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Ex-CES Followers Dialog Board
By Entering The Forums, You Agree to Abide by the Following Rules.
We hope to be able to keep this an open forum, but that depends on you. As a rule, we don't plan on censoring messages, even if we disagree with the content or doctrines expressed therein, as long as you conduct yourself in a Christian manner. (That means to be kind one to another.) We won't, however, allow personal attacks against another member of the community. Such messages will be subject to removal from the board and, if the situation persists, the poster will (reluctantly) be banned from the board. We also won't allow profanity, in keeping with the scriptural admonition against corrupt communication. We want to keep these forums a positive experience for all involved.Forum Rules Update: We do now have a couple additional rules, necessitated by the actions of a few disruptive visitors: First, do not post a link to a site unless you first describe in your post what the site is about. Too many people are posting links with cryptic messages that lead to sites that, frankly, most of our visitors would never go to if they knew what the site was about. If you post such a link without describing the site it links to, it'll either be deactivated and we'll add a description of the site or the post will be deleted, depending on the nature of the site itself. So don't do it, okay? Finally, we ask that you don't post duplicate messages in several forums across the message board. If you post a message that you think fits in more than one category, please don't repeat the entire message in other forums--just add a note telling visitors the basic topic of the message and that they can read the entire message in the forum in which you first posted it. If you post duplicate messages, we'll delete the duplicates as we find them and leave only the first one that we find (and if it's not in the most appropriate forum and we don't think to move it, you're likely to get fewer people reading it). Thanks for adhering to these new rules. Okay, you can continue on with the original forum intro text now. (But, hey, don't forget to visit the Special Announcments forum as your first stop after you get there for additional updates and, well, special announcements.)
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"But we're all adults here, aren't we?"
Yes, we are. But we're also Christians. And as Christians, we need to walk in love one to another. (That doesn't mean never reproving and correcting those who may be walking in error--but we do reprove with meekness. Iron sharpens iron, sure--but it doesn't bludgeon it.)
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So just what constitutes a personal attack anyway?
Flaming, name calling, casting aspersions on another's character or heart, ridiculing someone's beliefs or doctrines, or otherwise engaging in negative communications against another member of the community. (Let "Do unto others . . ." be your guide here--unless, of course, you like to be called names, etc.)
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What can we post about on the Ex-CES Followers forums?
Just about anything that you want that you think fits the overall theme and format of the forums. We've started several threads (called "forums" in this particular message community) in which you can post various messages about related topics. We've also included one where you can tell us what new forums you'd like to see so that you can post more specifically than in the more general forums. Many of the discussion areas are places for you to discuss problems with CES doctrines and practices (why, after all, most of us left CES), but you can also discuss what new things you've been learning or make recommendations to other believers about books, ministries, Web sites, or whatever else you've found that've blessed you. The main purpose is to provide a forum where you can share what you're learning about God's Word outside of an organization such as CES that's become, shall we say, rigid in its outlook. If that's enough to let you know that you want to participate, and you agree to the guidelines, go ahead and enter the forums by clicking the following link (and don't forget to check out the Special Announcments forum after you get there for new updates):
Enter the forums now
Still With Us? Bless your hearts for your stand for the Word!
Some of you may not yet be sure whether you want to participate in the forums. If that's the case, why not "lurk" for a while, see what others are posting, and then, if a topic really interests you and you believe that you have something to contribute, join in at that time. As noted, we may not agree with what you say or believe, but if that's the case, we're willing to dialogue with you and show you what we believe God's Word actually says on a topic. (If you still disagree, that's your privilege--all we ask is that you hear us out, just as we want to hear you out.) One last thing: These forums are currently set up so that you must register and provide the message board provider with a valid e-mail address. You can read the postings to your heart's content without providing either, but to post, you must do both. That doesn't mean that your e-mail address needs to be made public. You can designate it as private if you'd prefer not to have people contact you directly. And you needn't reveal your true name if you prefer to post anonymously (via a user name). (If you're still a CES follower or semi-follower or other regular, and you fear reprisals for posting, you can keep your identity private this way.) But if you want to be known and to make contact with others through this forum, you can use your real name and make your e-mail address public. It's up to you. That said, if you want to join the forums, click the following link now (remembering, of course, to stop by the Special Announcments forum after you get there for . . . well, you know):
So enter the forums already--OK?
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But wait--aren't you attacking CES with this very site?
God's Word instructs us to expose darkness (Eph 5:11). It also warns us to watch out for those who aren't teaching sound doctrine and to warn the Body of Christ whenever we detect such false doctrine being taught, even if by Christian leaders who otherwise are teaching and doing good. To rebuke the leaders of CES for teaching false doctrine or leading their followers into unscriptural practices is not an attack. We're all called as watchmen--and if we see spiritual deception or falsehood in the household of God, we're beholden to expose it. It saddens us that we need to expose such darkness within CES. We'd rather just forget it and go on. But we can't--not if we're to be true to scripture and to walk in love toward our fellow believers. If we let them walk into falsehoods and unscriptural practices that we've recognized without at least warning them, the responsibility for what happens to them falls on us, just as much as on those who lead them into that darkness. So we must speak out against CES and its leaders--and so must you, if you love your brethren who are still involved in some way with CES. God demands no less of us.
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But what about CES followers--are they welcome here, too?
Yes, they are. And so are the leaders of CES, if they choose to dialogue with us here in these forums. All that we ask is that they conduct themselves in the same manner that we expect of everyone. No personal attacks. No name calling. No unsubstantiated rumors or gossip. But they must be willing to take full responsibility for their actions and statements and to enter into a true dialogue with those who disagree with them. (Not the type where they can always get in the last word and then cut off any further rebuttal.) If they have the courage and the conviction of their beliefs to do so, we welcome them. But we won't coddle them nor ignore unscriptural statements or actions. We will offer scriptural reproof and correction where called for. And we expect them to do the same for us (and for all of you to do so, too). After all, none of us is perfect or even comes close. We're all human and the flesh often overcomes even the most spiritual among us. That is the beauty of the Body of Christ. Iron does sharpen iron when handled correctly--and that's according to the Word of God. So if you're a current follower of CES and what you've seen so far "scares you off," we urge you to look around a bit more before you leave. Check out the forums and other pages that we'll be adding to this site as time goes on. You may actually learn something that you didn't know--and are likely to learn a lot that CES won't teach you, whether you agree with it or not. We're all brothers and we'll all face our Lord at the Bema. We all want to hear him welcome us as good and faithful servants. Perhaps by participating in these forums (and even correcting us where we err), you'll do some small part in pleasing Him--or in helping others learn to better please him. Whatever. You're all welcome here.Standard Disclaimer: As is usually the case with any message board, all opinions, statements, and so on are the sole responsibility of the poster and may not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of the Ex-CES Followers Web site. So if you don't like something that someone else posts, as long as it falls within the rules stated on this page, please take it up with that poster, either on the board or through private e-mail, and not with us. (If, on the other hand, you see something that violates our stated rules, please do inform us.)Thanks. |
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