You are lumping a lot of people into one group.
I am naming the behavior I have seen on this thread since I joined several weeks ago.
But your reply was directed toward IMoss. What is interesting is that in the following replies, you do lump together groups of people. Your all over the board with this, but you are replying to Imoss. Read your post:
I am not sure if this is fair - I name names all the time. I try to make my posts clear and direct. I think Imoss is the person with the problem of not naming names. However, I am considering what you are saying because, apparently I did not communicate my last message well - you did not seem to understand it and you usually understand my posts.
I have never seen IMoss claim to have never sinned,
Me neither - I never said she did. But I have seen VW claim this.
I've never seen her say anything like what you are saying about Israel
You are right me neither - once again - I never said she did. That would be Cup-of-ruin and miktre. Have you forgotten about the 3rd temple thread?
and I've never seen her reject the trinity.
Right again - I never said she did, but many people have done so on this site, and not only have they been allowed to remain members, I haven't heard a peep about it from other members.
I am not sure what the litmus test measures to identify acceptable people with heretical beliefs, but once you get that pass - you can say whatever you want without having a negative thread dedicated to you.
And they seem to be accepted with open arms - for some reason the rejection of this most basic of doctrines, the dividing line between Christianity and heresy, is not a problem because?
Most of the people you mentioned are on the fringes. As for basic doctrines, you are hetero-orthodox on your view of the Bible and salvation, but you have not been shunned.
I am finally getting it - you are saying that I spoke generally when I was directing my post to Imoss! Ok, I got it - I could have done a better job of being clear - I apologize.
And again, your own prejudices as you assume that anyone who would disagree with you is anti-intellectual and then there is this "I must be wasting my time here" thing.
Yes. I am frustrated that I have had to spend so much time defending my beliefs to a person who refuses to use reason. It seems futile. This is the anti-intellectual part. It has nothing to do with my opinion of the people on this board and to have you imply this seems a bit hypersensitive to me. If I really thought everyone here was stupid, why would I speak to you as as adults? I try to post information that is well thought out - if I thought you were are stupid, I would simply grunt out one liners, without believing the anyone would get the information anyway. If I was being listened to and disagree with - I would stand up and cheer; however my character is being assassinated based on distortion.
But you do speak down to people. And when someone chaffs against it, you react with incredulity.
Here is the deal with speaking down to people; I believe that it is difficult to be clear; while being misunderstood, and misrepresented (whether Imoss is correct or incorrect in here assertions about me - she has a hair trigger) when you have a minority point of view. I am really trying not to speak down to people - I really do not believe I am smarter or more enlightened than anyone here. I believe everyone who professes Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is a Christian - and I believe anyone who can articulate their faith well enough to post on a board is intelligent. It is strange to me that you guys think I am talking down to you when I am the person presenting the broader view of Christianity - I am much more inclusive in my beliefs, but I am being seen as exclusive?? I am not sure what to think about this.
One last thing. I think it has been difficult for me to have to take so much time and effort to reassure everyone that I am a real Christian, that I am trying to strengthen people's faith by stretching their ideas about God (here's where I think you might believe I am being snobby, but I am not - I think you guys stretch my faith and understanding of doctrine as well), and I am not trying to destroy anyone's faith, and I am not trying to make people feel stupid, and I am not the Devil trying to attack you. In fact, and I think you have noticed this, when I get tired I start resenting that people like Greatkraw, Shad, and even M.snail, can say anything they want without having to explain themselves. People take their words as authoritative because they give them the benefit of the doubt. Now, I do not expect that anyone should take my words as authoritative - nor do I expect you guys to even believe what I am writing, but when I am tired, I really would like the benefit of the doubt that I am not the antichrist - maybe I am asking to much, but when I am tired I am tired!
What do you mean by that? Have you come to bring us poor ignorant folk the light of your intellect?
Because you said that you are "wasting your time here." Wasting you time because of what? This is like the guy who would text that he was wiping the dust off his shoes. Whatever your intent was it sounded like you were blessing us with your presence.
