Posting on SI With Seriousness and Intention

Saints,

I really challenge everyone who participates in these forums to write as in the presence of Jesus Christ that would be careful how we write realizing there is 10,000's across the world reading our posts. Would our posts reflect the character of God and the compassion and love of Jesus Christ?

Would how we deal with individuals show we are preferring others before ourselves in love as the Scriptures command and exhort us to do? Brothers and Sisters, I write this knowing my deep failures in writing out of anger, frustration, bitterness or indifference. The question we need to ask ourselves is it worth adding our comments here on the forums with these thousands of vintage audio messages from past saints. Do our comments take away from the saltiness of the website?

Please seek the Lord over how you communicate on the forums.

This statement is below every single post when you write a new thread, and it is a reminder and encouragement to us in these areas. Please do not just pass over the text and not thing about it.

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The site moderators ask you before you post that you consider praying and ask the Lord if you have the right spirit to serve others in the body of Christ before posting and pressing the submit button. Please also look at these scriptures: Matthew 12:36, James 1:26, Colossians 4:6.

Matthew 12:36 - But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every [a]idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.

James 1:26 - If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

On a positive note, people make a lot of mistakes, especially Christians, but at the same time I see many apologies (defering to brothers), which speaks to me that the saints here love one another and do not wish to offend each other and they are quick to apologize. What can be more real than that?

Many of these mistakes would not take place if we were face to face. Writing text is always difficult, because we miss so much about the person that is writing and we tend to take things wrong.

As far as all the Old time Saints on this site, they are wonderful, but if they were alive and writing in this forum, they would make many of the same mistakes. They aren't perfect and we should not think they are. I think we have put them on such a high pedestal and always trying to compare ourselves by themselves and measure ourselves by them. 2 Cor 10:12

I know that Paul was not happy about my financial post today, and I have apologized about that. But then, when looking into News and Current Events, I saw a disconnect, in that, I was not the first transgressor. Many have posted financial news.

But Paul, has taken a firm stand and made his heart known to all that it offends him. We all needed to know that. I certainly won't be doing that again, because I don't want to offend Paul.

The world does not need to see that we are perfect, just that we love each other. Just my 2 cents.

Hey Greg, I understand your frustration. Perhaps a link of a recent thread might help to understand what you mean, or what prompted you to start this thread?

Appreciate your post, Paul.

Is it possible to address things on a one by one basis instead of such a broad brush stroke of such subtleties?

It is also possible to shut down heartfelt expression.

Yeah, forget about politics and finance. Who needs it, but I am concerned about younger believers wanting to share their heart, even some may not think it is spiritual.

The enemy constantly seeks to infiltrate this forum and corrupt the flow of discussion;

There is a saying out there that says, "The devil is in the details".

One can go too far in having men creep in and to seduce us into frivolous gestures. I have recently seen threads started with questions that seems so innocent coming from what we would think a freshmen who's intent is to know more about God and His word stroll in. It's the questions themselves that are absolutely a clear waste of time. The temptation for us is attempting to answer them. And there lies the danger. Even in our recent discussions about Israel, we really should avoid that like the plague. There are just too many opposing views and coming together like that in one thread with differing ideas is like the Tower of Babel all over again, no one understanding one another and getting angry because we can't understand.

Hey Greg, I understand your frustration. Perhaps a link of a recent thread might help to understand what you mean, or what prompted you to start this thread?

Some problems lay in the fact that user accounts have no accountability, their are nicknames that don't represent the "real person" at time and things are said over the forums that the same person would "never" say in a public setting with those that would know him best.

One of the larger problems I see is people who come just to preach and share and not to learn. People who come just to discuss things in the forums but don't listen to the sermons to grow and change.

I pray simply that the Lord Himself would teach us all to be more full of His grace and mercy and be teachable in our Spirits. That we would all be slow to speak and quick to listen and learn from the least amongst us.

That we would consider our participation in the forums a service not a right.

I love all you brothers and sisters and simply ask and pray that we would all exhibit the love and charity that Christ prayed for His Church.

I'll tell you what everyone. I am going to voluntary take myself off of SermonIndex for a couple of weeks.

I received an IM last night from another moderator that I should participate and discuss more and not use this place to post my articles. Actually, I think I discuss quite a bit. In fact, probably too much.

I thought that was what Aricles and Sermons was all about.

I explained to the Moderator that the only reason I was posting my Tithing articles each day is because they were getting real good comments and people were being edified by them. You can read the comments for yourself.

Anyway, I did not know what else to do but apologize. And told them that I would happily comply. If you noticed I did not post my 6th Tithing Article today. It is on 1 Tim 3.

I have about 3 more but will wait.

My intent is only to build up the Body and edify.

Today, I posted my first ever News and Current Events article and that did not make someone very happy.

So, I can only conclude that I am upsetting someone with my articles or other postings. I still don't know what it is.

Therefore, I will voluntary take a "vacation" from SermonIndex. I do not wish to offend anyone.

I appreciate your prayers and I appreciate the Host and Moderators and SI.

Pilgrim, there is nothing wrong in taking a sabbatical every once in a while. I did it just recently with SI, I took a week off, I felt my communications were a little off and I needed to take a short break and to be refreshed in the word, which I did.

