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Cleaning house. A letter to the readers of this blog.

sweep.jpg Reformation Nation was launched on August 10, 2007. Today, (our six-month anniversary), we reached our 80,000th hit. I have chosen today’s occasion to make a change to how things are done here. I am going to put a stop to the incessant anti-Christian, hate-mongering that some can’t seem to refrain from. In effect, I will begin cleaning house.

Many come in here and get angry with what has been posted. (Then they judge me, my intentions, and my heart while telling me not to judge.) They can’t see to figure out how to stop visiting this blog (like those who can’t find the power button on their TV and so complain about the content that they’re “forced” to watch). So in spite of being offended and despising what is said in here, for some reason they are driven to return time and time again. While here they spew their venom as they are “forced” to read these posts. In doing so they are compelled to leave their hateful, arrogant, condescending, and rude remarks wherever they see fit. It ‘s their way of being an example of “love” while they instruct us to be more loving.

Others come in here just to tell me–ad nauseum–what I should or should not blog about.

So I go to thinking, hey, whose blog is this anyway? And who is this blog for? As the tag line says, it’s for the “fellow Pilgrim” not the pagan rock worshipers, God-hating atheists, and any other group whose sole purpose in life is to take their anger and hatred for God and project it onto Christians. You see, they have no problem with nominal Christians, cultists, and any other group as long as they’re all fighting against those who are on the narrow path.

It’s also very quaint and apropos how each of these groups give the other little pats on the back in appreciation for one another. It’s amazing to see how nothing brings so many diverse and opposing groups together in harmony like their common hatred for genuine, non-conforming, non-compromising Christians. Nothing binds their hearts together quite like their common hatred for God’s elect.

I originally set a standard on what comments were acceptable, but I allowed that bar to be lowered for comments directed toward myself. For example, I have not allowed people to insult Mormons in here and have actually deleted comments in which the whole purpose of the comment was to make fun of Mormons. (Ironically, as I was writing this post I had to remove a comment that was hostile to Atheists that I felt was inappropriate. If any of you are interested in seeing what I deemed “inappropriate” I will be more than willing to e-mail the entire comment to you.) I understand that most don’t know these things because they don’t see what happens behind the scenes, but it wouldn’t matter anyway, because they think they’ve got me all figured out.

I, on the other hand, have put up with the insulting, rude, and vitriolic comments directed toward me and this blog, allowing them to remain in the public domain. (This type of abuse by those who keep claiming they’re loving–I understand–is part of the reason Ingrid stopped allowing comments on Slice of Laodicea.)

Well, starting today, this will change.

One individual who prowls around this blog like a roaring lion to plant his “seeds” has this very disclaimer on his own blog: “Contributing to this site is a privilege, not a right. If you are unable or unwilling to exercise tolerance for perspectives that differ from your own, I reserve the right to limit or restrict your access.” Of course this same standard of tolerance is not extended to me when he’s on my blog: It’s the classic “do as I say, not as I do.”

I also found this disclaimer by fellow Pilgrim, Jim Bublitz, on his blog Old Truth: BE OUR GUEST, NOT OUR TROLL. You are a guest on this privately owned website, but that doesn’t mean that you must agree with our views. However, if you find that your comments disagree more often than not, or if you think that you should hang-out here for the purpose of providing a regular, ongoing, “counter-balance” to our views, then this site is not for you. In such a case, we recommend that you open your own blog, and use it to express yourself there. In return, you can expect that our authors will abide by this same rule on your blog.

So after pondering these ideas, I have decided to follow suit and apply the same rules as these experienced bloggers have done. If you cannot comment on here respectfully and without personal attacks, or if the whole point of your comment is an attack itself (like this one: “What kind of false doctrine do you follow? Apparently you know more about my church than myself so enlighten me.”) then expect your comment to be deleted. I will also moderate some commenters specifically due to their incessant hateful comments.

I am happy to announce that as of today I am returning this site to its original purpose and intention; a lifeline for fellow Pilgrims. Does this mean that I will not accept any opposing views? Certainly not. It’s not the opposing views I have issue with, it’s the few people (normally Atheists, Agnostics, and the occasional Witch) who vicariously spew their hatred for God by attacking His people. You don’t have to agree with everything in here, in fact you don’t have to agree with anything in here, just as long as your comments are respectful and add to the discussion. If, however, you choose to camp on this blog just to insult everyone else, then I suggest getting your own blog if your addiction is that incurable.

In this world we live in everyone is permitted to have their own opinion on any subject, now matter how corrupt, perverse or outlandish that opinion may be. Everything is now acceptable and tolerated. However, Christians are supposed to conform to the “wisdom” of this world or “keep their mouths shut.” This of course is called “tolerance.” The views and opinions of those who have such a hate for Christians can be found just about anywhere in this world, but I will no longer provide a platform for their scoffing. I know some will be grateful for this decision; wondering what took me so long, and others will be angry; demanding that they have carte blanche access to say what they want. Well, you have abused that privilege and it is now henceforth revoked.

If there’s any parting words I can give to those who loath Christians, it’s this: Just hang in there, a time will come–and it won’t be very long–in which you can act out that blind rage and burning anger. The day will come when people like you will be permitted to put people like me to to death (Matthew 24:9-11). Granted, you may not be the one to pull the lever, but the powers that be will do so with your hearty approval and while you think you’re doing God a service (John 16:2). That time is approaching and it will come. You just have to be patient.