Ok, maybe it was not fair of me to say I was wasting my time here - I was tired and frustrated and frankly, exasperated at Imoss, because I thought we had settled this whole thing and I was wrong, she is apparently digging in her heels and leading a crusade against my evil presence on this board.
Do you really believe this? I am really blown away that I am being seen as arrogant in this situation - wow. I can understand it if you all disagree with me - my ideas are not mainstream - I do not expect you to agree, but I guess I do expect that my ideas would spark conversation, rather than accusations that I am teaching heretical ideas and that I am attacking orthodox beliefs and destroying the faith of young or confused Christians.
As for Israel, he started this conversation, and he's the one that spun it up.
Once again, I do not agree with Israel (the member), however, I do believe that he has been punished and dismissed unfairly, because he does not agree with certain people in here who must not be disagreed with.
Israel has a history here and he's a big boy. Try having an extended and friendly conversation. He entered into that conversation because he saw a rift and was taking advantage of it. He was saying that not being a self-proclaimed non-Christian should not be a note of caution for those who come in expecting conversations between Christians. He thought that the conflict between you and IMoss would lend help to his contention and he was right.
Ok - I hope it is clear now that I was actually referring to Cup and Miktre - not Israel - I was tired and I confused Cup's favorite topic - Israel with his name. I apologize, Israel. Now, you comment is frustrating because you are defending Israel based on nothing he has done, but the fact that he has your benefit of the doubt - I am called into question every time I post because I do not have the benefit of the doubt. The fact that Cup of ruin can post pics of dead babies and I cannot even make a generalization is all because you give him the benefit of the doubt. Now, there is nothing I can do about this, but I think it is important to state what is actually going on.
You are angry at IMoss because you believe that she lied about you, but she spoke exactly the impression that many have of you, that you are most reluctant about the truths of the gospel that are most socially unacceptable.
You recognize that I am angry at imoss because I believe she lied about me. Let me clarify - I am anger at imoss because she continues to misrepresented my beliefs based on several posts. Now, you seem to be justifying her misrepresentation of my doctrinal understanding and character, based on what other people believe about me on this board. Since when do people's opinion define or justify lies?
IMoss posted the entries that made her think that. You have the opportunity to clarify or repudiate them. But even though most remained silent, few were surprised by that understanding. If she misunderstood you, and her post indicates that she is open to that possibility, than she did not lie, she misunderstood. You drew a line in the sand, when you used the word "liar".
The problem is that I would not change a word I wrote - and every time she re-posts my comments I am more convince and want to believe that people will vindicate me bast on the evidence. Sorry, but her judgment that I am not a Christian (a judgment that I would surely be banned for if I wrote it about someone else) is not based on any evidence - and if you read any of my other posts in here where I declare Jesus as my Lord and Savior, a reader would have to determine, based on my statement that I am indeed a Christian.
If you believe that I am too reluctant about the truths of the gospel, why not ask me to clarify my position? The reason I think Imoss does not ask is because she misread my posts, made a big deal about them and is too prideful to back off and the more she continues, the least likely she will safe face.
As far as being embarrassed by the gospel - I simply am not. I am tired of Christians trying to justify their narrow, misunderstandings of Christianity and the double standard they place on God.
Again, I don't understand how you can read that reply and not see it as a bit arrogant. Who are you talking about? All Christians, because that is exactly what you just said.
I think you have used a good word - I do feel a bit incredulous when people mistake me for an antichrist! It is shocking. The funny thing is, I avoid Catholic rooms because I am seen as too Protestant - yet here I am either too Catholic, or too antichrist. I have a hard time believing it because I do so much explaining - explanations that are never expected from others, and I have been so forthcoming about being a Christian. If you are thinking it is my vocabulary that is condescending - I am no expert on words - I still do not know what hetero-orthodox means and I had to look up incredulous.
