New Profile Options - Date Accepted Christ, Baptism Date, Personal Testimony

[Erwin]

I changed the title from:

Salvation Date/ Years as a Christian

to:

Date accepted Christ / Years as a Christian

People who want to enter a date can do so.

People who just want to enter years can do so.

People who want to keep it private can also do so. :)

3 new profile entries are now:

1. Date accepted Christ / Years as a Christian

2. Baptism Date

3. Personal Testimony - How I Accepted Christ

Enjoy! :)

[Matrona]

1. Salvation Date (this used to be just Years as a Christian)

Can you please change that back to "Years as a Christian" only?

Orthodox find the idea of tracing one's salvation back to a specific date contrary to our beliefs. (And Catholics and some Protestants wouldn't be big fans of it either, I imagine.) Thank you.

[G4M5Y5]

Can you please change that back to "Years as a Christian" only?

Orthodox find the idea of tracing one's salvation back to a specific date contrary to our beliefs. (And Catholics and some Protestants wouldn't be big fans of it either, I imagine.) Thank you.


I like the fact that you can now put a date. I've always been admired that people can remember the exact date...it shows how important that date was to them. I would suggest that if an Orthodox believes that then they shouldn't put a specific date in that field because it does say years or date. Just thought I'd give a short opinion here.

[JD from Scrubs]

Can you please change that back to "Years as a Christian" only?

Orthodox find the idea of tracing one's salvation back to a specific date contrary to our beliefs. (And Catholics and some Protestants wouldn't be big fans of it either, I imagine.) Thank you.I am a Protestant Baptist... and I believe SOMEtimes (not ALL the time, mind you. But in certain cases) people can trace their actual UNDERSTANDING of their Salvation to a specific moment in time (even though God wrote their name in the "Book of Life" before ANYthing existed).

i, for one, support the changes to the profile. in fact, i have updated my profile accordingly. Matrona, i ask you to read my (extensive) testimony on how I became "Saved." Perhaps then you will understand how i can trace my Salvation to a specific day (even though i understand that my Salvation was scripted before the beginning of time).

Some of the stuff on the CF forum goes "against my beliefs" as a passionate Protestant Baptist. I have never suggested to Erwin to censor certain forums or posts or opinions because they are against what I believe.

If you do have a problem with these new changes, I suggest you NOT write anything in those fields. When you don't write anything in particular fields within your profile, absolutely NOTHING appears within your personal profile. Therefore, you will not successfully offend yourself.

gb&po (God bless & peace out)
J.Dizzle

[5solas]

Some of the stuff on the CF forum goes "against my beliefs" as a passionate Protestant Baptist. I have never suggested to Erwin to censor certain forums or posts or opinions because they are against what I believe.
:clap:

[Matrona]

I would suggest that if an Orthodox believes that then they shouldn't put a specific date in that field because it does say years or date. Just thought I'd give a short opinion here.
I was baptized in the Eastern Orthodox Faith, and I *would* put the date of that in the "years as a Christian" slot because that is when I feel I became a Christian. But I object to calling it my "salvation" date because of my beliefs as an Orthodox Christian.

[Matrona]

To make things clear, I am not objecting to being able to place a calendar date in that slot. I am objecting to calling it my "salvation date".

[JD from Scrubs]

Can you please change that back to "Years as a Christian" only?

Orthodox find the idea of tracing one's salvation back to a specific date contrary to our beliefs. (And Catholics and some Protestants wouldn't be big fans of it either, I imagine.) Thank you.
Dear Erwin,

As a Protestant Baptist Christian, it is against my beliefs to consider "Agnosticism," "Atheism," & "Paganism" as true Denominations or Faiths. I am writing to ask you to delete them from that field within the profile options. You see, having those options available offends me and my faith because you would equate my Salvation and my Lord with these alternative practices.

Thank you,
-J.Dizzle

p.s. THIS WAS MEANT AS A SARCASTIC JOKE, EVERYONE!!!

p.p.s. Matrona, I don't mean to start a fight or an argument with you. I am just making this sarcastic joke to make a point as to how ridiculous you are sounding.

[countrymousenc]

Matrona, maybe in the "Salvation Date" slot we could write "past, present and future?"

(If it's big enough; I haven't looked yet. Y'know, I have another dilemna - under Baptism Date do I put the day - which exact date I don't remember - that I was baptized or the date that my baptism was completed and I was chrismated?)

And "Personal Salvation Testimony" - even unfinished (which it must be for now) how much bandwidth does Erwin want to give me, because that would amount to an autobiography, y'all know? :D

(Frankly, I might just leave it all blank.)

