All #ourCOG News 5.0
UPDATED! Everyone please read!
Christian Apologetics Group Guidelines
All people who join this forum are now asked to promise to read and obey these rules.
By participating and being a member of the Christian Apologetics Group, you are agreeing to abide by the following guidelines. Failure to do so could result in you being removed from the group.
All posts and interactions within this group should be done with the following two scriptures in mind:
What was Paul’s command in Philippians 2:3 ?
“Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.”
In 1 Peter 3:15 -16, Peter says that one’s apologetics should be governed by?
“Gentleness and respect.”
Guidelines for the Christian Apologetics Group
1 ) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”
Remember that the whole purpose of this group is to serve God, to honor Him, and to further His kingdom. As such, any Christian doctrines or teachings may be questioned or challenged, however, we will not tolerate intentional blasphemy or mocking of God or the teachings of Christianity.
If you have joined this group just to cause problems, you will be removed.
2 ) “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Remember that how we treat each other matters. Please do so with courtesy, respect and kindness. Name calling and personal insults are not allowed.
3 ) “Be subject to governing authorities.”
You are not allowed to block the admin or the moderators. If you do so, you will be removed from the group. You ARE, however, all owed to disagree with them on any topic under discussion. Just try to do so gently and respectfully.
4 ) “Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said.”
Please don’t post more than two or three new threads in this group each day, as we want to encourage the members to be able to read, consider and respond to everything that is posted. Spamming the group will not be allowed, and the posts will be deleted. This does NOT apply to comments that you make to someone’s thread. Make as many of those as you like.
5 ) “Instead, exalt Christ as Lord in your lives. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. But do this gently and respectfully.”
Remember that this is primarily an Apologetics group, meaning the primary reason for this group is to examine, discuss and debate the various kinds of evidence for the Christian faith. This evidence can be philosophical, scriptural, doctrinal, historical, textual, etc. While you are not forbidden from discussing other matters, but we do reserve the right to limit those posts.
6 ) “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
We freely admit that as admin or moderators, we are flawed and we still sin. We will try to set good examples, but we will not always succeed. We are all encouraged to seek to be imitators of Christ in this group, and to repent and forgive easily when we fail.
7 ) “Have nothing to do with foolish or ignorant arguments, as they only serve to create quarls.”
Try to avoid getting into debates about peripheral or unresolvable issues for which genuine and sincere believers can simply have differing views. This includes long time historical Christian disagreements (such as Calvinism verses Arminianism) for which there probably are no resolutions short of Jesus’ return. KJV Only, “Young Earth versus Old Earth,” and the timing or existence of a rapture are also topics that rarely, if ever, accomplish anything constructive. It is strongly recommended that you avoid these topics.
Sometimes, it is OK to simply agree to disagree.
8 ) “What, then, is my reward? It is to be able to preach the gospel free of charge.”
Please do not post advertisements to sell any products in this forum. We will allow two exceptions: A) if someone asks for resources on a specific subject; B) if you have personally written or produced something that is specifically related to a topic under discussion.
We will allow advertisements for apologetics seminars and related issues, as this directly relates to the purpose of this group.
9 ) “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
You do not have to be a believer to be in this forum. We do ask that you be respectful of the beliefs expressed in this forum, and recognize that one of our commands from God is that we are supposed to tell others about Jesus, in the hopes that they too will find eternal life in Christ. Let us all remember that non-Christians are guests here, and it would be great if what they find here could be one of the things the Holy Spirit uses to lead them to faith in Jesus.
10) “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Please don’t use this forum to bash other believers. You may criticize their actions and doctrines, but you may not attack them personally. For example, we are not a Catholic forum, but we will not tolerate a general bashing of Catholics as being “evil” or “Satanic” or “unbelievers” or “a cult.” This rule applies to all denominations. You are allowed to disagree with their doctrines or actions. You are not allowed to condemn them as individuals or as a group.
Further, no vulgar or profane language is allowed.
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