And as for upsetting anyone, I personally have been enjoying the tithing thread, it's the first time that I've seen a good discussion going quite well on the subject without others flying off the handle.

So take some time out, and come back refreshed. And I look forward to hearing what the Lord has been speaking to you about.

We'll see you in couple of weeks.

Take care and God Bless.

P.S. I want you to remain apart of this family, so don't be offended about what has transpired. Love ya bro!

Hey Paul,

I did not want to take a break without telling you that I absolutely do not have any ought against you. I did not want you to have this over your head while I was gone.

Be blessed in the Lord and enjoy His peace.

I guess I have just been enjoying SI too much and a break would probably be good.

Merry Christmas, Everyone. ;-)

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Hi MrBillPro,

I'm speaking out, but I'm changing the topic a bit, to a different area of posting.

Hi Greg,

I wonder if you could clarify further some of your comments in the second post on p1? I guess you may wish to PM some answers, but I'm asking here, because you've posted your thoughts in a thread. Please, please do not feel overly challenged in respect of your authority, by these questions. It is not my intention, believe me.

There have been many people sending me messages about specific threads in the last while

I ask, because I for one would appreciate it very much if you would direct posters who complain about posters (in my case, me), to approach me either in the thread, or by PM - whichever is most appropriate. This is what Jesus commanded His followers to do, and it seems to work for those who obey.

Some problems lay in the fact that user accounts have no accountability, their are nicknames that don't represent the "real person"

I realise this can be misinterpreted by EVERYONE - both other posters and mods - and I accept that disadvantage along with the privilege of the learning tools which SI affords me. It is not my intention to deceive, but, (or so...), if I don't tell you, and you don't know, that preroguative would apply just the same in face to face communication. However, having shared some details privately, I DO NOT expect my confidence to be betrayed in open forum, and I certainly did not appreciate occasions when it has been. My permission would not have been granted, even if sought, as a matter of COMMON SENSE. (Not shouting, just emphasising.)

I hope this can be understood by everyone, and, that my failure to challenge incorrect assumptions AT ALL (either publicly or privately), is part of my privacy strategy. At the same time, I truly and deeply value every personal interaction I've had with ALL those whom I've met personally. You have all enriched my life beyond words.

One of the LARGER (emphasis mine) problems I see is people who come just to preach and share and not to learn.

I ask, because learning is an interactive process, and I learn a tremendous amount by the reading and wrestling through scripture to which some replies lead me. Much of this doesn't need to be posted or explained, but it DOES get factored in to my understanding, and will eventually affect "what" I post. It has a knock-on effect throughout all my thinking about everything. I hope this would be obvious in face to face conversation.

People who come just to discuss things in the forums but don't listen to the sermons to grow and change.

It has been said before in the forums that when a moderator comments, it IS (actually) personal to someone. My plea therefore, is that if God wants you to be involved with His issue with a poster, that you address it to the extent that they "see" their fault; and, (as the alternative might be), be sure you are not merely observing God in His Fatherly preroguative dealing with the issues of one child in a different order than He deals with those of another.

I'm asking, because manipulation from 'the pulpit' is very common these days. Ministers subtely lay blame or guilt on their congregations in a general way, knowing it will focus folk back on themselves to repent or understand their fault in a matter which may not apply to them, yet by this means their (leadership) power base is maintainned. Now I feel you would not generalise with this intention in mind, thus, Jesus' command to go to the person is one of GOD's ways of saving His servants from abuse of power.

Thank you for listening. I hope you might reply, and, please continue to be patient with me as I know I'm a slow learner. Thank you.

Brothers and Sisters,

I think we need to realize the forums are not here for our own desires but it is here as a place for "others" to encourage them and to see ourselves used to help other people. It is a place to learn, to grow, to submit. Yes submission on the sermonindex.net forums is an important aspect of learning the way of Christ. The site has "moderators" and also "guidelines and rules" that help us to submit to the practice and way we post in the forums on SI.

Many forums all over the web have really no "strong" rules and people are free to post what they feel like posting in a very dangerous manner. Arguing, divisions, anger, bitterness, fustration, etc can happen easily in these enviroments.

God has kept the sermonindex.net forums by His spirit over the last 8 years. I have had many testimonies of brothers and sisters that share there is something "different" about the SI forums compared to others on the internet amongst christians.

Are we losing this testimony in any way saints? My prayer and desire is for us to seriously consider how we are posting. Do we share some of the basic burdens of the SI ministry, ie Leonard Ravenhill, Tozer, 10 shekels and a shirt, revival hymn, etc. I believe one of the problems is that many people are "new" and have not listened to many of the godly sermons on the website that would produce in them the meekness, humility, submissive spirit that is "key" to see a internet forum have the bond of peace and have a testimony for Christ.

I am not pointing fingers at all and I hope if God touches your heart that you would talk with him about how you have been posting, ie the motive.

God bless you all brothers and sisters. God willing we will be posting more materials and guidelines for the forums so people can be more accurately informed on how to participate.

I am not going to address specific questions raised in this thread but over time will be posting materials that will help clarify the burden of the moderators on SI for the forums.

I am thankful for the many brothers and sisters from all different backgrounds that have and do post on the forums.