[New Creation]

I tried to put a brief salvation story in the box available and filled it (and then some) but it was significantly reduced when I checked my profile. Is this the case for everyone? I also had to reduce my prayer request.

[Crazy Liz]

I'm not thrilled about several of the newer profile items because they seem to be things that only mean something to Evangelical protestants. Many Christians would look at them and say "Huh? :scratch:"

I just don't fill them in, but I wonder if we're going to include so much detail in profiles whether we might at least add some that non-protestants would relate to, such as patron saint, name day, favorite prayer, etc. Would the protestants be offended to see items such as these in the profile?

[Oblio]

I just don't fill them in, but I wonder if we're going to include so much detail in profiles whether we might at least add some that non-protestants would relate to, such as patron saint, name day, favorite prayer, etc. Would the protestants be offended to see items such as these in the profile?


Amin !

Saint: St. Christophorus
Nameday: May 9
Prayer: Lenten Prayer of St. Ephriam the Syrian

Poor Erwin, I am afraid he stepped on a landmine, and I am sure he was just trying to help :sigh: As to the OP, TBD works for me ;)

[JD from Scrubs]

I just don't fill them in, but I wonder if we're going to include so much detail in profiles whether we might at least add some that non-protestants would relate to, such as patron saint, name day, favorite prayer, etc. Would the protestants be offended to see items such as these in the profile?
I didn't even know some of these things even existed. I am a recent born-again Christian, so my knowledge of the Christian-world broadens everyday! I personally wouldn't argue against such things; i would personally just leave them blank.

I realize that this is a metaphorical can of worms that could keep going...

* What was did you eat for your "Last Supper", the night before your baptism where you "died, were buried, and rose again in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ" (i had Fish...:) )

* What were you wearing when you were Baptised with His Holy Spirit

* et cetera, et cetera, et cetera

The list could go on and on and on.... Ultimately it is up to Erwin to decide where to draw the line, and how much bandwith he wants to appropriate to such matters in a futile attempt to "please everyone."

btw: Thanks for the information, Crazy Liz! I was not aware of some of those things... that's pretty cool!

also btw: I realize i don't speak for EVERYone... but i, for one, don't find you that cRaZy. ^_^

gb&po,
-J.Dizzle

[Matrona]

What is the big deal?!

What the heck is wrong with just changing it back to "Years you have been a Christian" only?

[Crazy Liz]

btw: Thanks for the information, Crazy Liz! I was not aware of some of those things... that's pretty cool!

also btw: I realize i don't speak for EVERYone... but i, for one, don't find you that cRaZy. ^_^

^_^ I guess I should have used the tactic you did when choosing my member name, and said "Crazy Liz from Dostoevsky." Then at least some people would understand. Two of his books (The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment) have a character named Lizaveta who is a Fool for Christ. I shortened it to Crazy Liz. BTW, in case you're interested, my avatar is another Russian Fool for Christ, St. Xenia of St. Petersburg.

[d0c markus]

I just don't fill them in, but I wonder if we're going to include so much detail in profiles whether we might at least add some that non-protestants would relate to, such as patron saint, name day, favorite prayer, etc. Would the protestants be offended to see items such as these in the profile?
Saint: Jesus of Nazareth
Favorite Prayer: The Lord's Prayer
Name day: Hmmm. Dunno what that is. Lets go with April 3

[d0c markus]

oh.... i dont see the big difference in years/ooposed to a date. One in effect dates thier "salvation" by placing a date or years to it. Years then becomes a matter of semantics.

I was saved dec 13or14th 2002
I've been saved/Christian 1 year 8 months or so

[Crazy Liz]

oh.... i dont see the big difference in years/ooposed to a date. One in effect dates thier "salvation" by placing a date or years to it. Years then becomes a matter of semantics.

I was saved dec 13or14th 2002
I've been saved/Christian 1 year 8 months or so

d0c, I think what they are trying to point out is that the Orthodox don't look at "salvation" and "becoming a Christian" as precisely equivalent terms.

[ExOrienteLux]

What we're trying to say is this: we Orthodox view salvation as a life-long process which, while it did indeed have a beginning, does not mean that making a one-time 'commitment to Christ' or having a 'savation experience' means that we've got a ticket straight through the Pearly Gates when we die. We have to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" as St. Paul says. In fact, if we're going to place a starting date on our salvation, we would almost have to say something like 'immediately after the Fall' or 'March 25, AD 1' or "Great and Holy Saturday, AD 33" or some such thing.

I'm not sure if that made sense. Oh well.

