As long as you fellers and wimmin

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

If someone calls someone stupid and it's reported, that person get's warned or infracted. Repeated offenses after that is a ban

Often Admin don't read all the threads and often you guys don't report them

JB's a tough and independent kind of guy. He works hard and does us all proud as one of those "heroes" that frequently put their lives on the line for the rest of us with little or no thanks. I don't think he's the type that would go running to "tell teacher" because one of the other kids called him "schtoopid" or something.

Most of the trite stuff goes unreported anyway. Nobody has time to interrupt a good tussle just because of some name calling. I think the only posts that I have reported were my own - LOL; except once when somebody was picking on a girl.

What about AFF makes a hard core Godhead ninja like yourself "sick," Prax?

[Mirth1981]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I've been wondering about the "makes me sick" moniker that the core of the "Three Stepper Agenda" throw around. I'm trying to understand the depth of feeling behind that.

I think that for some whose eyes haven't been fully open to the truth for whatever reason (whether they are overpowered by tradition or they just haven't studied in depth for themselves), they truly LOVE the doctrine that they teach, believing it to be the "Full Gospel Message" of Salvation to mankind.

It would make a person sick if they thought that a group of people were trying to tear down their Godgiven message. I probably would have felt this way years ago myself...because I would believe that the group was deceived by Satan himself, and that they were trying to lead others astray from the truth.

I remember feeling sick to my stomach when I saw that a woman from my church had cut her hair...same feeling another time when I saw a lady that was a former church leader at a store wearing pants, makeup, and jewelry. It's not that I was angry at these people....I felt HORRIBLE that they had been led astray. *shrug*

I feel differently now...

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

If someone calls someone stupid and it's reported, that person get's warned or infracted. Repeated offenses after that is a ban

Often Admin don't read all the threads and often you guys don't report them

I've only ever reported a few posts since signing on. Most were spam/porn related and a few just got me so mad, or rather irritated that I hit the report button out of pure frustration. (Those who act like attack dogs and then within a few posts are doing the "Whoa is me! Everyone keeps attacking me!" martyrdom-complex thing. It may not be against any forum rules technically, but it should be.)

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I've been wondering about the "makes me sick" moniker that the core of the "Three Stepper Agenda" throw around. I'm trying to understand the depth of feeling behind that.

I know (at least I think) Jon Alfaro (Jon "the lightbulb?") intended to have some fun here - and he's welcome to it. But most of these drive-by "fun" threads die an early and merciful death so I thought I'd just post some thoughts here.

Why do the "ultra-cons" "get sick" when they view the open and free wheeling types of discussion that go here? I've tried to put myself in their shoes and applied the viewpoints and feelings that I held when I was a pretty ardent "Acts 2:38 kind of guy."

I think that the problem is that they are confronted with the idea that what they have been building isn't really eternal. They desperately want their efforts in this life to have meaning that extends beyond just themselves and beyond the mere moments that constitute the human life span - we all do!

This is why we have the invention of "Apostolic history" - a blatant attempt to rewrite history to insert "Acts 2:38 believers" into the church age prior to 1900. The idea of "the eternal" compels them to think beyond just the fact that great-grandma and granny were the pioneers of this faith. They need more - so they invent "more."

Also, the types of views that are expressed here represent the vast majority of people who have gone through the doors of a Oneness Apostolic church. Truth of the matter is - the vast majority of people who have been presented this message have rejected it. Even more alarming - the vast majority of people who actually did receive and accept this message - have, in time, rejected it as well.

The "Three Stepper" way of life is one of constant rejection. Almost all of the converts within their field of labor wind up at some "charismatic church" and eventually, almost all of their saints do as well. Looking back in history for support and examples of "revival" - they find no "Acts 2:38" revivals at all. They are beset from all sides with the prospect that their lives and their strident angry stands have no real meaning.

And this makes them "sick."

Meanwhile - the true Gospel of Jesus perseveres. The cure for the "sickness" I felt was Jesus Christ Himself. He is eternal. He is alive forever more. He endures. He lives. His life brings me healing from the "sickness" of nihilism and the emptiness that I feel when I look at a world that is "designed" to die.

So, if you read AFF and "feel nauseated" or like you're about to "blow chunks" - don't be angry with AFF or the people who post here. Instead, look to Jesus for the health and healing that your soul longs for.

Now that is a heavy-handed one-two punch if I ever saw one! Posts like this have that piercing quality that cuts through all the religious facade and lays open the bare elements of a thing for all to see, and I suspect that is why it has not been countered accordingly. Perhaps no one really wants to be identified with these things in public? Which begs the question, how many reject it secretly?!

Excellent post!

[Apocrypha]

Originally Posted by noeticknight

Now that is a heavy-handed one-two punch if I ever saw one! Posts like this have that piercing quality that cuts through all the religious facade and lays open the bare elements of a thing for all to see, and I suspect that is why it has not been countered accordingly. Perhaps no one really wants to be identified with these things in public? Which begs the question, how many reject it secretly?!

Excellent post!

I get alot of folks who private message me on facebook and say they agree with some of the things I have said on there. About a half dozen are UPCI pastors I know.

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by Apocrypha

I get alot of folks who private message me on facebook and say they agree with some of the things I have said on there. About a half dozen are UPCI pastors I know.

That would seem to lend more credence to your thread "How influential is AFF?" I wonder how many church leaders and their saints (who claim antipathy for AFF) would privately experience genuine disappointment if this forum suddenly became closed to them?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Apocrypha

I get alot of folks who private message me on facebook and say they agree with some of the things I have said on there. About a half dozen are UPCI pastors I know.

Sad,
Some ministers are "trapped" in the UPC.
They realize much of what has been preached and practiced is not Scriptural, but what can they do?
They're pastoring churches.
Their livelihood is tied up in the UPC.
They're afraid to openly question anything.
They don't want to get "outed" or "killed" by the zealots.
What do they do or where do they go if they lose their ministry?
All they can do is keep on parroting the party line and lashing out at anyone or anything that questions or investigates or proposes change.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Found this meaning in a list of acronyms:

ALM Angry Little Man (gaming)

Not sayin' anything. I'm just sayin'.

in other words "small" people

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by Sam

Sad,
Some ministers are "trapped" in the UPC.
They realize much of what has been preached and practiced is not Scriptural, but what can they do?
They're pastoring churches.
Their livelihood is tied up in the UPC.
They're afraid to openly question anything.
They don't want to get "outed" or "killed" by the zealots.
What do they do or where do they go if they lose their ministry?
All they can do is keep on parroting the party line and lashing out at anyone or anything that questions or investigates or proposes change.

Truckloads of truth here, brother.

You just described the convoy I can't seem to break away from.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by On The Wheel

Truckloads of truth here, brother.

You just described the convoy I can't seem to break away from.

Sometimes it seems like the only way you can get out is to take a sledgehammer and completely shatter your life to bits.