Theology Forum to be closed until December 15

Luke · 10-14-2004, 11:21 AM

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
On behalf of the administrative staff, I am announcing that we are going to close the debate forums (Theology, Apologetics, RPD) for a period of two months, to be re-opened on December 15. The reasoning behind this decision is as follows.

I have been observing recently that the Theology forum is becoming less and less edifying to everyone involved. Whereas a year ago, the forum served as a hub for the discussion of the Word of God and an outlet for us to love and honor the LORD our God with our minds, it has degenerated recently into a center for worthless arguments. The subjects discussed, in some cases, may have value, but nothing is coming of discussing them because of an unchristlike attitude among many of the veterans of this forum.

It is not useful to point fingers and try to assign blame as to who has been the cause of this problem; instead, we should all take responsibility as Christians to love one another and to be brothers in Christ first, and proponents of a theological viewpoint second. This has not been being done recently, so I want to encourage all of us to take some time to sit back and consider how we ought to love one another in the midst of disagreement and discussion, and remember that if the purpose of this is not to love God more fully, then really we aren't accomplishing anything except to edify ourselves (in the manner that 1 Corinthinans 14 condemns).

Also, when the forum reopens, I want to encourage a greater level of scholarship among the forum members. There are way too many backhand remarks and generalizations and references to proofs posted long ago that do nothing to edify and much to frustrate. I want to encourage all of you to be thorough in your studies and in your posts, rather than doing ship-shod study and making it up with rhetoric. This forum will reopen on December 15, which is when many of the collegiates and seminarians will have concluded their finals, and will have more time on their hands (for awhile) to be able to devote themselves to posting here, if they so choose. Hopefully, this will encourage a habit of being thorough and scholarly in your discussions here.

In the meantime, I want to encourage the following from all users of the Theology forum--do not leave and sit out from the boards for two months. Post in General Discussion! Post in people's blogs! Get to know the people with whom you discuss these things, learn where they come from, and about their lives. Even though the medium of discussion is the Internet, one of the least personal methods of human interaction ever created, you can still seek to forge a real relationship with others instead of just being their antagonist in debate. Brothers and sisters, I entreat you all--much would be served if these months were spent fellowshipping with one another and having a good time, and having a great level of amiability toward one another when the forums reopen. On what better stage could we all seek to love God more with our minds together?

Remember what Christ taught us, that the greatest commandment is to love the LORD our God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, but that the second is like it, that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We are taught that he who says he loves God, but does not love his neighbor, is a liar. I encourage all of you to take this time to seek to truly love your neighbors here, so that we all might seek to love God more together.

The relevant forums will be locked and closed to further posting this evening at about 7:00 PM, Central Time. Use the 7½ hours or so between now and then to wrap up any debates that require conclusion and seeking to ensure that there is no ill will between you and other members here. Use the time also to give praise and honor to God and to love one another (having a few non-theological threads in the forum for today would be just fine), and continue to fellowship with one another elsewhere on the boards for the next two months. I look forward to seeing you guys back in the Theology forum on December 15, and hopefully we can all strive to honor and love God in that aspect together.

The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Luke

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-14-2004, 12:33 PM

A wise move, I think Luke.

Insane Drummer · 10-14-2004, 12:45 PM

I don't understand the practicality of this at all.

I am pretty certain someone is going to have questions and, most likely, post them in GD or else where. Will we delete them? Close them? Or just let them be and just have the Theology forum spill over into GD and who knows where else?

I also predict all Calvanist qusetions pouring into certain reformed denomination forums, certain sacramental questions pouring into Catholic forum, and all topics of gifts of the Spirit or speaking in tounges pouring into the Pentecostal forum.

**Becky** · 10-14-2004, 01:29 PM

yea, we'll need to be carful with the Denomination forums as well... but I think this wont be that big of a problem as ya might think.. I mean, when we are locked into this little forum, we are more likely to act differently, and have that be excepted, cause EVERYBODY DOES IT! But out there.. in the "real forum"

lol, it's not like that, and I think we know that we can't get away with the same stuff out there that we could in here. it's a totaly different atmesphere. I mean, if there IS aproblem, just send it to the cheep post furm and THEY'LL tear it apart for you

I'm behind Luke all the way on this

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-14-2004, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky

yea, we'll need to be carful with the Denomination forums as well... but I think this wont be that big of a problem as ya might think.. I mean, when we are locked into this little forum, we are more likely to act differently, and have that be excepted, cause EVERYBODY DOES IT! But out there.. in the "real forum"

lol, it's not like that, and I think we know that we can't get away with the same stuff out there that we could in here. it's a totaly different atmesphere. I mean, if there IS aproblem, just send it to the cheep post furm and THEY'LL tear it apart for you

I'm behind Luke all the way on this

cpfing theology threads from GD.

