I would like to suggest that much of what goes on, in the name of "iron sharpens iron", is really contention.
And, contention is one of the works of the flesh according to Galatians 5.
I believe that Satan works powerfully through bringing Christians (and non-Christians) together with the illusion that "iron sharpens iron" when in reality evil communication corrupts good morals (and good theology).
And, the overall environment is one that Satan can use to take away your personal peace.
Better to spend time in a REAL face-to-face fellowship locally, than to spend time arguing with people of different persuasions, or goats who claim to be believers, or unbelievers.
That's my view at this point anyways.
Examine yourself, though. Is "fellowshipping" on forums like this really adding, or taking away, from your faith? Are you exhibiting sacrificial love in real life, and spending time with your family, friends, fellow Christians in real life, or using this forum as a false substitute? Sin is deceptive. We can justify activities that are sinful, like contention, because our fallen nature still has a remnant within us, and it deceives us into thinking we're doing the Lord's work when we're really following the flesh.
Jeremiah 17:9 is one of the first verses that the Holy Spirit used to convict me of the deceitfulness of my own mind.
And, contention is one of the works of the flesh according to Galatians 5.
I believe that Satan works powerfully through bringing Christians (and non-Christians) together with the illusion that "iron sharpens iron" when in reality evil communication corrupts good morals (and good theology).
And, the overall environment is one that Satan can use to take away your personal peace.
Better to spend time in a REAL face-to-face fellowship locally, than to spend time arguing with people of different persuasions, or goats who claim to be believers, or unbelievers.
That's my view at this point anyways.
Examine yourself, though. Is "fellowshipping" on forums like this really adding, or taking away, from your faith? Are you exhibiting sacrificial love in real life, and spending time with your family, friends, fellow Christians in real life, or using this forum as a false substitute? Sin is deceptive. We can justify activities that are sinful, like contention, because our fallen nature still has a remnant within us, and it deceives us into thinking we're doing the Lord's work when we're really following the flesh.
Jeremiah 17:9 is one of the first verses that the Holy Spirit used to convict me of the deceitfulness of my own mind.