Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | StudyBibleForum or MyOpinionForum? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Hank | 113866 | ||
The name of this web site is StudyBibleForum.com and its sponsors, the Lockman Foundation, have laid down clear guidelines for users. The first item listed for compliance to its guidelines , to which every poster agrees with every post he makes, reads as follows: "This post is biblically based and whenever possible, I have included Bible references to support it." ...... But have you noticed how frequently this guideline is agreed to but not followed at all? How many times have you seen posts that have absolutely no biblical references, but instead are riddled with a generous number of expressions such as "I think," "I believe," -- without giving the slightest biblical reference that supports the "I thinks" and "I believes." Personally, I don't read very much of the output from users who express opinions without scriptural back-up. Why should I, why should you, waste your time reading raw opinions by users when you haven't the vaguest notion of what their credentials are? You don't really know whether you're reading an informed opinion or the opinion of an air head. Seldom on this Forum is a user called into account for entering post after post of sheer opinion unsupported by any scriptural references, yet this practice is a clear violation of Forum rules and constitutes abuse. When another Forum user is unfairly attacked, all rise to his defense. But when the Bible is ignored and replaced by opinion, few rise to the Bible's defense. What kind of selective double standard are we following on this Forum? Do you consider it a problem? Does it concern you? What do you propose to do about it? The obvious place to begin is by cleaning up our own act first -- to be heavy on Scriptural references and light on purely personal opinion and speculation. And each of us can crack down hard on the abusers, on those who day after day use this Forum as a soap-box for their opinions and ignore its purpose, which is Bible study. We should warn recalcitrant offenders on-line first and, should they choose to ignore us, we should file a abuse reports with the Lockman Foundation. Have you noticed that the most outrageous and unbiblical opinions seem to get the most attention on this Forum? So often when a user posts a thoroughly biblical response, it attracts little attention, if any at all. Do we have have a case of itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3) instead of a thirst for God's word (2 Timothy 2:15)? --Hank | ||||||
2 | StudyBibleForum or MyOpinionForum? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Rowdy | 113877 | ||
Greetings Hank, I must conclude I must be one of the offenders you mentioned above. I must admit I'm not really good about quoting book, chapter and verse but I do think most of the scriptures AND the subjects seem to have been posted in the past. It also seems most people are not paying much attention to the whole Bible, when considering a particular subject. You know, it's the whole of God's Word that will be used to judge us on Judgment Day. And did you know that the division of the books of the Bible into chapter and verses is a modern innovation. They were originally written without that convenience. We really need to realize that God wants us to learn the spirit of His Law, His sacred Word. We supposed to commit It into our hearts and I know that's difficult to do, most of all me. But I like to think my posts are in accordance with God's Word. Have you read one of my recent posts, No 113863? There I describe how our God wants us as mature, spiritual beings to graduate from this physical world and look forward to the next. We also need to be open minded AND open hearted to ALL of God's Word on each topic of the Bible. I, too have noticed something on this Forum that's quite disturbing, something far more remiss than my "infraction." It's just not right for a person to pick and choose one or two obscure scriptures, possibly due to past interpretations, to support an unusual doctrine that CANNOT be supported by the whole Bible. Now of course, we must give special emphasis to the NT over the OT since the latter was fulfilled and no longer has any authority over us. BUT it's still a very valuable document for study for it shows us how we got the NT. It shows us the creation of the world and so much more. The most important point is the OT CANNOT match or out-rank the NT. Christ has been given all authority and then He passed some of that authority down to his representatives, His Apostles. Finally, I really don't think I've violated the parameters of this Forum any more so than some other participants. But I will beg for your forgiveness and look forward to your continued exchanges with me. God bless. |
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3 | StudyBibleForum or MyOpinionForum? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Hank | 113879 | ||
Rowdy: Thanks for your input, and I hasten to remind you and everyone else on the Forum that I did not, in my post, cite any individual or any post as an example of the practice of entering post after post devoid of scriptural reference. While it may be perfectly true that a given post that makes no direct reference to Scripture may be in accord with the teaching of Scripture, this does not exempt one from the responsibility on a Bible study forum to furnish Scripture in support of his proposition. True Bible study is and rightfully should be exegetical; it should be sound exposition of Scripture itself. There are readers and users of this Forum who run the gamut from almost total ignorance of Scripture to seasoned, well-informed Bible students. When one makes a broad-band assertion of a biblical truth without bothering to back it up with specific biblical references, how is the spiritually undiscerned neophyte to know whether the Bible supports such an assertion? I've been a Christian and a Bible reader and student for over half a century, and yet I frequently have grave difficulty following the thought processes of some users who post various opinions on a number of subjects but who don't seem to think it necessary to back up their statements with a "thus saith the Lord." Look, the Bible is our sole authority for our faith and practice. When one continues post after post to air his views without bothering with Scripture, it causes me to wonder how he actually regards Scripture. Does he think of it as being less important than his own ideas? He is too busy or too lazy to search the Scriptures? Does he make the flawed assumption that everybody knows what Scriptures apply to the proposition that he is trying to make? Or is he so presumptuous to think that he can speak truth and wisdom better than God? Nothing, absolutely nothing, can take the place of Scripture. Nothing that we can possibly say is anywere near as important as what God says. I hold firmly and unshakably to the idea that the centerpiece of any Bible study is the Bible itself. While perhaps you and I agree somewhat on this issue in the broadest of terms, it appears we disagree sharply on specifics. That is to say, frankly, that I do not support the idea of merely posting generalities and conclusions ostensibly based on Scripture. If one's ideas are truly biblically based, it would seem not only the logical thing to do, but the obligatory thing as well, to let one's readers in on the source of one's views by favoring them with appropriate scriptural references. And, finally, I am beside myself to understand what your inclusion of the comment about the division of Scripture into chapters and verses has to do with this discussion. --Hank | ||||||
4 | StudyBibleForum or MyOpinionForum? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Rowdy | 113885 | ||
With my comment about the recent innovation on chapters and verses, I'm just trying to remind everyone that we really need to study God's Word and like you're saying, that process is a very, very dynamic process. Thanks for the encouragement. I'll try to "clean up my act," study a little harder and try to quote more scriptures. I agree it is a good habit, just tough for me to do. I do love what this Forum represents as I like to think only the best of the best of God's people come here to read and exchange their views. God bless. |
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