Why do "end times" discussions dominate this forum?

Just curious, and mainly looking for comment from those who are NOT involved in these endless threads about end times.

Personally in my circle of friends and family these topics rarely if ever come up and if they do they do not take up an inordinate percentage of our conversations. And yet on this forum the opposite seems to be the case.

Could it be that those involved are just prone to endless arguing? And if one thread is shut down after all the arguing they feel compelled to get into it again in another thread to hammer home their point and on and on it goes? Or are we so bored and so lacking in real life activity or friendships that this is all we have...the SI forums? Or are we an "end times specialist" and we have come to these forums with an agenda to share our brilliant eschatological views?

But is this really how we should be spending our time on a christian discussion forum DEVOTED TO REVIVAL??? Is this the "tone" and the "culture" that should be set over this forum? I am speaking from my point of view but as a relative new comer this is what the forums feel like they are turning into. Perhaps the forum should be renamed to SERMON INDEX END TIMES FORUM? I am being serious.

Does anyone else care about this or am I alone on this? Personally I think that it is really starting to get old and becoming a turn off. But hey, I am just one guy, if you all love it then I will crawl back into my little hole and be quiet:-)

Anyway happy labor day chaps and lasses!!!

And all these eschatological preoccupations imply that we have "arrived" in the full knowledge and appreciation of the Word of God in Scripture...NOT!!!

Why are we not spending just as much fellowship on and in His ACTUAL Word. I Could really benefit from everyone's knowledge in this area.

I appreciate the comments. I am not seeking to create trouble I just think this forum would be a much better place without the many endless discussions on eschatology. What can be gained from it except to push our view on others and create a sense of accomplishment that we are winning others over to our point of view?

But when I see discussions about entering Gods rest or pursuing godliness or building the body of Christ or living an overcoming life...well then, much good comes from this. That's all I am saying.

Any of those big footsies over there in the Carolina's.

"I also find UFOs, Bigfoot and black holes interesting."

Thanks for being honest brother. So should this forum be for things we find interesting or is it to stir up one another to love and good works?

I don't know. I don't run it so brother Greg would have to answer that question.

I have always believed that this forum has great potential to be used by God to disciple and strengthen the body of Christ. And it has done so and continues to do so. But just imagine how much more it could be used of God if there was not so much focus on something or other to do with end times and more focus on living for Christ today?

"But I don't try to control everybody by insinuating they somehow lack spiritually because enjoy a topic I don't."

Tough crowd, ouch.

Awakened wrote
"What can be gained from it except to push our view on others and create a sense of accomplishment that we are winning others over to our point of view"

I make hi end custom loudspeakers and subwoofers and have been active in audio communities for years. It might surprise everyone here to know that this forum is EXACTLY like audio forums. Same debates, same bossy characters, same topics repeating over and over, same guys ending threads with their over bearing militant agendas, same human nature.

I could take a thread from one of those forums and simply change the topic words and it would fit into this forum and not a single person would be able to tell. It is exactly the same and none of those guys believe in God. No one changes opinions, everyone has an agenda, same handful of guys get into fights every few threads, everyone's trying to increase their thread rep, same guys whine to the administrators, bully's, passive agressives, know it alls, same jeffmars coming and going,

The point of all this is while many may think the issues are spiritual they are in fact 100% fleshly human nature.

FTR I saw a few guys totally destroy a great audio forum and you guys have someone here that is doing the very same thing they did.

marcmc

So Todd and Lisa have basically answered my question because I have been genuinely wondering why the end times dominates this forum.

Because people find it an interesting topic. Duh.

Again I am not suggesting that anyone is any less spiritual for whatever topic they find interesting, I am simply asking if we have strayed off course a little as a forum?

A smidgen perhaps? No?

Honest, sincere question, not trying to cause trouble or make anyone feel guilty. And I do hope asking questions is still allow around here right?

Hi Marc,
I do not participate in other forums so I am probably more naive than most.

Yes we are humans and most of the time we do operate in the flesh when we think we are being spiritual but that is to be expected.

My question seems to have been answered so there you have it. Most people that are active on the forum really find end times stuff interesting and so these discussions tend to dominate the forum. Great, problem solved...I am now enlightened:-)

And for the record I do not think for one second that a person who finds end times topics to be interesting to be any less spiritual than anyone else. What I do think is important though and what I think the Lord really cares about is HOW we speak to one another and HOW we treat one another. With dignity and respect, showing honor or speaking down on each other...being gracious or and ranting on and on in a bull headed way about these topics that we feel so strongly about.

Anyway, bless you guys, I appreciate the feedback.

Talking about the end-times can actually spur on personal revival. Don't forget Jesus' letters to the 7 churches.

I'm with you TMK, it is not only interesting but makes me research and seek out the scriptures.

I am often confused for several different people, but truth be told, I am a nobody. However, I am beginning to think that Hal Lindsey, John Hagee and Tim Lahaye are after me. ;-)

Thank tou Xavier, you make some very good points and I agree that we must be watchful and sober and always ready for the end of all things is at hand. On these notes I agree and I am with you. This is a very good reason to discuss these matters so that we are spurred on towards personal revival.

