have had with others and it is not pretty.
Just let it go take a deep breath and like Jack said take a break and next time don’t get involved or don’t say anything.
Always be ready to agree to disagree agreeably for the sake of the Body of Christ.
@Ready2Fly22, please reconsider, OK? I have come to understand that we have varied stances on the forum. The only thing that I full out disagree with you on is in telling people that they are not saved if they don’t exactly believe OSAS. Don’t we all agree that we are saved when we admit that we have sinned (are sinners), when we believe on Christ as our personal Savior, and when we confess that? Let it stop there.
I took me three looks to see that the video was titled “Uniqueness of Christianity”
instead of “Ugliness of Christrianity”. Needless to say I am pleased to have
been wrong.
In all seriousness I dont think you’ll find a better group of people
who come together to reason.
We must also remember that a forum (this forum even) is not a church. The church is not a building, or a virtual forum. The church is a body of members.
These forums then can not be held accountable as a church is.
Let us not treat these forums as a church, but each other as the church.
Dear romans 8 - thanks for your post, as I enjoyed hearing of your heart for the Lord. I sometimes feel like I have to lean on our Lord for companionship —- my wife has to remind me at times that in her life before we were Married that she had to lean on and rely on Jesus to get her thru the day. I do like reading on this forum as something to do to keep my mind on our savior as we all await his return for us ……what a blessing to have this in todays world. Blessing to you and all our brothers and Sisters in Christ -maranatha!!