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. – Jesus Christ

John 15:18-19

0 thoughts on “Cleaning house. A letter to the readers of this blog.”

  1. Good on ya, Pilgrim!

    I actually had a guy who visited my blog and took a secondary offense to an imagined slight that I had given to a separate Anonymous commenter!

    But wait, it gets even better! Mr. Secondary Offense – as he shall henceforth be known – decided to anonymously comment as the original anonymous commenter to “test” me and see if I could be “humble” in admitting to a perceived error that Mr. Secondary Offense apparently dreamed up in his own fevered high-noon fantasies.

    Look, I don’t know the first thing about Mr. Secondary Offense, but I have to say that his duplicitous and trollish actions speak VOLUMES more about his character than his baseless accusations of “pride” speak about my character.

    Some guys…sheesh…go figure!

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  4. CD, peace dude. We got off on the wrong foot. I gave you a hard time about that verse, and I admit that I was wrong to judge your humility on the basis of your first response. I was especially wrong to liken you to a pig. I truly appreciate your zeal for the Lord.

    Please allow me to correct a few wrong assumptions about me in your comment above. I did not take offense at what you wrote to that other commenter–I honestly thought you missed the verse he was paraphrasing. It is true I was also interested to see whether you would accept correction, thus it also served as a test. As my comment was secondary to what you were posting, perhaps I should not have said anything.

    Second, I did not choose to be called “Anonymous”–your blog named me that because I did not fill in the name. I was not deliberately trying to pose as the original commenter.

    In the future, if our paths cross again, I will make every attempt to be transparent in my motives, obvious in my identity, and loving in my comments. Will you forgive my offenses?

    Grace & peace,
    -mark

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  5. As the pastoral advisor at the original Slice, as well as a contributor along with my friend Jim Bublitz of Old Truth, I can tell you that the above is precisely why all of our websites are as they are.

    You may take it from one who has for three years now been studying, dialoguing with, and now directly confronting “the conversation” originally begun in the Emergent rebellion against the Bible, and now which has spread to postevangelicalism, they are absolutely NOT interested in any actual conversation.

    It is strictly one skeptical and relativistic monologue. It’s fine with these self-described “Christ-followers” as long as you don’t give the opinion you actually disagree with them. However, as soon as you let them know that you believe they are wrong — and they are — concerning their man-centered version of what they’d like to reimagine Jesus said and suddenly these loving pacifists scream: “Off with your head!”

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  7. Dear Corem, Christos, and Mike: Thank you for your encouragement in this matter. And thank you Ken for your testimony that very little “discussion” goes on with some folks, thus requiring actions to be taken such as moderating and deleting comments.

    You guys should have seen the rash of “you’re censoring me” comments I received in the last 12 hours.

    Bryce, you have not been the issue that this decision was based on. Granted, as a Mormon apologist you disagree with everything I post about Mormons (actually not everything, some things simply can’t be defended). It’s those other individuals that take every opportunity they can to mount offensive attacks against Christians with downright rudeness. They add nothing to the discussion but their venom. Those are the ones this is about.

    And finally, in answer to Esteban C who wrote the following in another post regarding this issue: “I consider myself a fellow pilgrim. While I understand your motives, I am saddened by your change in philosophy for your blog. It is your blog and I respect that only you decide how its run , but I am on a journey looking for truth and I want to hear all sides even if I don’t like them. Thanks anyway for everything.”

    The problem was, Esteban, that there actually was not much of a conversation with these guys. It was all just rude and angry rants directed toward me and the blog. They weren’t offering much of a “side’ to the discussion.

    And I’m curious, if you consider yourself a fellow Pilgrim, what journey for truth are you on? “Pilgrims” as spoken of on this blog have found the Truth. They’ve also found the Way. And they’ve found the Life. His name is Jesus Christ.

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  12. Esteban (I mean, fivepointer)–Missed ya friend! Thanks for the hat tip!

    Bryce–I can say with more than a bit of assurance that Pilgrim was not directing this post towards you. As he said, we may disagree, but at least you are respectful in your disagreement.

    Pilgrim–Good call! These people sound like the beggar that comes to your house, gets invited in, then complains about the food you serve. If ya don’t like it, leave! (Oh, and I bombed on the test. I am a mean, miserable, hateful, judgmental old sot 🙂 )

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  13. Be encouraged, Pilgrim. I’ve just recently been visiting this site. I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far. Then I read this article, about cleaning house. Here are some thoughts from the Word. (And remember, some will call themselves Christian, and of course, we know that the Lord knows very well that they are not.) 2 Corn. 12:20 “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be sontentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults.” Galatians 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” James 4:1-2 “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.” As you defend the faith, contending for it full of God’s love as a servant of the Most High, remember that there are tares among the wheat that the enemy has planted to shipwreck the faith of anyone he can, and that the Lord knows those that are His. John 13:34 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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  14. I appreciate Recent Visitor’s thoughts on this. If I may, I would add one more thing: It is not only the tares (unbelievers) who engage in these things. One can be a true Christian and give delight to Satan as we neglect the work of the Lord while we fight among ourselves, something I have seen happen with alarming frequency.

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  15. I just found that the Reformed Gadfly was experiencing the same problems on his blog and posted this article just a few days before me.

    Good to see there’s so much love, patience, and tolerance being spread by the “I have a right to comment on your blog no matter what I say” crowd.

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  16. Yeah, man! – I was going to write this big long inquisitive reply, but this pretty much sums it all up: “Yeah, man!!”

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