But is that what is invariably happening in this long, argumentative threads about the rapture and the antichrist and the mark of the beast and the millennium? Maybe I am the only one who just doesn't see personal revival coming about because of these threads? What I do see is a lot of ego, long winded blow-harding and strife. And then the thread gets shut down.

Almost without exception this is what happens. Am I wrong? So why keep doing it? Why keep raising these topics knowing full well where they are headed? Are we nuts? Or do we just like contention around here?

If we really wanted personal revival I think we would stop talking about subjects that we will never agree on and start confessing our sins one to another and asking for prayer in a spirit of humility.

I have seen this start to happen a few times on here and oh, it has become so sweet...you could almost "feel" the sweet presence of the Lord in those times.

Anyway brothers and sisters I do apologize if I have laid a guilt trip on any of you with this thread, that's was not my intention I promise you.

If it were up to some, we would all have to fall in line and believe the same thing and could never challenge anything we think is false or that we have a different opinion with, such as Jesus not ruling and reigning through His Church right now, and carrying out His will on earth as it is on heaven. Is this what you are striving for, Mark? No one ever challenging anyone else, again? Because, I have seen every poster here challenge something. It can be done in the right spirit. What needs to cease is the ad-hominems, slander, accusations but we as regular posters need help in this area (hint, hint). I was just called a liar in another thread because I won't admit to being someone I am not. I was told to "shut up", last night. It goes on with impunity. This gives the appearance that there is arguing going on when there is only one side that has a difference of opinion. But, the other side vehemently attacks and it appears that there is then arguing when that is not the case at all. You guys have been witnesses. You see it all. You know there are some who allow no freedom of thought or opinion when it comes against their sacred cow. They constantly try to strong arm individuals into complying by their hateful words. When someone stands up to them, they go completely off the rollers.

It does get tiresome to try to participate in give and take conversations with immature individuals in the room. Would you like me to leave for awhile? Do you think this will cure these guys, or will they jump on one of you, next? Oracio, is not here anymore. He took a lot of heat. I miss him. Proudpapa takes a lot of heat. What's wrong with PP? He does not deserve to be treated the way he has been treated. And what about Savannah? Same vitriolic behavior against him. Brenda has also been treated badly on other subjects. Tozsu, has been. Mark, I have seen you treated badly. And, you can add TMK to the list. And it goes on, and on. The people spewing vitriole on a continual basis are always the same individuals.

So, what's the answer? Ban a subject? Ban an individual? I am not asking for anyone to be banned. I would like everyone to love their enemies.

By the way, Jesus challenged the status quo every single day. What was the character of the people that were constantly trying to shut Him up (ban Him)? The religious system will always tell you to shut up. Is this what we want to support?

"Is this what you are striving for, Mark? No one ever challenging anyone else, again?"

No that is not what I was striving for dear brother Julius. I say this with absolute sincerity, I was honestly just curious as to why the end times threads are so common that was all.

I have my answer and I am satisfied. Thank you. I do not like it and but that's too bad, we can't always have everything our way:-)

But you also raised some very good points as well and I agree with you about these things. The way you have been treated is beyond the pale and I do not know why it is ignored but perhaps the Lord will use it to keep you humble:-)

When it comes to end times "stuff" I really do not care what you or anyone else believes as long as Jesus is the center of your life and all you believe. Because in the end who really knows the absolute truth about the end times? We all see through a glass darkly. No-one knows for certain that they have nailed it and have uncovered the secrets of all things pertaining to the last days. And if anyone thinks they know the truth and attempts to ram it down other peoples throats then that person in my opinion has become obsessed with something other than Jesus. And if they continue to carry on like that, they will become spiritually dry or worse still, deluded and fall away from a simple devotion to the Lord.

Years ago I sat in a room once and listened to what I would consider "mature" and wise men go after it with regard to these subjects, particularly Israel and her end time place in the scheme of things. The conversation droned on for a very long time. Maybe an hour or so. You could feel the life being sucked out of the room as one man after the other pontificated with red face and attempted to prove the other man wrong. After a long time of me sitting there silent, one of the men asked me why I had said nothing and was so quiet. I do not remember what I answered but it might have been along the lines of what I am writing about now. I think what struck me was that it felt like I was sitting in a real life forum thread-blast! There was no life, no caring for one anothers souls, no interest to love and minister to each other, just a lot of hot air and verbal arm wrestling.

Nothing good came of that evening...nothing. And in my opinion there are many threads here that end up like this. Some things just need not be discussed over and over again on the same public forum. It breeds distention and forms factions and cliques (clicks).

"So the question is whether the forum fulfills a true spiritual need in people, or some other type of need. I really don't know."

Yes, very, very good point. Perhaps it is time the forums started to meet a very real spiritual need in peoples lives. There are possibly many people who stumble on these forums while looking for real answers to the issues in their life. What do you think they will do when they read about some of the things that seem to keep so many of us preoccupied? What kind of christians will they conclude of us when they see us speak with disrespect and snipe at one another or just plain old slug it out with words?

Just what kind of testimony are we trying to portray here, do we even care? Should our time and effort be concentrated on subjects that don't really matter in the long run? So yeah Todd, good question...should the forums, should all of us here begin to see the need to meet real problems in peoples lives?

Can we even change though? Is it too late...are we too set in our ways?