I'm quite hurt, and I'm not sure where this is suppose to go, but I will place this here.

[Landonholt]

I've read these boards for quite some time and considered the things that were posted. What the people upon these boards have said has piqued my curiosity, and interest in eschatology. I finally decided to join the forum to make constructive contributions. Upon joining, things went swell, however I have lately come to a very large speed bump.

I was judged (harshly and un-righteously) the other day for something I said. What I said was an interpretation of Bible prophecy that I brought up cause I found it interesting. If I was wrong, I felt as though I should be rebuked rather than trampled on. I felt likely the man that had his ear cut off by Peter in Gethsemane. Nevertheless, I brushed it off.

However, when I come back online and visited the forum this very night, I came across a message. I won't name any names, and will quote parts of it here:

"You also have another right......just stay home but don't sully a much valued right, like voting, by being a silly jack***."
*censored so as not to offend anyone or cause them to stumble*
"And, if you want to fight about this, step right up. I may be an arthritic old lady but I'll be happy to take you on. "

We're called to love our enemies, and yet I am a fellow believer and receiving a threat from another believer (a sister in the faith!) that she will 'fight' me. I'm deeply concerned by this. If this is how I am to be treated on these boards, I would rather leave and forget about this.

That's not to say there aren't those of you who have shown God's grace, and are very kind toward me and others. I'm not speaking to you. I've conversed with many people whom I greatly respect on these boards.

A message to those who have wronged me. My choice to leave (yes, I will no longer by coming to this forum any longer) does not mean that I have not forgiven you. On the contrary, I have forgiven you, and more importantly Jesus has forgiven you. I am, consequently, removing myself from a place where I have contention. Saul wrote a lot on contention in Proverbs, like it being better to remove yourself to a lost corner of the house than be around a contentious woman.

I write those of you who have sinned in your hearts, that God might lead you to repentance in your heart. I will pray for you.

Goodbye,

Your brother in Christ - Landon

[Landonholt]

I will remain here for a day or two to answer questions. If any of you have negative comments toward me, I would suggest to you not to say them, because I will not respond to them any longer.

[FaithInChrist]

I'm sorry if anything I said hurt you. I truly never mean to say anything that might hurt somebody. I really can understand your frustrations in not knowing who to vote for and I understand not wanting to vote for Romney. I personally am just terrified of having Obama has President again, especially if the Lord tarries and we are here to witness the next four years following the re-election.

Please accept my apology.

[Landonholt]

I'm sorry if anything I said hurt you. I truly never mean to say anything that might hurt somebody. I really can understand your frustrations in not knowing who to vote for and I understand not wanting to vote for Romney. I personally am just terrified of having Obama has President again, especially if the Lord tarries and we are here to witness the next four years following the re-election.

Please accept my apology.

None of what you said hurt me. The Lord used Nero, who dipped Christians in oil and burned them alive. If we should suffer persecution for Jesus, then very well. Of course, that doesn't mean I like him or what he does, nor do I want him in office.

You have certainly no need to apologize. You are no one of whom I was speaking. I hope I didn't lead you to believe you hurt me :)

[Bobbi]

I am so sorry that your feeling have been trampled on and if you stay on Rapture Forums they will be again. I am not justifying anything that people have done to offend you, but not all people who post on here are Christians and even when Christians do post offensive things you might need to remember they might be having a really bad day and are purly frustrated (bitter) about what is happeing in our nation and you choosing to sit out the vote because you don't like Romney puts another thorn in their flesh that Obama will be elected again. Sometimes when I post here I get quite a sting of rebuke from those "who are more learned than me", and I am just like you, "Why do Christians treat each other with such disrespect?" But we are all still being conformed to the image of Christ and forget that the Holy Spirit is our guide. In my case I go to Colossians 3:12-16 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in you hearts, to which also you were call in one body; and be thankful.

[Carl]

I don't think that many on this forum have not been bashed at one time or other. It just happens when something is posted that the members have strong feelings about. When I am on the receiving end it does seem different though.

