An invitation to all the "lurkers"

[abelisle]

I would love to find out what our 4000+ registered users are thinking about Adventists by reading the varied active posts from the last few weeks?

"Lurkers" are readers who don't participate. It's not a derogatory name.

I'm asking this question because I'm worried that you, the lurker, might be getting a poor picture of Adventists by reading the behavioral rhetoric presented by some posters.

In other words, we may not sound like we're good, loving Christians by how some of us attack each other in writing.

If you're a "lurker" or one who has rarely posted, please feel free to give us your opinion about what you see here.

Alex

[Neil D]

What is meant by "rarely"?

[abelisle]

You decide. Go for it. It sounds like you want to say something?

[Neil D]

mama always said that If you can't ssay something nice, don't say anything at all.....but Newspapers exist because evil needs to be exposed for what it is....

but in a forum like this, you can't expose those who are posting evil things..who hide thier greed behind thier religiosity... because, they just don't get it....They are tired of the endless needs to be filled.....

Oh, they recognize them...the endless needs...and it wears on them....they give till they want to say, "I'm done"...but they cant...because they aren't allowed to be "done"...because they will lose a part of thier christianity...themselves...

So, they justify their actions by posting the reflections of others who also mask their Christianity....They justify thier principle of not giving by making the recipients worthy of the gifts...If they ain't worthy, no gift...

Oh, and they say that they do contribute to help the poor...by paying thier taxes so that the goverment can help the poor...of which they have a lot to say about how goverment spends THIER money to those who are also not worthy...[not realizing that it is NOT thier money at all}

hypocrites these people.......sad people....

[HappyFaith]

I'm not a SDA (I am Methodist on fathers side and Jewish on mothers side) but a friend of mine is who wanted me to look at this forum. My friend is member here. I hope you do not take wrong what I write, but it seems to me that there are a lot of SDAs griping about their religion. That is sad.

From what I can tell, SDA is not sola scriptura like you want it to be. Please do not misunderstand me. From all I can see here it looks like you have set this Ellen White as the same as Virgin Mary or Joseph Smith. Maybe I am wrong but that is how it reads to me.

You all argue a lot but do not get much accomplished. I do not understand why you argue.

[Gail]

Well, Happyfaith, I for one am glad that you did come to visit us! (Sorry but I'm not as lurky as some others here... but I hope you'll forgive me)

I share with you the joy that comes from a walk with Jesus :)

[M. T. Cross]

I was a lurker for 9 years

[HappyFaith]

I think I must apologise for my statement earlier. This is a Adventist forum, is it not? So, of course you will be talking about Ellen White. She has written many good things and I was wrong to criticise your beliefs. But as a outsider I look in here and see much chaos and little chivalry to each other.

I will try to write in the WHO AM I section when I have more time. For now, I am woman, born on island of Cypress, but have lived other places, and travel very often.

[Gerr]

Welcome to this forum.

BTW, Ellen White's roots were deep in the Methodist Church. Check out some or all of her books. She is probably the most prolific woman writer in history. I am quite certain that John & Charles Wesley would resonate well with her most popularly translated into other languages book, "Steps to Christ." And I doubt that you will find a better exposition on the life of Christ than her, "Desire of Ages;" or her best eschatological work, "The Great Controversy."

[phkrause]

I think I must apologise for my statement earlier. This is a Adventist forum, is it not? So, of course you will be talking about Ellen White. She has written many good things and I was wrong to criticise your beliefs. But as a outsider I look in here and see much chaos and little chivalry to each other.

I will try to write in the WHO AM I section when I have more time. For now, I am woman, born on island of Cypress, but have lived other places, and travel very often.

First let me say welcome to the forum, and secondly happy Sabbath. I do agree that there is entirely to much hammering on each other, it does make one wonder. But like all others of other denominations or those not in any church family, there is always gonna be in fighting. I'd say we probably get that from our home upbringing and than apply it to everything we do. Some are very vocal others are not. I do believe it would probably be very boring, at least here on earth. When I think about it I often wonder if God wants people in his Kingdom that only know how to argue. Its one thing to have an opinion, but quite another to tell others I'm right and your wrong. You'll find that especially in the politics forms. Anyway I do hope and pray you'll stick around and give your opinion without someone insulting you. It does take a strong person sometimes to handle some posters.

[Guest]

I was a lurker for 9 years

Then what happened?

[Gerr]

It may seem like there's a lot of hammering because there are also ex- or non-SDAs who come to the forum who have some issues with some SDA doctrine.

[Kev_427]

I'm a lurker! I just joined a few weeks ago. I agree with HappyFaith, we do argue alot. And yes, the Adventist church is just another imperfect church, but I think we should try to discuss things we can can agree with, rather than topics that cause divisions. The church is called to preach the gospel to the world, and we're wasting our time arguing. I don't mean to make you all feel guilty, I do it myself. But I think we need to put more of a focus on our mission. As Adventists, we believe that the latter rain will fall after we are united. This doesn't mean that all the liberals will be sifted out or vice versa, it means we all need to grow together as a church. Of course we shouldn't compromise, but we can only achieve unity one step at a time. "No city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25

Anyway, I do like this site and the purpose it serves.

