Why some brethren are banned from the SermonIndex forums?

Saints,

It is always with great reluctance and long-suffering that we ever have to come to the place to remove an account and ban it from posting to the SermonIndex.net forum. We always seek to give much freedom in the discussions and do have reasonable community rules that are in place: https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=44556&forum=13

We also realize that as a moderator on a public forum with Christians from all different denominational backgrounds that we cannot ever please everyone or be in the place where all choices that are made will make everyone happy. But choices do have to be made at times.

What being banned from the SermonIndex does NOT mean:.

It does not mean that you are not a Christian who is going to heaven.

It does not mean that you are a Spirit-filled godly Christian.

It does not mean that myself or others would not fellowship with you in person.

It does not mean that you everything you believe is wrong.

But what it CAN mean when someone is banned from participating in the discussion forum section of the website:

It can mean that they are not speaking with grace and constantly attacking others.

It can mean that they are holding to doctrinal positions and constantly arguing them.

It can mean that they are not able to listen to any directions from a moderator or godly believer.

It can mean that there is an constant agenda in posting on a subject or retaliating against those who do.

For the sake of the testimony of Jesus Christ on this website we unfortunately do have to ask some believers not to post on the forums anymore and ban the account. This is something that is never done on a spur of a moment but with long-suffering over the situation.

To avoid gossip, mis-understandings and any confusion we are clearly sharing with the community that we have taken down these accounts from the forums so they cannot post:

jeffmar1130
Julius21
Rev__Enue

There has been a constant asking, warning and exhorting these brethren and others not to continue to attack each other, pursue a posting agenda on various topics. The Scripture below I believe speaks "in-part" to this situation. They are good brothers and I am sure fruitful in the ministries and local churches they are involved with. Yet on the forums here though they have all been a blessing to I am sure many, the debating and not finding unity or agreeance to disagree in grace has not been found.

This has caused continual dissensions and has become a work of the enemy of our souls to bring this atmosphere to other believers. It is not producing anything fruitful and at times the discussions have brought shame to the Name of Christ. We are all guilty of this in part but we must not allow a habitually practicing of this believers believers world-wide.

Philippians 4:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

The forums are a benefit for some believers for a season and many read and reference them or find them in searches.

May we seek to be full of grace, love, gentleness and truth in our postings and realize a world is watching and our Lord is recording all.

Bill

Perhaps you are overestimating the importance of this forum.

There is so much in the word that our little finite minds will never understand, once we all realize this, SI will become a much friendlier place to visit.

Brother,

This is a wonderful suggestion and I am not sure how easily it could be implemented but what we could suggest to saints is to try and make minimum posts to each thread and when making a post to take time making it very meaningful and well thought out. I believe as you said this would remedy quick answers that go back and forth and usually start to name-call and pick on minors.

We have so much we do not understand or fully know and that is a wonderful example you are sharing that we should all have humility built into our responses, threads and answers.

For anyone who reads this thread perhaps they can consider your thought there to make a more meaningful answer into a thread and not multiple shorter exchanges.

Perhaps you are overestimating the importance of this forum.

Brother, of course there are many more important things, but the forums are a part of this ministry and testimony beside these godly sermons that it is at least "important" they do not detract or ruin the testimony of these messages being on the same website.

On another realated issue, can I ask if you can give reassurance that there are not posters on here with multiple sign in names. It has been known to be the case in the past and suggested that this could still be the case. I for one would be very reluctant to engage in discussions with folk if I thought this was a possibility. It's just dishonest!

Brother,

Agreed. This is absolutely not allowed and if anyone tries to do this and is found out the account would be immediately removed. This is "un-Christian" to have multiple sign-ins and playing games in the dark in this way. It would be behaviour in the real world off-line that would be very wrong.

Let us commit to pray for the website ministry and forums that the Lord Jesus Christ would be honoured and glorified and saints encouraged in their walks with the Lord.

It had to be done. And it was done well.

marcmc

We should also insist that people use their real birth names when signing on to SI.
Emailing a copy of their birth certificate to the moderate and signing a pledge form that they will post only using their real birth names and nothing else should be enforced. If they are women and have taken on the husbands name that would be okay.
And IF one is caught posting under more than one name he/she should be severely reprimanded and spoken to in a harsh manner. This must not be tolerated!
No handles should be allowed such as the many ludicrous names people use in this place. Whats with names like Anonymous, bearmaster,natonforjesus, appolus, Crispy and thousands more ?

I misplaced my birth certificate when I was "born again"!

C'mon...a bit much. What next, government security clearance? We are not all "out to get" SI, but actually respect and trust this venue for its "sufficient" legitimacy in developing a place to share the joy of God's Word with anonymity.

Love-in-Christ (without having to know THAT much about you, except that you belong to Him, too).

kyp

I'm so sorry to see this happen, as I feel partly responsible. I posted some things on persecution and things got contentious pretty quickly. Had I known this would have happened, I wouldn't have posted them. Please forgive me for that. To share the love of the Lord and make sure words are seasoned with salt and full of grace is so important. However we respond to others is how we treat Jesus. It's easy to misunderstand how someone may be saying something because you can't hear the tone used. I pray that we all grow in grace with discussions that glorify the Lord. God bless all of you.

