A word from this Ministry - Please Read

[KPaulG]

Amen.

[alisonm328]

You said it all perfectly. I'm brand new to this forum so i don't know about the changes or comparisons between pre-election and post-election ...but I have noticed things since joining the site and going through the forums. I assumed it was just the usual and it's sad. I have no fellow believers in my life and I don't attend a church, so I only imagined what it would be like to actually socialize with Christians but I imagined that I would find in my fellow believers/followers of Jesus a place I would finally be OK in my own skin, and where trust came easily, along with trustworthiness. I believed I'd finally feel like I fit in with people! Which ive never felt before! And that I wouldn't be worried about being judged by anyone or looked down on or made fun of. I thought fears of rejection would finally leave me alone! But yeah, i think I expected too much. I think I was imagining everyone as perfect like Christ lol. Obviously I see these forums don't match up with what I've been imagining. I haven't seen someone do anything horrible but I've seen some covertly rude things said and petty things here and there, like arguing back and forth nonstop and then someone saying "lol" in response to another's explanation of their belief, basically laughing as to say they felt that persons belief and explanation was ridiculous.... simply not loving, what we're called to do among other things. I still believe though that I will find a place like I imagine with Christians! Somehow somewhere someway it's going to happen lol! Come on fellow seekers, choose to obey, choose to love!

[Guest]

You said it all perfectly. I'm brand new to this forum so i don't know about the changes or comparisons between pre-election and post-election ...but I have noticed things since joining the site and going through the forums. I assumed it was just the usual and it's sad. I have no fellow believers in my life and I don't attend a church, so I only imagined what it would be like to actually socialize with Christians but I imagined that I would find in my fellow believers/followers of Jesus a place I would finally be OK in my own skin, and where trust came easily, along with trustworthiness. I believed I'd finally feel like I fit in with people! Which ive never felt before! And that I wouldn't be worried about being judged by anyone or looked down on or made fun of. I thought fears of rejection would finally leave me alone! But yeah, i think I expected too much. I think I was imagining everyone as perfect like Christ lol. Obviously I see these forums don't match up with what I've been imagining. I haven't seen someone do anything horrible but I've seen some covertly rude things said and petty things here and there, like arguing back and forth nonstop and then someone saying "lol" in response to another's explanation of their belief, basically laughing as to say they felt that persons belief and explanation was ridiculous.... simply not loving, what we're called to do among other things. I still believe though that I will find a place like I imagine with Christians! Somehow somewhere someway it's going to happen lol! Come on fellow seekers, choose to obey, choose to love!

 

We may be believers and we are all at different places in our walks with Christ. We also have different gifts. We all struggle with the flesh/old nature and it sometimes gets the best of everyone. This is, unfortunately, life in a fallen world -- and its normal whether in real life or on line. That's not to say is right or shouldn't be different but it is the reality that we live in each day. Perhaps you did expect too much -- but so did I when I was younger in my walk with Jesus. That is normal also, up to a point I suppose.

 

My advice as someone who's been here for years is this: go with what forums you find edifying and stay away from those that are not. Example: I don't care for arguing endlessly about politics, so I stay away from those discussions because they can, and sometimes do, get ugly early. Another reminder that I live in a fallen world and things will go off the rails from time to time. Does that mean I don't care about politics? No, it just means I don't like arguing endlessly! That's just me.

 

On judgement and condemnation: Sadly this also rears its ugly head from time to time. The problem belongs to the one doing the judging and condemning - not you. Pray for them and move on with life is really all you can do. You're going to get some static in your walk with Christ, and sometimes that static comes from the world - and sometimes it comes from other believers. It shouldn't, but it does. I've gotten it from family members who were not saved. I've experienced it more times than I can count - and Jesus gives me the strength to go on in spite of it. He'll do the same for you too. We are in a battle after all, and the enemy will use anything handy to get to us, to weaken us, and stop us from serving Christ.

 

I would also encourage you to find a church to go to and get involved in. Believers need one another as Christianity was meant to be lived in a community of some kind - not alone. The apostle Paul used a lot of military images in his letter for a reason: a soldier isolated and alone behind enemy lines is in a really bad situation. Ask the Lord where He wants you and He will see to it that you find that place. Don't get too terribly hung up on denominations either . . . I'm currently going to a church in a denomination that I never heard of until I walked in the door . . . the only church in this denomination in my state, now that I think about it. It only took me about a year and a half to find the one place I can get to without a car where the Bible is preached as the Word of God, as it should be.

[petula]

Thankyou one light, that has helped me,as have ,the biblical based replies you received.

Allisonm I wish I could give you a hug, you are such a lovely soul. I agree with walla,

I am carefull about which forums I read , and I trust the members who are monitoring this site.

