From: billc@housing.msstate.edu (Bill Chapman)
Subject: Re: Now ... Just what ARE Polemics?
Organization: Housing Department, Mississippi State University
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 02:40:18 GMT

In article <CHRISTIA%92112007260598@ASUACAD.BITNET> Jesse Irwin Carnes <NOTJIC@LSUVM.BITNET> writes:
>Date:         Fri, 20 Nov 1992 08:22:04 CST
>From:         Jesse Irwin Carnes <NOTJIC@LSUVM.BITNET>
>Subject:      Re: Now ... Just what ARE Polemics?
>Dear Bill Chapman ;
>
>All I can say to you is that I am extremely SAD at the state of affairs on
>the net ... as a whole.  

I have been out all day, and just poured through all the posts that have
appeared on bit.listserv.christia since I posted this morning at 6:30.
We must be reading from different Newsgroups.  There was so much prayer, 
praise, sharing and Christian joy, that my heart was filled to bursting with
the excitement of Christians sharing so much with others who are known
only by name and the spirit of their posts!  And I remember that our Master 
has said that the world will know us by the love we have for each other,
and it just excites me!  I am extremely EXCITED at the state of affairs on
Christia.

>I am quite amazed that you, as a Calvinist, are
>taking a fairly relaxed position about all of this.  Lives are at stake ...
>souls are at stake.  I really astonished.

As I have said before, I may be a Calvinist, because I have agreed with 
so much of what I have read of his, but I would rather be called a Biblical
Christian.  I have not read all of Calvin, but I have read all of the
Bible.  And what I see is so many of the elect using the net to bring
glory to God by sharing that precious gift He has placed within them.
I see the net as one more way that the "...Glory of God shall cover the
earth as the waters cover the sea!"  And I am not relaxed about all this;
it makes me want to stand up and shout for joy!

On the other hand, your post perplexes me.  I remember posting things
in response to some of your posts in which I beseeched you to be more
charitable and Christlike in the attitude of your posts.  I do not 
remember contradicting any of the points you made in the posts.  Indeed,
I have agreed with most of your posts on interpretations of the Bible.

There were times when I had to really stretch to stay with you, like
the times when you define terms so precisely that most of us, and the
dictionary, could not keep up with you (polemics, free will).  Yet,
if I understood what you were really saying, and I did try, I agreed.
On the other hand, I also understood and agreed with lots of those who
argued with you.  I just don't think y'all were really communicating,
sort of like parallel lines that never meet.

Oh, yes, I have seen some posts from witches, moslems, homosexuals, etc.,
and they encourage me to pray more, and to be more careful in both
how and what I say, hoping that they might see, both in my conduct,
and in my content, the glorious light of the Christ who wooed me by
His spirit, and subdued my rebellious heart, and turned me from my
own way to His way.

>Tom Brewer feels the same way as I do and there are others ... but I shall
>not mention them without permission.  I am really perplexed.

Well, if we are to put it to a vote, and begin to drop names, I could
probably match you, name for name.  As a matter of fact, I have gotten
more encouraging private mail in the last two days since my heart was
burdened to speak to you, than I received even when I had urgent prayer
requests for my family--and that says a lot!

But I am not trying to be a men-pleaser.  As encouraging as their support
is, my words to you have been heartfelt, in hopes that you would see
me as one who agrees with you, but has problems with your methods.  I long
to see the "bowels of compassion" in your posts.  I long to see you 
present the TRUTH so patiently, charitably, compellingly, and beautifully 
that men and women are drawn to the Lord, and look forward to what they
can learn from the gift the Lord has placed within you.

--
Bill Chapman, Box 1262, Mississippi State, MS  39762
<BillC@Housing.MSState.edu>           (601) 325-2042
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia