An excellent post from R0bert!

I've been meaning to raise the exact same point. Unfortunately though, I fear that we will get nothing but the infamous disappearing act.

But I'm willing to be proven wrong...

RObert,

Christianity in not known for a united front; there is no "Christen-dom". No conspiracy theory. Just some simple instructions to not argue amongst ourselves.

Gibo, Runner and Poly have a very visible identifiable "Christian" presence here. The rest of us may disagree over style and delivery, and if there was a departure from biblical truth, there would be howls of protest. A fellow Christian would spot it, in neon lights.

Personally, I take to heart the attacks on Christians who proclaim their faith overtly on this forum. I pay attention. I reflect. I wonder if it could have been said better. I pray.

I don't see much evidence that Christians are intentionally alienating those who are closed to the gospel message.

I see the byproduct, that unbelief is confirmed in those whose hearts have hardened. The polemic is thus, unavoidable.

Given that unbelief is the ultimate sin (the one for which there is no forgiveness), Christians must exercise both wisdom and caution without compromising their own faith.

Tossing a few well-chosen biblical passages out as a rebuke (like scraps to a dog) is a fairly empty gesture from those who don't believe the words came from God in the first place.

Our detractors here are many, 'vocal', and increasingly intolerant. The way forward is certainly going to be defined by our capacity to love, understand and correct, but mostly....to believe and have faith.

Poly, I'm the other 50%! Just two delicious boys (both "Grammar" boys as it happens. I'm in quite deep!) and one Japanese husband - I praise God for them constantly.

KatieO

"Given that unbelief is the ultimate sin (the one for which there is no forgiveness), Christians must exercise both wisdom and caution without compromising their own faith."

You tell your fellow Christians to 'exercise both wisdom and caution' and yet in the very same sentence you accuse 'unbelievers' of committing the ultimate sin and damn us all, I presume, to eternal hellfire. Hardly cautious and certainly not very wise, Katie. Statements like that will do nothing to build bridges. They just put you firmly in the loopy category as far as most of us are concerned.

"Gibo, Runner and Poly have a very visible identifiable "Christian" presence here. The rest of us may disagree over style and delivery..."

I wouldn't waste my breath trying to separate yourself from 'Gibo, Runner and Poly' if I was you. No amount of sugar coating on your part will disguise the fact that you're assaulting us all with the same patronizing clap trap we've heard many times before from the other three. Hold hands, Katie, you're very firmly one of them.

"I don't see much evidence that Christians are intentionally alienating those who are closed to the gospel message."

You don't? The 'evidence' is glaringly obvious to the rest of us. Why don't you study the posts of the 'non card-carrying' Christians here on OLO - the ones who don't 'alienate' us. Hopefully, you'll find your evidence, or lack of it, and learn from it.

I don't think so katieO, the message from many of your bretheren goes far deeper than "style and delivery". You say that about their posts, "if there was a departure from biblical truth, there would be howls of protest. A fellow Christian would spot it, in neon lights." But I have seen these howls very rarely. Very rarely indeed.

Am I to assume then that when Gibo's message of "Asian invaders" that he has gleaned from what he calls "christian prophesies", that is close to the biblical message?
Or when he talks of the war with the spirit world, that is closely aligned with your biblical views also?

No, katieO, I don't believe you when you say that if there was a departure from the biblical, there would be howls of protest. Most of you are far too scared of not presenting a united front as (evangalical) "christians" against the "unbelievers" to do that.

Amen to what Bronwyn and Bugsy said!