I'm glad to see that most people who have posted replies have either agreed with or accepted my decision to ban adelpit; however, I would like to clear up a few misconceptions regarding this forum.
I did not create this forums to prove my beliefs. I did not found Tribe of Judah or help found Christian Gamers Alliance as apologetic organizations. I do not feel I am under any obligation to allow "free speech" on our forums when people's "free" speech is costing me ten dollars a month.
This is a Christian forum, designed to gather and build up fellow Christians. When I see that people are tearing down what we believe, I will ban them. I do not apologize for doing so. If you believe this is overly harsh or reminiscent of secular military regimes, then you do not understand the purpose behind this ministry and I ask that you consider leaving these forums and not returning.
The reason I have allowed this forum to remain is the hope that people will discuss even controversial topics with love. I Corinthians 13 tells us that good works without love backing them is pointless and without fruit. If people are coming to this forum to force their viewpoint upon others, Christian or otherwise, they are not acting in love but a pride that wishes to see others bend to their ways.
An evangelist that is out to prove the world wrong and himself right is not truly an evangelist at all--he is a nuisance. We do not come with a message of condemnation but a message of hope. We are to preach the message of a saviour whose infinite grace has provided a free path to eternal salvation and a greater life than we could ever live rebelling against Him. We cannot attain salvation by our own works but instead only accept it and give thanks.
I have no trouble with people disagreeing with us in a civil manner. There have been non-Christians in the past who have discussed controversial topics in the past without growing hateful and rash and we allowed them to frequent our forums and challenge our beliefs so we might be inspired to dig deeper and make our faith our own. I do not feel that adelpit came with a loving and submissive attitude and thus banned him for his rude and condescending posts.
I do not have the time to "prove" my right to authority over these forums. My first and foremost desire is to help my fellow Christians, those with an honest desire to know and love their Lord more deeply and dearly, increase in maturity and disciple others to do the same. I am not a police force except by necessity and, though it is the role I like least, I will fulfill it.
Those unbelievers that are honestly desiring to discover more regarding Christianity, if only to know of our basic belief system, I welcome you to stay here and become involved in our community. Those believers who wish to discuss denominational differences in hope of gaining a deeper surety and knowledge of your Saviour, I ask you do the same.
But I will warn those who post in these forums who use the claim of "free speech" and proceed to cut down others will be banned. As I mentioned before, I do not have time to justify myself in banning people from these forums. I have received no financial assistance in supporting this website whatsoever (excepting Daniel's generous donation of funds for our domain names) and I will not tolerate claims that others have a "right" to posting whatever they wish in these forums. You cannot walk into a person's home, knock over a vase and kick their dog, then claim you had a "right" to do so. It is not called "free speech" then, it is called vandalism.
Posting in these forums is a privelege, not a right, and it grieves my heart to see so many who have forgotten this.
I know that I am spending the majority of my post speaking to the very small minority of ungrateful members of these forums. Nearly all the members of these forums are Christians seeking to grow closer to the Lord day by day. I will not allow a few people to disrupt the Lord's desire to see these people grow, improve, and mature when I have every capacity to remove them from what is, according to my bank records, my web space.
I have, heretofore, been terribly hesitant to remove members from these forums. After this last incident, I am no longer hesitant but ready to ensure that those Christians who wish to serve their Lord, in whatever capacity they may, have a place where they may fellowship with others without harassment. In other words, I will ban if and when I feel it is necessary.
You have every right to disagree with my decision. I am not asking every person on these forums to agree with my decisions or leadership style. I am asking everyone to respect one another and, more importantly, our Lord. Let your words be inspired by love and not pride. I have a great affection for the people who obey these rules and those doing their best to do so.
I am concluding my post here to avoid repeating myself and rambling on. I do not wish to return to this post and it upsets me that I even have to say these things.
