I am writing this thread to all of CC to ask your forgiveness for sins I have committed against many of you in the Bible Study Forum.
When I started reading this forum, I was at times ticked off & infuriated at some of the things that I witnessed that was happening. I saw decent, well-intentioned Christians open various Bible topics only to find themselves under attack by other users in the forum. This involved attacking their integrity, their reputation, their christian values, & almost always their theology. I witnessed users get banned because they would fly off the handle at someone that had set them off when under "normal" circumstances they probably wouldn't have done it.
As a result of this, I became heavily involved in "standing up" for some of these brethren & their beliefs, as well as my own. I personally stood against other users to try to put a stop to some of it. I thought I was doing a good thing, because sometimes it would yield results. I found myself committing the same sins I had set out to stop. I was wrong.
I myself had become angry, resulting in bitterness & vengeance. There were times I started feeling good about "telling it like it is". I did not know it at the time, but I was spiritually declining as a result of these "battles". I think what finally woke me up was I watched a Christian video posted on here called "Know your enemy". It showed a group of people called Jesuits who were trained to do whatever they needed to do to stop the Protestant Movement. They were told "The end justifies the means". This means whatever sinful thing they had to do was ok as long as they did it for their religion.
I realized I myself was doing this. I went as far to use the same tactics others were using to try & beat them at their own game. I discovered I was becoming unequally yoked with my opponents. The proof was I was slowly becoming one of them myself.
With all the pressure, persecution & temptations I've faced as a pastor for the past 6 years, by the grace of God I never succumbed to it. Yet on an international christian chat site I did an obvious wrong while not believing it was.
I have used rudeness, tactics, & vengeance without counting the cost. I realize now that there is no excuse for such behavior. I am ashamed & embarrassed by my actions. I believe if I committed these sins openly, I should also confess it openly. Nobody coerced me to do this....... I just believe it's the only right way. Since I am known by my fruits, to me this is the way to show I'm desiring to raise a different kind of crop.
I deeply regret my behavior on this site & ask those I've hurt & offended to please forgive me.
There are two other things I would ask of all of you. Learn from my mistakes & don't fall into the same sins I did. I wouldn't want that to happen to anybody. Second, Pray for me & others who have done these things. We need it!
Your brother in Christ,
Stephen63
When I started reading this forum, I was at times ticked off & infuriated at some of the things that I witnessed that was happening. I saw decent, well-intentioned Christians open various Bible topics only to find themselves under attack by other users in the forum. This involved attacking their integrity, their reputation, their christian values, & almost always their theology. I witnessed users get banned because they would fly off the handle at someone that had set them off when under "normal" circumstances they probably wouldn't have done it.
As a result of this, I became heavily involved in "standing up" for some of these brethren & their beliefs, as well as my own. I personally stood against other users to try to put a stop to some of it. I thought I was doing a good thing, because sometimes it would yield results. I found myself committing the same sins I had set out to stop. I was wrong.
I myself had become angry, resulting in bitterness & vengeance. There were times I started feeling good about "telling it like it is". I did not know it at the time, but I was spiritually declining as a result of these "battles". I think what finally woke me up was I watched a Christian video posted on here called "Know your enemy". It showed a group of people called Jesuits who were trained to do whatever they needed to do to stop the Protestant Movement. They were told "The end justifies the means". This means whatever sinful thing they had to do was ok as long as they did it for their religion.
I realized I myself was doing this. I went as far to use the same tactics others were using to try & beat them at their own game. I discovered I was becoming unequally yoked with my opponents. The proof was I was slowly becoming one of them myself.
With all the pressure, persecution & temptations I've faced as a pastor for the past 6 years, by the grace of God I never succumbed to it. Yet on an international christian chat site I did an obvious wrong while not believing it was.
I have used rudeness, tactics, & vengeance without counting the cost. I realize now that there is no excuse for such behavior. I am ashamed & embarrassed by my actions. I believe if I committed these sins openly, I should also confess it openly. Nobody coerced me to do this....... I just believe it's the only right way. Since I am known by my fruits, to me this is the way to show I'm desiring to raise a different kind of crop.
I deeply regret my behavior on this site & ask those I've hurt & offended to please forgive me.
There are two other things I would ask of all of you. Learn from my mistakes & don't fall into the same sins I did. I wouldn't want that to happen to anybody. Second, Pray for me & others who have done these things. We need it!
Your brother in Christ,
Stephen63