I like it!

Josh · 10-14-2004, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insane Drummer

I don't understand the practicality of this at all.

I agree. Are we supposed to keep relevant theological questions to ourselves during this time? Despite whatever useless arguing is going on, there are still people that have questions. I doubt that closing the forum for two months is going to stop people from arguing about theology. It's happened for thousands of years.

Josh.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 10-14-2004, 03:04 PM

a break helps. I took a long break from theology, and got out of the fray, and it was a good thing. Some people who would never admit this need to do it as well, and learn to think more than speak. A forced silence would be good.

ChaletPol · 10-14-2004, 03:05 PM

To those who object, I say that Luke has spoken ex cathedra and is therefore infallible. Eat it.

...although, while I am of Luke's opinion and generally in support of this idea, I do wonder how this will work out practically.

**Becky** · 10-14-2004, 03:08 PM

heh, well, I for one trust Luke, and I am more then happy to let HIM deal with working it out practically

aren't I nice?

Josh · 10-14-2004, 03:11 PM

Don't get me wrong, I have no disrepect for Luke, he's made plenty of good decisions in the past. I am just disagreeing this time.

Josh.

Mike Graham · 10-14-2004, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insane Drummer

I don't understand the practicality of this at all.

Nor do I, or at least I do not find it. I'm afraid we'll be throwing the baby out with the bathwater if this is what it takes, and I'm not particularly convinced we'll only get the baby when we try to bring him back in two months. I really don't see how this is going to help people learn to be proponents of a theological viewpoint as a medium of love for our brothers, but I suppose that is why I'm not an administrator of this message board.

I would agree with Bill in part that a break can help, but the problem is that though we can take a break from theology, this only works when we are chasing it, not when it is chasing us. CGR remains one of the better (perhaps even the best) internet community in the theological area I have ever been a part of, and I fear those haunted by questions about God might not receive the kind of help they need elsewhere that they might have here.

And also with you.

**Becky** · 10-14-2004, 03:28 PM

well, we have to try right?? i mean, I keep hearing that people don't THINK it will help... but what harm will it do to try?

besides, like I said in my thread... with prayer, ANYTHING is possible. If we start praying for this forum, if we start praying for EACHOTHER, things WILL change. even if people don't want them to, they will! How do I know that?? cause we ALREADY know it's God's heart for us to be acting rightiously and loving eachother... so if we are praying for God's heart, then God will work in our hearts, even through our prayers. And this place WILL be better!

Your right though, just closing it might not work... but everyone wants God's will right? so closing it and spending time otherwise debating, in PRAYER, THAT will work.

Chico · 10-14-2004, 03:31 PM

if there are any questions of theology, do we not have other resources to help us find an answer? do we not all have christian friends, pastors, books, and other resources to help us out?

it seems that we are relying on this Theology forum to be our answer for everything, when we have resources right next to us that accomplish the same thing.

don't get me wrong, i enjoy discussing things here more than anyone else, but maybe we need to recognize some other things around us that can help answer questions and help us grow also. maybe if you have a theology questions during this 2 month period, you just go to a different resource for an answer until the boards open back up.

chris

p.s. - i hate that these boards will be closed for the next 2 months, but i do understand the reasoning behind Luke's decision and have seen the same thing he sees.

**Athanasius** · 10-14-2004, 04:18 PM

I support the move 100%, although I echo concerns about the denominational forums and would just ask that the denominational mods would watch for "debate" brewing...i.e. a Presbyterian raising hell with the Pentecostal forum, etc.

I wonder if it would be appropriate to allow users to still read from the Theology forum...maybe with a stickied link with some exemplary threads?

Cheers.
Jonathan
(Theology Moderator)

Scott · 10-14-2004, 04:25 PM

Quote:

I wonder if it would be appropriate to allow users to still read from the Theology forum...maybe with a stickied link with some exemplary threads?

A wise man speaketh.