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.
I said “I don’t know, I’m not looking it up”. For the first one and the second one I answered “probably something to do with the Holy Spirit if it was after Jesus resurrection”.
I acknowledge the Moderators have very well followed the above!!
Credit to you… I ended up not only going back to refresh myself on the scriptures, but went down a rabbit hole of commentaries and study notes… so much so that I don’t think I even went back to the tab to answer the questions. So I was surprised to be accepted this morning. ?
Nice post??
I had no bible with me so planned to submit today. It happened on the road
Believe to be this group is one of the most respected sharing of ideas from which we based in God’s love with fear, understanding in the light of the scriptures.
Thank you for the reminder.
The temptation to win an argument can sometimes overpower the desire to lead a soul to Christ.
Good post. No mater what Church we belong to. Our love for Christ and each other should be the same and respectful.
Don’t be conceited.
With regard to point #7, does the Canon of Dort have weight with regard to Calvinism versus Arminianism issue? Didn’t the Church already position herself as Calvinistic and should be held by every Christian Church today?
I thought the debate was resolved already at that Synod and the Church has already decided, same as other Synods where the Church resolves doctrinal issues.
If not, can we say that the Church made a mistake at that Synod for rejecting Arminianism? And wrong for leaning Calvinistic and for coming out with the TULIP?
Thank you.
can you post the funny answers,i could do with a laugh.
Great works Brothers & Sisters this road is not easy but sure worth the journey.
I think I like that word ” not out of selfishness ambition “
I appreciate your spirit. Any pride or belligerence is counterproductive. Why defend the faith if we do not practice the faith or defend it in a way that disobeys it.
I tried to answer this but when i went back to my bible app, after reading the verses, the questions were gone as soon as I came back here.
I copy pasted the verses into the spaces and moved on. Thanks for the add..
Hey mate. Just wondering what to do if a member of the group doesn’t like what you’re saying, so they send you messages, then block you?
Following…
AMEN‼ You MUST be a pastor…right???
I like your biblical guidelines. I look forward to seeing how this works out.
Always be ready to give a reason for your faith. Thank you Jesus.
I agree!!
I really enjoy some of the meaty posts and debates on this page. Could I suggest that you limit the amount of posts allowed from individual members. There are some who seem to receive gratification from posing very light questions and hoping to elicit responses regardless of the contribution to quality. I believe that this dilutes the genuine apologetics and could inhibit the growth of members.
Thanks for the Instruction!
Great!
thanks…..im excited
I read it.
How does this work? I just want to know how to defend my faith to nonbelievers.
Hello Michael I hope all is well with you brother.
Well written. Thank you.
I read it. Thanks for the instruction! I agree!
Agreed, thank you.
Agreed
?
1000% agreement.
And, I would add, as a Founder and Admin of several Facebook groups, I have to tell you with all sincerity, these rules are well thought out and written. I can tell that they were borne out of hard-won wisdom that was based on experience.
I have seen every single one of them violated and abused by fellow Christians on Facebook in general and the groups that I administrate in particular.
It’s why I have come to love this cartoon – I hope that you all like it too.
These are some of the best rules I’ve seen and I can see that it is thoughtfully written. Thank you for keeping this group Christ-like and friendly.
I joined because I wanted to learn how to do apologetics, not be harassed in my faith by people who hate Christianity. But there aren’t any tips on how to engage non-Christians in this group, just insults being thrown at Christians.
Thanks! How do we report trolls?
Amen
Agreed ??
This instructions are beautiful. Wish to know the admin who wrote this.
Agreed!
These are good guidelines. Thanks for setting the boundaries.
I agree and Darriell Dickerson thanks so much for the invite
thanks for accepted me as one of the member your group. good guidelines & measures.
Amen.
Which New Testament author wrote the following statement and is it true or false in your opinion? “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” Romans 2:13
Ephesians 2: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.