Ultimately you are the one that has to decide if the forum is worth it to you.

God bless you whatever you decide to do!

[Chris]

Landon,
I'm a little privy to the situation and know the problem. I'd advise that you just hang in there. All forums have people that can be hard to deal with, talk to, etc. especially when it comes to Bible prophecy.

Why don't you join us in the chat room sometime and we can all fellowship in real time.

Just keep hanging in there, you're not the first person with this problem. God bless.

[LivnForChrist]

Don't leave us Landon. Hang in there. The Lord will work everything out. I'm sure that whoever it was
is feeling convicted in their heart. For someone male or female to threaten someone with bodily harm
is going WAY too far. If this was truly a church, it would call for some church discipline but since it's not.
Just let the Lord handle it. Forgive them and just try to forget it even happened.


PS I'm not voting either. I'm not voting for Romney just because he's a republican and I'm sure not going
to vote for Obama. I vote or not vote because I am grown and have earned the right to exercise my freedom
of choice....just like you.

[Suzanne]

Landon: I'm sorry that your feelings were hurt by someone. I understand exactly how you feel about not voting, because I feel that way too. I also felt like that during the last presidential election but went ahead and voted anyway. We are in the last of the end-times, and I don't really think it matters who gets elected. As I've posted before, both parties have had full control of both houses and the presidency in recent years, and neither side helped this country one bit. Jesus Christ is the only one who can save this world, and He will do it in the appointed time. God bless you,

[Suzanne]

Don't leave us Landon. Hang in there. The Lord will work everything out. I'm sure that whoever it was
is feeling convicted in their heart. For someone male or female to threaten someone with bodily harm
is going WAY too far. If this was truly a church, it would call for some church discipline but since it's not.
Just let the Lord handle it. Forgive them and just try to forget it even happened.


PS I'm not voting either. I'm not voting for Romney just because he's a republican and I'm sure not going
to vote for Obama. I vote or not vote because I am grown and have earned the right to exercise my freedom
of choice....just like you.

Sister, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings at anytime by not being considerate. I know that having Obama elected to the presidency was an event that was past its time. If this world was in better shape, I'd have a lot more hope for our kids, because most of them weren't raised with the prejudices that some of their parents were. I actually do have hope, because I know that Jesus Christ will soon show us all a new world where we all are able to love fully and completely.

[LivnForChrist]

No Suzanne no one has hurt my feelings about voting. I tend to stay out of Political threads for the
most part. I just wanted to let Landon know that he's not the only one who wasn't voting. I will vote
for other officials, I just won't vote for Obama or Romney...And FYI I have always been a Republican.
I just can't support Romney. What the Mormon faith believes about black people is disgusting. My fingers
would rot off before I vote for him.

[WKUHilltopper]

"And, if you want to fight about this, step right up. I may be an arthritic old lady but I'll be happy to take you on. "

I think she was just teasing you. I mean, think about an "arthritic old lady fighting". That was funny to me, but then again I'm twisted.

But you shouldn't bail because of this or other things. I promise I'll be more sensitive to you if I post anything related to your posts. I usually post "drive by" comments criticizing the situation (some an attempt to be 'funny'), rather than the person, but I'll express due care with you just to keep ya around.

I just can't support Romney. What the Mormon faith believes about black people is disgusting. My fingers
would rot off before I vote for him.

Yeah. I agree. But their "religion" magically changed around the late 70s or early 80's--at least went into the closet. Perhaps someone didn't wash their holy underwear when they came up with this one, but I think mainly the "change" came about mainly to recruit kids to play for BYU--I think this was the driving force for their "revelation". But to think black people are black because of "punishment" is nothing less than a spawn from Satan. Acts 17 makes it clear there is only the human race.

[livin_in_the_Son]

I have been personally attacked as well for posting my own opinion about a topic...it hurt because I felt that it was uncalled for, but then I put myself in the other poster's shoes, and realized they felt that I might have been bashing them as well.

