What is the Purpose of the Puritanboard? - EVERYONE READ

caddy · #41 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 11:29 AM

Thanks for bumping as well Bob. The Lord drew me to believe the Doctrines of Grace about 2-3 years ago. How rich my faith is knowing the Lord is even more in control than I had previously thought. I have throughly enjoyed this forum since I joined earlier this year. I appreciate the wisdom and the knowledge so many of the members display. It is nice to just come in and glean.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan

Thanks for bumping this, Bob. I appreciate the PB. My primary reason for being here is to help me in my understanding of Calvinism.

This board will do nicely for that purpose.

**BobVigneault** · #42 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 11:35 AM

Your welcome gentlemen but credit for this most recent bump belongs to Mr. Scott Bushey. Carry on.

***Semper Fidelis*** · #43 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevorjohnson

I enjoy the board as a forum to get questions answered - though I do see much sin displayed in how people post.

I agree with many people here on the PB, but if some of you talked to me like you post to others, I'd have to restrain myself from knocking your lights out.

With that said, I have been sharpened and have met many friends here.

{Removing log from eye}

Yes, there are some sinful posts. Thankfully this board is, on the balance, very edifying.

non dignus · #44 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 08:37 PM

I want to apologize to all the Baptists on PB for my attitude when I first joined.

But I want to keep you on your toes like Cato did for Inspector Clouseau.

HI YAA!!!

kvanlaan · #45 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 09:42 PM

I've got to say that I find the attitude here very relaxed, on the whole. I really don't mind someone taking the stuffing out of me so long as their argument is Scripturally sound and the motivation in doing so is pure, and to His glory.

To me, these boards are a wonderful training ground and the best place to work the kinks out of one's theology. Witnessing to others, being questioned on the 'why' of my methods/beliefs and having nothing to come back with except a very pregnant 'um...' and a pause shows poor planning and inadequate preparation - two characteristics that are not usually seen as effective witnessing tools.

PS - Trevor, from the photos I've seen, you just don't look like the knock-your-lights-out kinda guy. Big enough to do it, sure, but way too friendly and happy-looking.

Pergamum · #46 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 12:13 AM

Kvanlaan;

Thanks. A cheesy smile can cover up many a sinful heart! Yep, we are pretty content.

Although a good theological wrangling gets my blood up ever so often! Some things ARE worth fighting for - just as long as our same Team doesn't get killed by friendly fire.

JohnV · #47 (**permalink**) 11-02-2006, 03:53 PM

Thanks to this being bumped I've had a chance to reflect on these posts, and especially my own. I think I need to amend my post above somewhat, now that it's about two years old.

I've come to realize the characteristics that are intrinsic to an internet discussion board. There are many peculiarities, such as the coming and going of people, the wide margin of subscription to the standards of faith, mixture of different topics going on at once by the same people. Some things that we took for granted at first become sharp differences over time and exposure. Some assumed orthodoxies change with the membership and participation changes. I could go on. The point is that it is not as simple as a communion under the authority and leadership of elders who are answerable for their rulings and leadership. Mutuality takes on another dimension on a discussion board. I don't think that we've tackled that problem head on. And because of that we experience problems that at times cannot be resolved by any means available to us. Good men have left the Board, and some have stepped back on their participation. It's kind of like a lowest common denominator type of ecumenicity, only with the lowest bar a bit higher than that of evangelical churches.

The changes we've seen have a lot to do with the maturity of the Board itself, not just its members. Its been around for a while, and some patterns have emerged that take on the face of how things are done here. We have to be able to differ with these patterns freely, without reproach. On the other hand, we also have to be ready to recognize truths even when we are in disagreement.

On the whole, I've come to be aware of trends that transcend this board, that show the philosophical or cultural foci of our time. Being embroiled in an irreconcilable difference with my own church has made it more clear to me how people are taken up with current trends and persuasions, and often beyond the reach of the standards they claim to subscribe to. This cannot help but be reflected in my posts on this Board. There comes a time when some things cross lines that are not of personal views, but of cast-in-stone principles. How to deal with these in a loving, admonishing, and self-examining way is often hard to do because of the more free nature of the Board compared to a church setting. Some refer to this as getting a thicker skin. I tend to think that it requires a more careful and thorough approach.

All in all, we have to learn to deal with matters of our own maturity, as well as matters of the Board's maturity. We've hit a plateau, just like any discipline does after the initial steep curve. So let's be patient, and not expect the newness of the Board to continue forever.

Pilgrim's Progeny · #48 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 08:29 PM

*Bump*

I have been asked by non-members why I would want to be a part of this board, if your out there, please read.

It's interesting that I bump it on the eve of the anniversary of the last bump. Happy Reformation Day!

et · #49 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim's Progeny

*Bump*

I have been asked by non-members why I would want to be a part of this board, if your out there, please read.

It's interesting that I bump it on the eve of the anniversary of the last bump. Happy Reformation Day!

Glad you bumped this thread. It started before I became a member so I enjoyed reading it.

servantofmosthigh · #50 (**permalink**) 04-13-2008, 05:32 PM

Well, things must have changed since 2004. Being one of the newer members here, the reason why I joined is because of the non-hostile, amiable atmosphere as long as everyone's Reformed/Calvinistic/Augustinian/5-Pointer/whatever-else-we-may-be-called-insert-here.

snap_dragon · #51 (**permalink**) 12-30-2008, 02:04 PM

Definitely a Godsend and like Wheaties for my intellectual and spiritual development.

Re4mdant · #52 (**permalink**) 12-30-2008, 02:43 PM

I would just like to thank everybody for the goodwill that I have experienced and I hope I have offended nobody if so please write me, sometimes I have a weird sence of humor and that can offend sometimes I have been told (still working with it)
I am glad to know all of You, even the people who promote "tough love"

ManleyBeasley · #53 (**permalink**) 12-30-2008, 03:04 PM

I also love it here. The PB has been a huge blessing to me.