Bible Question:
Dear Forumites, I think that there has been a slight frustration building for quite some time regarding our forum here. Reformer Joe has recently articulated it well. There are many threads which are either of minimal value (see Kalos' questionable question post), or which leave little room for discussion (like where is such-and-such). Then there are the neverending discussions on issues such as Calvinism vs. Arminianism (with the recent additionof Amyraldianism). While these are still threads that need to be addressed on the forum, I believe that some of the most regular members (especially who have been here for a while) could lose interest. I wonder if this partially explains a trend that I discovered while looking at the history of the forum. There are some members who have been here forever like Kalos, Charis, and Hank. However, there are also many people who are very active and supportive for a time and then just kind of disappear. Some of these RCScroll, RElderCascade, Brent Douglass, Xapis, Heir of God, KBurgee, Melchizedekau, Reformedreader, Jim, InHzsvc, and GMsmith101. And there's also our most prolific poster Nolan Keck, who has been on sabatical for over a month. I think that it is worth addressing to discover a way that we could continue to improve the forum so that people will want to stay. Their experience and valuable input is sorely missed when they leave. What does everyone think? For those of you who have been here a long time, do you remember why some people left? Why have you stayed? Are people really frustrated, or do I interpret Reformer Joe and others incorrectly? |
Bible Answer: I was frustrated that there seemed to be so few interested in what Scripture might say. So many come with their own preconceived or pet theologies and I feel we all work too hard at defending our positions -- rather questioning our positions and really challenging them so that we arrive at the truth of Scripture. Also, in defending a position, or conclusion from Scripture, many resort to a simple barrage of verse upon verse upon verse. One would have to be an utter master of the Bible, to the point of being on the level of famous well-known preachers and apologists of the past, in order to counter Scripture upon Scripture, each disconnected from its immediate and broader contexts. It seems firing "prooftexts" at one another is a lot easier than making all the different positions of Scripture harmonize into a single, coherent whole. This requires more than prooftexts; it requires theology. It's not that I would not like to be such a master of Scripture; but when one has a hobby such as this (or any other) forum, can one really take so much time and effort in these conversations: often not to just defend doctrine but merely to protect our ego from embarrassment? Finally, if we really choose to live out the Bible, we need to use our time wisely. And with all the personality problems which come with trying to discuss the Bible, sometimes repeated posting of opinions to a forum seems hardly a godly use of our time. Just my opinion, waldo garcia |