Allisonm keep reading your bible and I will be praying that you find the church that is right for you.

I hope you stay with worthy,you will enrich this site and it has blessed me richly.

GOD bless you dear one.

As for me , I am new to the internet,worthy is the only site I really interact with,but if I say

the wrong thing ,please forgive me, and please tell me.

[C_W]

 

What is going on lately? Why is there so much discord/division? Why are there so many personal attacks, insults and downright disrespect toward each other?

I have been asking these questions to myself as I read the reports and check threads of interest. I wanted to blame it on the intensity of the election, but the election has passed and this still continues. I have only my imagination to measure how the results have affected people’s lives.

I do know one thing. God is preparing this world for the return of His Son. When I look to Scripture for a description of how the world will be, it is much uglier than what I see today. Yet what I do see is an escalation to what He tells us will happen. I am concerned that if we, because of just one election, become so quick to judge and cause pain, what will we be like when it continues to get worst? I have to shake my head due to the images this question brings to me. I do not like what my imagination shows.

We are His children, whether or not we agree with who should run the country, what we should pay for taxes, who does what to themselves, and how disturbing the future looks as we remember our past. We are not these things, though they have an effect on us if we allow it. We need to continue to seek God and follow His directions. We need to keep our focus on Him and what He has called us to do.

So, how does all this relate to my questions? I am convinced that we in ministry cannot continue to allow things to get too far down the wrong road before we step in. At one time, members used to work things out after a few posts, but that is not what I have been seeing in the past months. So, I ask everyone to do the following:

• If you know you are butting heads with another member, be the first to offer an olive branch and be the peacemaker.
• If you notice that you are getting heated by another’s response, walk away from the thread until you know you have His peace back in your life over the issue.
• If you feel strongly about an issue between you and another member, offer to debate it in the Soap Box forum so the two of you can focus on each other’s response and not all the other posts of those who want to be involved.
• Check your attitudes as you post, ensuring that what you are posting is exactly what you want to post.
• Watch your words. Using passive aggressive statements are just as cutting and demeaning as an outright insult.
• Ensure that you are discussing the issue, not the person.
• If you have a personal statement to another member, take it private and remain respectful.
• Take the time to ensure that what you think someone is saying is what they are saying, not reading into another’s post.
• Ask questions for clarification when a statement is unclear instead of assuming you know what someone is saying is advisable.
• Back up your words with supporting Scripture. If you don’t, one could easily see a post as “cause I said so”, which goes absolutely nowhere.
• If you witness a wayward post or thread, please report it. We cannot be everywhere at once and there are far too many threads to read through to catch everything. I would rather have to filter through many reports then to have anyone think we are playing favorites by allowing a member to blast another member, or that a topic is allowed when it should not be.
• Always seek the guidance from the Holy Spirit as to how to reply to a post.
• Last, but far from the least, post as if you are posting to Jesus, because He is with you and everyone else.

We are trying our best to turn Worthy into a place where heavy discussions and debates are without any insults and attacks. If you are not already familiar with our Terms of Service or Statement of Faith, please do familiarize yourself with them both.

By taking time to become aware of what you are posting is a start. We will not accomplish this overnight, but by taking one-step at a time, we will all feel safer about who we are and what we believe. I know that when I have a wall up, which is the result of negative posting, I am not going to accept any correction I may need that is brought to me through the one who is insulting me while offering me truth.

The other side of the coin is that if we find people continuing to attack and insult, we will be restricting them from posting for a few days so they can consider their actions. In the past, all we had was Mod Review or a ban. By placing someone on MR, we had to spend a lot of time reading continued insults and attacks, sometimes at us for taking action. This has taken too much time from the forums, so we are trying to step back from this and allow people time to think things over. I have personally had to take a few days off from the site and seek the Lord for a refreshing on the Fruit of the Spirit in my life and to ensure that the words I use come from Him and not my flesh. I suggest others consider doing the same before things come to a point where we have to move you in that direction.

I encourage all of use to learn to step back from our posts before we hit the “Post” button and read what we are about to submit as if we are reading it for the first time with no preconceived idea of what was written. This will help to ensure that what we are about to submit is what we really what to say. Nobody can read anyone’s mind, so clarity of thought is essential for correct understanding.

Here are a few closing verses to keep in mind when posting.

Colossians 4:5-6 (NKJV)

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Galatians 5:16-26 (NKJV)

Walking in the Spirit

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephesians 6:10-20

The Whole Armor of God

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

Amen.

Edited February 26, 2015 by ncn
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[Matthew T.]

Outstanding goals...

[kwikphilly]

I do believe the OP is worth re-viving & reading

[KPaulG]

I do believe the OP is worth re-viving & reading

Amen, Kwikphilly.

 

God Bless you.

 

Your brother in Christ,

KPaulG.