Popularity and Usefulness

[johnthebaptist]

7 hours ago, Marathoner said:

This is where it started: with the author of the topic no less. Perhaps this thread belongs in the U.S. Politics forum?

I didn't want to turn it into a political thread. I see the same thing happening in politics, but I find it very painful to see religious leaders leading their people astray.

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, johnthebaptist said:

I didn't want to turn it into a political thread. I see the same thing happening in politics, but I find it very painful to see religious leaders leading their people astray.

Perhaps it would be wise to refrain from politicizing matters unrelated to politics, my friend. Projecting one's political beliefs on others never accomplishes anything worthwhile. Strife is the result.

Consider how my words relate to the topic. Speaking the truth in love is all that matters for us. 

[johnthebaptist]

18 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

Perhaps it would be wise to refrain from politicizing matters unrelated to politics, my friend. Projecting one's political beliefs on others never accomplishes anything worthwhile. Strife is the result.

Consider how my words relate to the topic. Speaking the truth in love is all that matters for us. 

I don't consider homosexuality a political matter. I consider it a religious matter, an act of sin, and I see religious leaders giving their approval to homosexuality, thus leading their congregations astray.

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, johnthebaptist said:

I don't consider homosexuality a political matter. I consider it a religious matter, an act of sin, and I see religious leaders giving their approval to homosexuality, thus leading their congregations astray.

It might have been helpful to be more forthcoming in your original post, John, since you seem to have a great deal on your mind. You interjected politics and now you are bringing up homosexuality... so what is this topic really about?

Let us know because the title and your OP are misleading. 

[Alive]

The OP was well stated, but left open to all kinds of subjects.

:-)

[johnthebaptist]

8 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

It might have been helpful to be more forthcoming in your original post, John, since you seem to have a great deal on your mind. You interjected politics and now you are bringing up homosexuality... so what is this topic really about?

Let us know because the title and your OP are misleading. 

The topic is about two groups of people, both of which call themselves Christians. One is really dedicated to obeying the Lord. The other is dedicated to selfaggrandizement. 

[johnthebaptist]

14 hours ago, Marathoner said:

Behold how this topic swiftly devolved into the airing of political opinions. A pity. 

Sometimes religion and politics overlap. If you try to eliminate God from politics, you have a problem.

[johnthebaptist]

6 minutes ago, Alive said:

The OP was well stated, but left open to all kinds of subjects.

:-)

Thank you. Sometimes a topic can touch on several topics, and people want to discuss those. That seems healthy to me.

[missmuffet]

On 1/29/2021 at 8:20 PM, johnthebaptist said:

If one wants to be popular, one can get in the habit of telling people what they want to hear. On the other hand, if one wants to be useful, one can get in the habit of telling people what they need to hear.

I am not on Worthy to win a popularity contest but to tell people the true literal Word of God. To share with others who God is. 

[Alive]

Well meaning and honest believers can have different views on what particular scripture teaches and this is true for many reasons. What the forum allows is 'discussion' of those differences and hopefully using well rendered scripture to make points. That process can be very profitable. Iron sharpens iron.

The thing required is to have an attitude that allows oneself to be wrong as well as correct--in essence to have a strong desire to learn what is so and what isn't. Most of us have 'strong towers' of one sort or another. Being aware of that is helpful.

Each of us needs to examine ourselves in this regard....to be self-transparent.

And then to do our best to debate the topic and not the person, so that things don't go awry and we maintain a good witness of the Christ that is in us.

There is fabulous opportunity for growth at this forum. If you think about it--it really is remarkable.