When dealing with a the written word sans facial expressions, inflection, etc. sometimes it's hard to judge how a post is meant. I know that I come off strong too, so I always have to re-read what I write and see if it could be misunderstood, and I'll even post a clarification if I think that it might have been taken the wrong way.

I don't want anyone to leave, because in this time we are up against so many unbelievers, that we should be supporting each other and not picking each other apart.

I know that I might have started the rash of negative posts about voting with my comment about why bother voting if you were going to write yourself in...but I meant it truly as a question, because to vote that way waters down the votes from people who have a desire to get Obama out of office. I didn't mean anything negative by it, but I'm sorry if you took it that way. I don't want anyone to be hurt by me, because I don't like having it happen to me. I hope that you stay...

[Hannah]

Landonholt

If you were responded to in that manner then you should report it because we have rules here about how posters can treat others on RF. There is a little icon which says "report" at the bottom of a post which allows you to send a message to the mods.

The poster was obviously out of line and broke the rules with that reply.

The mods can only do so much, they cannot view every thread and make sure members of RF are behaving properly.

I have had a private message in the past with vulgar content (as in swearing & personal attack were included) and I had passed it onto the mods here to deal with the member that sent me the message. They had been dealt with and I have since forgiven and moved on.

Most of the board here are mature Christians who would not behave in that manner. It would be ashame for you to leave because of one loose canon.

We do have disagreements here from time to time but most end up being properly resolved. Even the Apostles had disagreements from time to time. Like Branabas and Paul. However in the end it is how we deal with these disagreements that matters and I know from personal experience we tend to forgive and work things out. In the end the reason Paul and Barnabas argued was over Mark. Paul was reconciled with Mark at a later date so all must have been resolved.

I hope you are able to get over your hurt. I understand, I've been hurt myself and had to work through it but I know I caused a few hurts here as well for which I am sorry and I have posted an apology or two for my previous wrong doings.

MT 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

MT 18:22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

EPH 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We can only be accountable for our own actions and God asks us to forgive and to cope with our brothers and sisters in Christ failings.

Know the Lord will heal your hurt, He has provided for the wounds inflicted on us by someone's hurtful words spoken thoughtlessly or in anger.

PS 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

PS 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

ISA 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Praying for your healing from this incident, In Jesus name Amen.

[Ducati]

I'm not familiar with this particular situation but I'll give my two cents from experience. I used to go on another forum - a "christian forum" - and was banned due to what they considered 'offensive' remarks.
I believe what I believe , if thats offensive - sorry. I will stand for the Truth in spite of someone else's 'feelings' about it.

My advise to you - don't leave - stand and remain standing , and if necessary - bite back.

[mattfivefour]

Naw, my brother— don't "bite" back ... "love" back.

[FaithInChrist]

Even with a few disagreements there is so much love on this board. If there is anywhere on the www.com to try to work things out, it is on this board. The blessings, prayers, love and knowledge to be gained, far out way any frustrations a person might have.

[Ducati]

Naw, my brother— don't "bite" back ... "love" back.

[ShilohRose]

I know how you feel. While I have not been personally attacked, I find some of the responses to be very cutting. People say things to each other that I hope they would never say to someone else in person. It is one thing to defend a position, but it is something else entirely to attack and/or belittle the person with the opposite opinion. I have concluded that some of these people who cut down others and seem to do it regularly, do not know that their words are cruel.

[Suzanne]

I know how you feel. While I have not been personally attacked, I find some of the responses to be very cutting. People say things to each other that I hope they would never say to someone else in person. It is one thing to defend a position, but it is something else entirely to attack and/or belittle the person with the opposite opinion. I have concluded that some of these people who cut down others and seem to do it regularly, do not know that their words are cruel.

We are all still imperfect in our everyday actions. There will soon come a time when we will be able to love the way that Jesus Christ meant for us to.