Here is something that I have noticed in various threads in this forum. When some one voices their opinion with a factual tone, things tend to get heated much more quickly than when people use more oppinionative statements. When you start out writing a sentence with “In MY opinion” or “I feel that” , or “this is what I believe”, or “I could be wrong but” it attaches you to your opinion. Not attaching your self to your opinion comes across to the other reader as threatening.
Take a look at these two statements. Which one sounds more harsh?
The Bible is the true word of God, and it clearly states that homosexual behavior is a sin.
In my opinion, the Bible is the true word of God. I feel that it clearly states that homosexual behavior is a sin.
Let me pick on Joe Dallas for a second. Im not picking on you Sandy, Im picking on Mr. Dallas. Any opportunity I can use to pick on Joe Dallas makes my day. 😉 😆 Now obviously this quote is from his book, but lets imagine for a second that this was Joe’s response to what somebody had written in a thread about being a Christian and being gay.
As Christians we are not called to presuade but to present. As stewards of truth, our job is to present the truth clearly, lovingly and responsibly. When standing before the judgement seat of Christ, we will not be asked how many homosexuals we were able to persude out of the gay Christian movement. But surely we will be asked how faithfully we stewarded the truth we’ve been given, and how lovingly yet boldly we presented it.” – Joe Dallas
I dont know about the rest of you, but if I read that in a post, I would be angry, it would push one of those proverbial “buttons” of mine because this particular statement is written very factually. It threatens my already fragile views on how I am feeling about being gay and also a Christian, and makes me feel like I need to defend my self.
Notice how he says so piously “as stewards of the truth, our job is to present the truth clearly…”
It sounds like Joe here is implying that the “truth” is that homosexuality is a sin, and I will surely go to hell if I continue to live in it. He says “When standing before the judgement seat of Christ, we will not be asked how many homosexuals we were able to persude out of the gay Christian movement”
Now Mr. Dallas is entitled to his opinion, but imagine how less threatening it would have sounded if he took some ownership of his statement. He starts off by saying “As Christians we are called“….. woah, whoa, wait a minute. Im a Christian! What are you saying here Joe? But if he would have said, “In my opinioin we are called“. Ok, I can buy that. This is just what you think, not what I “should” believe as truth.
I dont think there should be a list of topics that are taboo, or rules put in place politely asking us not to discuss certain topics. I have only been a part of this forum for a week or so, and I can not even express how much reading all these post have helped me, even the ones I didnt agree with. I completely agree with Robert when he said..
Part of the problem with coming up in a Pentecostal type backgroud was that you could not comment or ask questions on issues you did not understand. For example, if you dared questioned doctrine on the godhead or baptism or any of the church teachings you were considered a troublemaker or even a heretic. EVERYTHING was taboo.
Most of us on this web site are looking for a refuge from the rest of the Penticostal Christian world telling us that we are living a sinful life and going to hell for being true to ourselves and accepting our sexuality. Most every one on here has heard the Churches argument against homosexuality. However, I think its good to have that “other point of view” It keeps the rest of us in check. So thank you Sandy 😉
Basicaly as long as ALL of us take ownership of our statements, and do it in a loving way we can debate, or discuss, or relate to, all day long with out people getting offended and hurt. 😉 🙂
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