How this Forum is Moderated

[Craig]

From time to time we seem to experience members who need to be reminded of our purpose in having this Forum.

We are writing this post with the hope that at a minimum you will try to understand, and at most we hope you will take to heart.

From time to time the moderators come under some fire for banning users.  This post is an attempt to let you know what we as moderators are trying to achieve on the forum.

As it states in the rules: This forum is primarily a place for people of a like mind to fellowship, and secondarily to discuss and question what they learn on bible-truths.com.

Our number one purpose is to "fellowship with those of like mind", most understand this without a problem, it is the questioning that seems most have a problem with, so we will address this.

The moderators have received emails and postings accusing us of being unloving, Ray's puppets, closed minded, Babylonians, etc.   We would be lying if we said these words do not hurt, but when we go to the Father with our prayers, our spirit is right and of one accord.

We moderators do not care what you believe, and all are welcome to fellowship on the board, unlike some Christian sites we are open for any Guest that happens along to read what is on the forum.  But we have a narrow set of rules defined as to the purpose of the forum and we will guard this with all our being.  Questioning as to trying to get a better understanding of what the Scriptures state as taught by Ray Smith is what we are here for.  This forum is for those of "like mind" to fellowship.  If you are not of like mind that is fine just don't post your beliefs, or debate here.  The moderators are not here to ferret out the truth of any doctrine or "feeling" that the members may have.

We as moderators will say one thing for ourselves; we can see the gifts each other has to lead this forum.  Discernment is a very important gift and speaking from experience we have been blessed to be correct in our handling of the members, if not immediately then over time our decisions prove to be the right one.  The membership does not see all that goes on behind the scenes with PM's, emails and posts before we make the decision to dis-fellowship ourselves with a member. And we moderators do not wish to make these dealings public, embarrass (some of their pm's and emails would be embarassing, and show their true intentions)), or "call out" these persons we have banned.  That is why you will not see it posted that someone is gone.

Banning a member is the hardest decision we as moderators make and at times we all look at each other to see who will "push the button" on a member.  Some members who are banned make it very easy, after one post we can see that they are obviously trying to cause trouble (trolls).  Others are more difficult but we try to give them the benefit of the doubt, after some time their intentions become known.  Still the hardest to ban is a member who has been in good standing for some time and then has a "revelation" and brings their own "teaching" to the rest of us.

If you ever catch yourself falling into the last group, please step back and remember the rules of the forum.  The moderators are not here to go through your teaching and decide if you are right or wrong (you may well be right), when we see these posts we will delete them, and you may be asked to stop posting these views, if you continue we will do what is necessary to protect the forum.  Isn't there enough that we can agree on?

We have been emailed over the years Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpeneth iron, and warned of following false prophets.  If you believe you are "iron", then go sharpen on any of a thousand forums and websites on the internet, if you believe that Ray is a false prophet then we will not try to dissuade you from your belief.   We just ask that you keep your opinions to yourself when you are on this forum.  Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Ray does not cover all that is within scripture but what he does cover we believe to be true; as such we try our best to keep discussions centered on Ray's teaching of the scripture and to keep out the leaven of other teachings.  If we didn't do this, how long do you think it would take for the forum to turn into chaos?  Who would you trust to determine what is right?  I say the Spirit revealed this to me and you say the Spirit revealed something entirely different, who do you trust?   What of this scripture?

1 Corinthians 4:14-15 - I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

There are many, many "would be teachers" but very few "real teachers" and it does not take long for the "wolf" to enter and devour the flock.  And the majority of the time, the "wolf" is good people who do not even recognize it in themselves.  Therefore we keep the teachings of this forum centered on Christ's teachings as revealed to Ray Smith; else who are you going to trust?  Yourself??

The apostle Paul could not be with every congregation he started and in short time falsehoods crept into the flock, and he admonished them with his letters.  A few years after his death, very little of Paul's teachings were intact.  What we have left is the doctrines, that Christ, now calls us out of.

One thing members must be somewhat wary of is those who post good words, emotional responses or their own authoritative understandings of scripture.  We moderators try to discern these posts for the membership, and hope that they will trust our judgment.
A verse comes to mind:

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

That has and will continue to happen from time to time.  And these type of  members are the most distructive to the forum if their masks are pulled back.  A good article for all members to look at is  http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3719.0.html or http://bible-truths.com/audio/love.mp3 Ray's teaching on love.

There are those who have been members, emailing current members stating "Ray is very blessed but he is just a man" and that "the BT forum looks to him for all the answers".  To the first statement we say of course he is a man, and second we do not look to him for all the answers, but as for the truths he has presented; yes we do hold his teaching of scripture over any other "man" and their belief on what the "spirit" tells/leads them.  People claim the spirit is leading them this way and that all the time, honestly, do you really trust that spirit or person?  We believe the majority that are here, for the first time, have heard the "Spirit of God" through Ray's teachings and recognize it as such.  But, if not, any member here is free to listen to whatever "spirit" leads them.  We just ask you abide by our forum rules.

We know that there are those out there that will read what is written here and try to pick it apart and apply jaded views on what we are saying and do their best to say "see I told you the moderators, or the forum is wrong, following Ray not Christ".  That is not what we believe and to those of you that say this, we say "we are sorry for you and hope you can find peace with yourselves in this life".

The forum should not be the end all in your search for the truth, but it will give you some solid ground by which to continue your journey. Members are free, and welcome to visit and join other forums on the internet, our prayer is that you will not be misled and be able to recognize if their words are truth.  The moderators do not want anyone to be a member here who does not feel comfortable and if you are of that mind we wish you well in your search.

Remember this, if the forum was not moderated closely then it would be closed.  The pupose of the forum is to give the few who agree with Bible-Truths and its teaching a place to fellowship.  It's not a religious forum to get as many members as we can.

God Bless

The Moderators