Posted by Dena on December 17, 2003, at 18:40:43
... You can still read what others post.
Dear Dog -
I guess I should've seen this coming. I wondered about warning you that you were heading for getting yourself blocked, but we all have to learn the boundaries of this board.
It's particularly hard for Christians to keep from getting blocked. If we spell out our faith,it becomes obvious that our beliefs, the very words of Jesus, are exclusionary of other belief systems. According to the rules of this board, we aren't able to put down the beliefs of others without finding ourselves blocked.
Thus, we have a choice: either we cease from posting here, seeing it as a compromising of our faith; or, we find a way to speak the truth of our Savior without speaking negatively of others.
It's quite a tightrope - as you can tell from my posting history, I've not managed to walk that tightrope very successfully. At times, I've kept my "mouth" shut, & just prayed (spiritual warfare, you know). At other times, I've thrown caution to the wind, & spoken directly, knowing full well that I would be blocked.
But I've been praying whether or not I am to stay with this board - I do not want to compromise my faith - I want to stay loyal to Jesus. So far, I feel led to remain. But if I speak truth without love, well, you know, the reference to a clanging cymbol.
Many of the other members of this board have been on my personal prayer list for almost a year now - since I discovered this board. Their names (or "handles") are included in a "fishbowl" in my church (photos & names of unsaved loved ones that we pray for each week as a Body). I care about them, about their eternities, & so I continue to pray, which is far more effective than words can ever be.
Before I post here, I make it a point to pray about what God would have me say. Sometimes it means withholding something that "I", in my human wisdom, believe is vital to say. At other times, I believe I'm given the green light to speak unapologetically - at the risk of being blocked.
It's all for His glory, so it's best that I let Him lead my thoughts & words. Of course, it's hard to keep the flesh out of it - my pride, my self-focus, my desire to "make my point" often get in the way of His perfect will.
I've made friends here, real friends who believe far differently from me. I still love them. I still accept them for who they are, where they are. I leave them in God's hands. I try to speak truth in love. But I can't make anyone believe what I believe - if they don't arrive to the place of belief by His leading, but by my coersion, what's the point? Only He knows how to get them from where they are to where He created them to be.
Perhaps while you're being blocked, this would be an ideal time to read through previous posts, to get a fuller idea of what's gone on with this board, then to pray whether God would have you stay. He brought you here - perhaps He has a plan for you here.
If you would like to communicate off-board, email me at: brehmites@aol.com
Shalom, Dena
P.S. May your Christmas be blessedly peaceful & joyous!
poster:Dena
thread:291080
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/291080.html