I can see that my attempt to break up the bickering with a level-headed, biblical appeal to sanity and civility has apparently gone unheeded. I don't know what to say except that I can't believe I'm attempting to break up the childish squabbles of people twice my age.
What I will say is that I have HAD ENOUGH! I am going to speak my piece and then hopefully we can all drop it. I will give the warning that some of you are not going to like what I have to say and will want to spit fire back at me when you read it. Please attempt to take a bit and meditate on what I've had to say before writing a knee-jerk comment that is sure to incite further issue.
First to Pixy, I did not post my previous comment for you to justify your position. I posted it for people to think about what was going on and hopefully learn from it. Notice that I did not specifically mention anyone nor draw attention to any particular argument about sexual slavery or any of the bickering that followed. The small thing I was referring to was the original disagreement about it. I take exception to the fact that between you and chevy, the topic was hijacked.
I do not fault you for reporting Two. Anyone who has been on here for long knows that the two of you had prior history of vehement disagreements on things. Two was out of line and deserved to be reported as he was. However, the fact remains that the number of times you allegedly reported him likely caused his expulsion from the site, whether directly or indirectly. I'm going to refer you back to the very verses you quoted previously, Matthew 18:15-17:
15 �If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that �every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
It seems to me that you did verse 15 and possibly 16, but I for one did not know until your post today that you had contacted him about it so I have to ask if you really followed verse 17 and told it to the church (which in this case I would take to mean making it common knowledge on the forums that you'd contacted him privately). Had others known, is it so hard to conceive that we would have stepped forward faster to tell Two to put a clamp on it? As it was, the continued reporting only seemed to make him more irrationally angry so as to keep shooting himself in the foot. I don't know much but that seems both a little passive aggressive and like causing a brother to stumble. On a related note, once the comments turned to personal attacks, why report even those? I know the rules are the rules but sometimes you need to have a little mercy and turn the other cheek. The guy was clearly angry and being irrational for pity�s sake. Let it go, give him time to regain his composure, and then make it known that what he did was hurtful. He may well have realized his folly and apologized.
Now to Chevy, I have no quarrel with you besides the above mentioned hijacking of a topic. I like reading your comments and appreciate having you on the site. I also appreciate the offer to teach me to change my oil. However, sir, there are times when you (and Two if he is reading this) need to learn to SHUT UP and think about what you are saying before you say it! When you get into an argument, you have a tendency to continue picking at and belittling the person with the opposite opinion. Did you even read my previous post? What does James 3 say about taming the tongue? With the very first response after my post you made a comment about the �censorship police.� Anyone who had followed the back and forth knew who you were talking about. When the argument is over (especially when it�s become sensitive), DROP IT! Forgive and forget; that is what Christ did for us. That is what we need to do for others, especially our fellow Christians.
To manofgod�..really sir? I haven�t seen a comment by you through the entire argument and you jump in now to hurl an insult and insinuate violence. You must understand that you are just stirring the pot with a comment like that. Say something useful or keep it to yourself.
To Two, if you�re reading this I just don�t know what to say to you. You are one stubborn guy. Sometimes it�s good, sometimes it�s not. Maybe pick your battles a little better and also have a look at James 3.
Now, as I said at the beginning, I�m sure some of you are offended or are angry with me. Please take some time to cool down and reflect on what I�ve said. Is it untrue? If it is then I apologize. My aim here is not to attack anyone but to bring to light certain issues. I am not perfect myself. If you feel the need to comment, then please feel free to do so. If I have crossed a line, then Admin, please feel free to drop the curtain because I won�t argue. If there is nothing else, let�s please move on with our lives and be CIVIL with each other.
I did state publicly that I'd contacted him in private.
I appreciate your opinion here, and I don't fault you for trying to make peace. I'm only speaking up because if we're going to discuss this topic (again), then we at least ought to be discussing the correct facts.
P.S. I submitted that too soon. I apologize that it came across that I hijacked your topic. As you can see, on the majority of the topics related to this, I've remained silent. I've been torn as to whether or not to defend myself. It's a hard call, and if I did make the incorrect call, then I am truly sorry. After much prayer, I did decide to speak up on your topic. Part of the reason is because it was geared toward making peace rather than arguing. I didn't want to step into an argument. Another reason is that with each passing topic on this matter, the actual facts are getting more and more twisted. It's important that we discuss the facts; otherwise, it's merely gossip. On the first topic related to this matter that I posted on, I was directly answering the OP's question/issue. Between then and responding to your topic today, I haven't spoken up. I've just let various individuals have their say about me.