Kevin

[Woody]

Great Topic Alex. I'm enjoying reading this. But as a non-lurker I had best not comment. Bring it on LURKERS. Love having you here.

[LifeHiscost]

From what I can tell, SDA is not sola scriptura like you want it to be. Please do not misunderstand me. From all I can see here it looks like you have set this Ellen White as the same as Virgin Mary or Joseph Smith. Maybe I am wrong but that is how it reads to me.

I'm interested in knowing how you believe God will fulfill this promise in our day.

"Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets."Amos 3:7 NLT

Is there some Scripture text that tells something more about what Daniel was revealed, as given by the angel? Or should we see God as providing a source as He promises, from a prophet He has said would reveal His plans? What say you?

"I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?”

But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means."Daniel 12:5 NLT

Maybe if we don't know what it means, we might be classified as not having the wisdom necessary to know what it means, and we save face by picking apart the Word to suit the intelligence we do have.

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Anyway I do hope and pray you'll stick around and give your opinion without someone insulting you. It does take a strong person sometimes to handle some posters.

And I second that motion, which is dangerous after the last post by myself. I hope Happy Faith understands we're all just human beings aspiring to a higher calling.

Welcome to the roundtable, Happy Faith.

" Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind."Romans 14:5 AMP Out of context but the principle is true to form. LHC

God blesses!

[HappyFaith]

LHC, the Morman religion also has a prophet, Joseph Smith. His writing is what Mormans look at to interpret the Bibel. It is my understanding of Adventist theology that you are sola scriptura. Sola scriptura means you can rely on the Bibel to prove all of your doctrine. I do not think Adventist theology can be proved only with the Bible. Perhaps I am wrong. Your use of Ellen White seems to supercede the Bible at times. Even on this forum is a whole area devoted to her.

I do not mind the Adventist need to rely on Ellen White to interpret the Bible. If it helps people to be closer to Christ then I see nothing wrong. She is a good authoress, but I do not see her as prophetess. What has she prophesied that has come to pass? Maybe of some thing I am not aware.

This forum has nice members. My American friend was correct.

(I do not see how to use smilies here. Do only paying members use them?)

[kailooa]

I've been lurking for several months.

At first I was excited to see that a variety of topics were covered here. I am a very non-traditional Adventist and I was hoping to see that there are people I can relate to within my own religion.

Unfortunately I see a whole lot of legalism, judgment and rigid thinking, without as much consideration for varied viewpoints as I had hoped. And while I was heartened to see that political topics are discussed, it seems to me that the political "discussions" follow the same lines that they do elsewhere, where actual reasoned debate of conflicting viewpoints is shut down quickly by the inability of the participants to consider other points of view. Sign of the times, I guess. And I could have missed the more nuanced discussions so far. I haven't been reading much, only some of the threads that are highlighted in the weekly newsletter.

Anyway, I'm glad the site exists, and it's fascinating to see other Adventists interacting online. I live a big chunk of my social life online so it's nice to have a place where Adventism is the focus, even though I have not been moved to actively participate. Yet.

[Tom Wetmore]

You might have a go at the topics in the Original Thoughts forum. It takes a somewhat unique spin and non-traditional is very much welcome.

[fccool]

Lurkers? Lol. That word certainly does not subconsciously conjure up a negative view of the people discussed.

To Lurk:

a : to lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose

[phkrause]

Lurkers? Lol. That word certainly does not subconsciously conjure up a negative view of the people discussed.

To Lurk:

a : to lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose

LOL fccool, good point.

[Guest]

(I do not see how to use smilies here. Do only paying members use them?)

Click on the button labeled:

"Switch to Full Reply Screen"

at the bottom of the reply screen.

[BibleOnly]

Interesting. I've just joined here, I'm looking for a chance to talk to Adventists about their beliefs, so I can understand how you regard the Bible to support them.

I don't see anything odd about people disagreeing in discussion, and I thought posts like 'SDA pastor found to use porn' ( I noticed that one just now ) to be a little silly.

No organisation should be judged on the basis of it's weakest members, the church is human, and if the SDA is the church of God, the Bible indicates it will contain backsliders.

None of that is an indication of what the core of the SDA is like. So, muckraking to me reflects badly on the people doing it, more so than on the group being attacked by pointing out the weakness of a few members, and I think it's normal for a group of religious people who use a forum, to end up using it to discuss points where they disagree, without there necessarily being any ill feeling.

My impression of the SDA is more negatively impacted by my experience talking to people who tell me things that I don't think the Bible supports, and then can't explain why, which is why I wanted to post here in the first place.

[Stan]

Good to have you here, and I understand what you are saying 100%

We have found that if you make every sentence it's own paragraph it will be easier for folks to read.

[Overaged]

Welcome "Lurkers."

We are glad for your input here!