Anyway, I agree with Liz. It seems to be only fair to add some features that non-Protestants (or even liturgical Protestants, such as the Anglicans and Lutherans) could relate to, such as namedays (April 23), patron saints (St. George), or favorite prayers (Jesus Prayer/Prayer of St. Ephrem) or hymns (the Akathist).

Just a thought.

+IC XC NIKA+
Josh.

[Oblio]

Saint: Jesus of Nazareth
Favorite Prayer: The Lord's Prayer
Name day: Hmmm. Dunno what that is. Lets go with April 3

DM, I assume that you are being sincere and not mocking or ridiculing our faith :) That being the assumption:

Saint: One normally uses their Saint (or Christian) name while at the very least receiving communion and during other sacramental rites. I am pretty sure you would not like to be referred to as Jesus of Nazareth should you ever partake of those rites ;)

Name day: Is generally the day that your Saint reposed as that is the finish line of the race for them, and the beginning of their heavenly glory in being with Christ. It is the day we all look forward (or dread) too. Great and Holy Friday (which is variable) would be the appropriate day for Christ if it were appropriate to have Him as a patron Saint, which it is not :)

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Is this thread for real? Please tell me this is all a put-on.

I mean, would somone really pitch a fit because Erwin changed an OPTIONAL FIELD in our profiles? And would someone actually ARGUE the point?

Let me just point out that this change to the profile WILL NOT effect your salvation. Nor will it be held against you if you choose not to use it. No one's life should change either way and if it does, I think you need to examine your life and maybe take a few steps back from CF.

It's a forum on the internet that's loaded with millions of comments and opinions from people you've never met and probably never will. It's all ones and zeros when you get right down to it.

Go get a job, or a hobby or something constructive. Find out about the things that really matter in life. Maybe your passionate emotions can be put to better use.

[Oblio]

Find out about the things that really matter in life.


Ironic, considering the OP is about when you are saved.

[Matrona]

Is this thread for real? Please tell me this is all a put-on.

I mean, would somone really pitch a fit because Erwin changed an OPTIONAL FIELD in our profiles? And would someone actually ARGUE the point?
"Pitching a fit"?

All I'm asking is for one of the profile questions to be changed slightly so that it is back to what it was before. I'm not asking Erwin to build a 1/64th scale model of the Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks and provide all CF members with free Happy Meals from now until doomsday.

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Ironic, considering the OP is about when you are saved.
Go back and read it. It's about an option in our profiles.

For me to list the day I was saved or the number of years I've been a Christian is no important. What's important is that I am a Christian.

My CF profile has nothing to do with my walk.

[Oblio]

Go back and read it. It's about an option in our profiles.


Go back and read the thread. It's about fundamental differences in soteriology that is implied by the title and contents of the field in question.

[Mϋzikdϋde]

"Pitching a fit"?

All I'm asking is for one of the profile questions to be changed slightly so that it is back to what it was before. I'm not asking Erwin to build a 1/64th scale model of the Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks and provide all CF members with free Happy Meals from now until doomsday.
I wasn't addressing you personally, until now. It seemed like a fit from this angle. You are the only one of over 89000 members who (so far) is upset by the change.

It's just a profile. It really doesn't define who you are.
It's not like Erwin is asking you to build a 1/64th scale model of the Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks and provide all CF members with free Happy Meals from now until doomsday.

[Oblio]

For me to list the day I was saved or the number of years I've been a Christian is no important.


Fine. Then this thread should be of no concern to you, go take your own advice.

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Go back and read the thread. It's about fundamental differences in soteriology that is implied by the title and contents of the field in question.
I understand what the thread is about. You mentioned the OP. I thought you said what you meant to say.
As far as what the topic has become...this still boils down to making a change in an online profile. It won't effect your salvation. Can we agree on that?

If Erwin decided to do away with all the icons except Catholic and Protestant I would choose not to have an icon. What's the big deal?

[Oblio]

You are the only one of over 89000 members who (so far) is upset by the change.


Many of whom have less than 10 posts if any at all.
Matrona however accurately portrays the beliefs of 300+ million Orthodox Christians which by the way also corresponds to the beliefs of over 1 billion Catholics.

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Fine. Then this thread should be of no concern to you, go take your own advice.Team Peace, huh?

I have an opinion. Plain and simple. I stated it. You asked questions. I answered with more of my opinion.
Would you like to kick me out of this thread?
Fine...

[Oblio]

I understand what the thread is about. You mentioned the OP. I thought you said what you meant to say.