We should also insist that people use their real birth names when signing on to SI.
Emailing a copy of their birth certificate to the moderate and signing a pledge form that they will post only using their real birth names and nothing else should be enforced. If they are women and have taken on the husbands name that would be okay.
And IF one is caught posting under more than one name he/she should be severely reprimanded and spoken to in a harsh manner. This must not be tolerated!
No handles should be allowed such as the many ludicrous names people use in this place. Whats with names like Anonymous, bearmaster,natonforjesus, appolus, Crispy and thousands more ?

Brother,

we actually do encourage the real "first name" to be used and that appears in all new registrations on the website. This brings more reality to the discussions and is something that we have encouraged for over a year as the signatures now show the first name field.

Also towards multiple accounts we are actually quite serious that this is not allowed and something that should not be done. If you do have multiple accounts this would be good to share so that we could resolve that. This is not a fun internet forum that just allows everything under the sun, there are hundreds of Christian forums like this on the internet. Rather we want to see a godly benefit and testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ by the interactions of the body of Christ here online.

"We should also insist that people use their real birth names when signing on to SI.
Emailing a copy of their birth certificate to the moderate and signing a pledge form that they will post only using their real birth names and nothing else should be enforced. If they are women and have taken on the husbands name that would be okay.
And IF one is caught posting under more than one name he/she should be severely reprimanded and spoken to in a harsh manner. This must not be tolerated!
No handles should be allowed such as the many ludicrous names people use in this place. Whats with names like Anonymous, bearmaster,natonforjesus, appolus, Crispy and thousands more ?"

The irony of this post on THIS thread is remarkable. This is either a 12 year old boy or a very immature person writing. If it is a child then these highly inflammatory and sarcastic remarks can be somewhat excused but this child like all children who get out of line should be disciplined.

If this is in fact an immature adult then I do not know for the life of me why they is still here? As Doug said, this website is something the Lord raised up and should be respected as such. Those who come onto this website to cause trouble, to snipe, be sarcastic, demean others and generally behave like petulant children should first be disciplined and if then they still refuse to show humility they should be asked to leave.

All things should be done in order and each of us must learn to respect others and consider them more important than ourselves for this is the true Spirit of Christ.

Notdarkyet says we should use our real names? Taking the Mickey l think.

Perhaps Notdarkyet would like to set the example and tell us his full name or at least his first name.

Before Greg opened up the membership he signed me up under the old account as Bearmaster. My signature is Brother Blaine. But people also know me as Blaine Scogin.

Notdarkyet would you please set the example and do as the honor and tell us at least your first name. It probably would be a lot easier to post back to you them posting NDY or Notdarkyet.

BB which stands for Brother Blaine. Or BBS which stands for Brother Blaine Scogin.

...delayed sense of humor...

[I apologize in advance if this post is inadequately "meaningful"]

...however...brenda7...you just used one of those cute UK euphemisms (I. e., "taking the mickey")...

It brought a smile of familiarity to my face...thank you...it was FUN...It is okay for the Word of God to be FUN, yeah? I certainly hope so, as I oftentimes finds myself laughing heartily through the OT...esp. when it holds up the mirror.

"A person finds joy in giving an apt reply”” and how good is a timely word!" (Proverbs 15: 23)

Serious Love-in-Christ,

kyp

Pleased you enjoyed it :)

I have not used my real name because I have asked for prayer a number of times for my family who are not walking with God. I have felt that if they happened on my requests, they would feel betrayed on a public forum. Is this not ok? Please let me know if you want me to remove my account...

Sister,

Sorry if there was confusion with my comments towards the real name. What we have done is request that new registrations have a first real name that they share as part of signing up. That name shows automatically on the bottom of every post of theirs in the forums. The usernames do not have to contain the real name at all. This has brought more reality to the discussions I believe.

For those who have already signed up we are not demanding that people have to use their real name as their signature, as they were not strictly asked to before they signed up. I hope that is more clear and we have already seen fruit in this where there is more a sense that people are conversing with other "real" people on the forum and not just random names on the internet. I believe it helps with the mentality of having profitable discussions but is not the solution in of itself.

Towards seriousness in the forums we do want to maintain this. Over the years we have reminded saints many times that the forums are not a chatroom or instant messenger but a place for meaningful constructive discussions. A few threads in the past were full of one liner posts like a chat box and really were not profitable for people to re-read or reference to.

The Words of God are much more serious then other subjects in our lives, so there should be more of a sobriety then other things.

Titus 2:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness

Titus 2:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

1 Peter 1:13 New International Version (NIV)

Be Holy
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Good word bro Christopher.............bro Frank

When are y'all Beloved SI Moderators gonna lock out this thread?

As it is not producing LOVE...

Love-in-Christ,

kyp