Bible Question:
I am going to be bold here. The SBF has very few who post any more. We have prayed about this for sometime. I would like to open this up to suggestions as to what do you think the SBF needs to do to be alive and active once again. Be honest and even pray before you post. Lockman has dome a lot to keep the SBF up all these years. Now its time for us who are earnest about keeping the SBF relevant and a place we can be open with our questions and concerns about the Bible and our growth as Christians. Now its your turn what do we need to hear? |
Bible Answer: Being a charter member of this forum I have seen and participated in many changes and directions that have taken place on the forum. Early on we had excellent discussions on scripture with input from many people of different, backgrounds, denominations and understandings of scripture. Interestingly I believed I learned the most from our Catholic brothers, especially Emmaus who has since decided to leave the forum. The problem developed when people realized they could use this forum for a soap box from which they could expound their views, beliefs and feelings. Many of these were steeped in cultic falsehoods or Satanism. So controls had to be put into place to control these types of problems. However the good intentioned controls have since been perverted by some to control the forum. People have learned to smack down others making them look foolish or unreasoned to dismiss any idea that does not agree with their agenda or belief or simply make the anything they don’t agree with to disappear. This frustrated people and they saw any effort to bring the forum back to great Bible Study Forum was all but lost, so they left and in many cases never to return again. Over the years we have lost hundreds of treasured posters from this forum, some that displayed insight and knowledge far above what is commonly displayed today. I remain in contact with many today and I know the reason for their departure is what I am saying. Can we bring it back? I think so but I think it will require Lockman to actively get involved again and I’m not sure they want to make that commitment in time and money. When I see the forum today it breaks my heart. There is little or no discussion only point and counter point as if each responder is in a debate. Views need to be posted as views instead of dogmatic indictments of anyone that does not hold that view. Responses have to be carefully worded to prevent a responder from feeling mocked, belittled or intimidated which is often the case today. Frankly I see little reason to post quotes that aren’t indicative of Bible Study and usually fail to elicit further discussion. They are usually pertinent only to the original speakers generation and have little relevance to today’s Christian’s needs. Interestingly many of the old participants of this forum were also supporters and customers of Lockman Foundation, I’m not sure that is true today. |