I meant what I said. The OP and the thread are inextricably intertwined. The field is about your salvation. To take your approach and reduce it to it's logical conclusion would be to ignore every bit of content on this board.


Would you like to kick me out of this thread?
Fine...


No (nor is that my job, I am a TAW mod), I am just not sure why you are commenting on something you don't care about and doesn't concern you :confused:

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Look, I wasn't even upset by any of this. I just laid out my version of common sense. Flawed as it may be. But to tell someone that a thread in the announcements section is no concern to them just because you disagree with their viewpoint is over the line.

[Mϋzikdϋde]

Matrona,

Please check your PM's and please accept my apology for being so brash in my comments.

[d0c markus]

DM, I assume that you are being sincere and not mocking or ridiculing our faith :) That being the assumption:

Saint: One normally uses their Saint (or Christian) name while at the very least receiving communion and during other sacramental rites. I am pretty sure you would not like to be referred to as Jesus of Nazareth should you ever partake of those rites ;)

Name day: Is generally the day that your Saint reposed as that is the finish line of the race for them, and the beginning of their heavenly glory in being with Christ. It is the day we all look forward (or dread) too. Great and Holy Friday (which is variable) would be the appropriate day for Christ if it were appropriate to have Him as a patron Saint, which it is not :)
Very Fascinating. But forgive me if im slightly confused. From what I gather, the st. names are what you refer to yourself as while taking the communion? So in essence now you are your "hero"? LOL I dont get it. And No, dubbing me Jesus is inappropriate, however I would take the compliment that I look like Jesus.

Why is it inappropriate to have Jesus as a saint? Surely he is the chief of saints?

EO is interesting but I must say I know virtually nothing about it. I'll have to stop in TAW sometime and have a good discussion. Or you could respond here.

[d0c markus]

"Pitching a fit"?

All I'm asking is for one of the profile questions to be changed slightly so that it is back to what it was before. I'm not asking Erwin to build a 1/64th scale model of the Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks and provide all CF members with free Happy Meals from now until doomsday.
I will.

Erwin can you build us a 1/64th scale model of the Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks and mail it to me, and can you provide us with free happy meals from now until doomsday?

I really think that would boost CF donations and membership and generally improve the happiness of its members. Although it would increase obeisity and probably cause more lawsuits against mcdonalds I think the benifits far outwiegh the consequences, not to mention I'll share my toys with you.

If you dont ask, you wont get.

[Erwin]

Can you please change that back to "Years as a Christian" only?

Orthodox find the idea of tracing one's salvation back to a specific date contrary to our beliefs. (And Catholics and some Protestants wouldn't be big fans of it either, I imagine.) Thank you.
I changed the title from:

Salvation Date/ Years as a Christian

to:

Date accepted Christ / Years as a Christian

People who want to enter a date can do so.

People who just want to enter years can do so.

People who want to keep it private can also do so. :)

[Erwin]

I tried to put a brief salvation story in the box available and filled it (and then some) but it was significantly reduced when I checked my profile. Is this the case for everyone? I also had to reduce my prayer request.
I fixed this - sorry I forgot about a setting. The whole testimony shows up now. :)

[* kittie *]

sweet. i like the new additions. :)

[AngelAmidala]

Senator Hat On

Just stopping in to remind everyone that this is the Announcements forum. Not a debate area. Not a discussion area. If you have suggested changes....you can post them in our Forum Suggestions area. If you're having problems with the feature...we have a Bugs forum to report that stuff.

Thanks for listening. :)

Senator Hat Off

[Matrona]

I changed the title from:

Salvation Date/ Years as a Christian

to:

Date accepted Christ / Years as a Christian
Thanks Erwin, that's all I wanted. You da man. :thumbsup:

[Michael the Iconographer]

To make things clear, I am not objecting to being able to place a calendar date in that slot. I am objecting to calling it my "salvation date".

I have to agree with Matrona. I do not object to putting a date on when I became a Christian. I became an Orthodox Christian on Lazarus Saturday 1999. Prior to this I was a Catholic Christian. I object to referring to this date as the date of my salvation. In short Orthodox do not view Salvation as a one time thing but rather a life long process. I am working toward my Salvation, but in the end it is God how decides if I am saved, not me. To say one is saved is to me a bit arrogant and removes any need for faith in God.

[d0c markus]

Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved


Paul you boastful arrogant man. Once dead in sin, now alive in grace thus he and the people he is referring to have been saved. But i hear what you are saying, work out your salvation - those are Paul's words, but one has to wonder what the whole picture says.

Markus.

[cdbowman1]

interesting indeed

[Bradford]

Just a meaningless post :)