As far as getting into heated discussions with Two in the past, I don't recall that, but then I took a break from this site for a couple of months recently and certainly remember everything I've ever said on here. I'll have to look through my history to see if I can locate what you're referring to, so that I can properly address the issue. You say you want us to drop this, but when you bring up new issues against me such as this, I have a responsibility to take it seriously. When I get a chance later/tomorrow, I'll look through my history and get back to you. Or, if you have a link to the topic in question, perhaps you could send it to me.
Stegoode,you have some good points,my anger stems from my protective feelings toward women(Pixy in this case)but if you go back through some of these threads,the attitude towards women seemed to be growing worse and worse.We are Christians,not Muslims.
The general lack of respect for women needs to stop,I do apologize for the lack of composure on my part.Its uncalled for.Furthermore topics such as sexual abuse should be approached with tact and empathy,there has just been too much pain caused by this particular brand of evil to take them lightly.I stopped posting in these forums a while back because instead of having intelligent theological discussions,I was constantly attacked for my views.These forums seem to attract a certain combative type of individual.Because of my past and my temperament(wich God is working on daily)I can be sucked into this fairly quickly.So I chose to take a break from here because it grieved my spirit,instead of edifying it.And with that said I will probably go away again until I see a mature group of Christians who are willing to discuss things in a logical,reasonable manner.My prayers for everyone on this site
It seems now I may be the one with egg on my face.
Pixy, I'm sorry to have said anything that was incorrect. I was not upset by anything you said previously as much as I was by the feeling my attempt at peace-making had been scuttled by others trying to have the last word. I was probably harder on you than I should have been simply because your post on the previous topic was the longest and drew my attention more.
As far as previous arguments with Two go, I don't have anything substantial to point you to. I wasn't lying in that I remember them or at least think I do. It is entirely possible that I am misremembering and replacing someone else with Two. My comment about how many times you reported Two should be taken with a grain of salt. I did say the number was alleged so it is more hearsay than a solid number.
I'm also sorry I said you were twice my age. I should have known to check since you are not even 1.5 times my age.
Manofgod, I am sorry to have been so blunt. I understand what you are saying about combative types. I often find myself trying to play referee. Don't go away over one issue. Everyone has their hot button issues that make them see red.
Chevy, since I'm sure you'll read this and probably feel upset by it, I'm sorry to have been so blunt and to assume I know you from my contact with you on the forums. My above comment is probably unfair.
In fact, after having calmed down a bit, I'm sorry to all of you. This topic was rather tactless of me to start in the first place.
Stegoodie, it's fine; no worries =) Thanks for taking the time to clarify things.
I'm not saying that I haven't gotten into previous arguments with Two, just that I don't recall them. I don't have a perfect memory. If you at some point come across what you were thinking of and think that it's something that should be addressed with me, you're more than welcome to message me about it.
As far as having the last word, I can see how things could be interpreted that way. I can't speak for everyone involved in these posts, but I can say that it's not what I'm trying to do. My primary goal has been to clarify the facts and to say my piece regarding the seriousness of sex trafficking and the inappropriateness of making light of it.
That said, unless someone else says something directly to me on this topic (that isn't attacking me), I'm going to keep out of it. I think I've clarified anything that can be clarified regarding my role in all of this, and those who want to verify things can always just go back and read the previous threads or click the "history" link beneath my name.
Stegoodie, I'm sorry I highjacked your thread. And you are right about the arguments between her and Two. They go way back.She has memory loss so its wise to click history if any of you want to see who she is. As for man42 he runs his mouth a lot. Usually when he contributes to any section here its to insult somebody. I'm not the first.
ah if only this were the days of teh collisium, we could all fight to the death and resolve our problems nice and 'neatly', fortuantely nowadays we have Jerry Springer (taken over Oprah) and internet forums to relate to one another.
I happen to think that both sides had a perspective to it; there usually are. Myself I have been know to literally have to bite my tongue at times.
Twosparrows seemed like an interesting chap, free with his views and I would have liked to have seen him round abit mroe. Personally I am saddened to have witnessed such a drama, after just starting to use the forums here. Hope him all the best in his future journeys.
Most of the issue seemed to be that people were responding, not so much to the what but the way it was said. Hope we can all become more Christ-like from it.
Good example of how men and woman communicate differently about feelings-which I previously posted on another thread.
Maybe the sexual slavery issue was too sensitive to discuss in this venue?It is a serious issue, no doubt. Without judging anyone, men are somethimes uncomfortable with woman's feelings and some of the methods used are to control the situation, which I see was done via humor or trying to make light of a weighty issue. The other way is to isolate or withdraw which I also see here because of the way men are uncomfortable about woman's feelings. We all interpret and respond differently, but can benefit from others attributes. I see many fine qualities in the individuals involved in these discussions.
