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OFFENSE . . .

'Tis easy to be offended when we have thin skins or chips on our shoulders or are generally just hyper sensitive and/or insecure.

But if God is our High Tower . . .

our Defense

the need for OFFENSE is far less.

An open forum is for an open excahnge of ideas.

For many years hereon, RC's were able to stomp around rather bombastically and shred all and sundry for not being smart enough or righteous enough or traditional enough or whatever enough to be super holy, super righteous RC's.

I don't know if it was because of some well connected RC's or just because they tended to throw absolute hissy fits when things didn't go their ways or when they were

sufficiently OFFENDED as to be outraged to the point of ranting and raving against some hapless bloke of a different perspective.

They seemed to have one after another RM cowed to their tantrums.

Thankfully, now, we have a gracious but firm RM who has some perspective and balance. He expects the RC's to have as thick a hide as others and to deal with their own chips on their own shoulders in a more or less mature way.

Sadly, he can't even expect that very consistently because the RC's are soooooooooooooooo adept, automatically knee-jerky and skillful at throwing hissy fits over every remotely possible slight to their edifice,traditions, icons, the list is endless of things they are instantly ready to take offense over.

I used to think that one of the major doctrines of the RC faith was TO TAKE INSTANT OFFENSE at any and everything less than lauditory about the RC edifice etc.

I think the most apt exhortation in the face of such lop-sided bias is:

GROW UP.

If we have to, y'all have to. Goes with the territory of the heavy exchanges on an open forum. Don't like the heat--get out of the kitchen. At least stop the whining as though it were a cardinal sin to disagree and crucified y'all bodily at every point of disagreement.

Maybe it's the . . . padded comforts of the structure; the thousand and one confirmations that one's getting all the required rubber stamps on one's spiritual passport which the RC edifice so liberally provides. I don't know. But this chronic whine is not historically accurate vis a vis my observations on FR. For years, RC's bloodied most everyone else with RELATIVE impunity. And if a hint of the favor was returned, it was the OTHER folks who got banned.

Now things are much more equitable and balanced. And the RC's have to tote their own bale and carry their own water and avoid whining--behaving like grow-ups--like the rest of us. Oh darn.

Most of us OTHERS are not that impressed with the whining. We haven't found whining amongst the list of fruits of the Spirit.

We realize that the RC edifice has no end of authorities to go running to with a whining complaint. But that's not really the structure FR was set up on. Thankfully.

We have a tireless moderator who graciously donates endless hours trying to heard a bunch of rabid cats with a few rabid dogs thrown in for interest.

He does an absolutely remarkably admirable job that Solomon would--likely does--admire. And still RC's whine seemingly endlessly.

In an open forum, it's likely that hyperbole, satire, ridicule, . . . a host of things will be used for emphasis, venting, carelessness, indigestion, gas, insecurity, hurt pride, spite, whatever. Goes with the territory. RC's have used and continue to use plenty of the same in the other direction. BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT. Rahhhhhhght.

IF the RC edifice is so flawed OR FRAGILE that it cannot well take whatever kind of human assaults and insults . . . then it's a lot less substantial than I thought it was.

If the best that the RC folks can do in response is to whine to the authority about how poorly they've been treated when they have demonstrated plenty frequent habits to behave at least as badly as those they are whining about . . . . then they and their position is more pitiable than enviable.

NO! This is not about to become AGAIN, more of an RC private pond where all others are to be routinely intimidated into at least more or less submissive silence.

Some of us have strong theological hostilities at JW and LDS doctrines but we are still able to treat such FREEPERS with some measure of civility and respect. We may shred the doctrines with vigor and intensity and still cherish the fellow conservatives.

It's not impossible to do.

I've often wanted to use this or that phrase because I felt it would starkly, vividly, awakeningly POTENTIALLY wake some RC folks up about this or that excess. But it's either been deleted or I self-censored. And that's not because it was inaccurate or a personal attack . . . it was largely to merely because it jangled RC tender sensibilities too much to put up with the fallout from. Score one for tantrums and intimidation.

Anyway--I applaud the RM for an excellent job well done in the face of many impossible pressures and forces. I wish him a long life and a long tour of duty.

From my perspective, if any group on here had any LESS justification for whining than the RC's, I can't imagine which group it would be.

No other group throws a hissy fit if all forum members don't treat their super elevated, extrapolated, pontificated, embellished Mother with God-like reverence.

No other group throws a hissy fit if their pet icons and traditions are not treated with adoration and awe by all other forum members.

No other group throws a hissy fit if their ORGANIZATION is not treated by all other forum members with kowtowing and obsessive genuflecting.

The list could go on.

This is a rough and tumble forum. It cannot be otherwise with such emotionally laden eternal issues topics and principles, truths. Most of us have grown not only accustomed to the RM's standards but have learned to enjoy them and support them. They are a breath of fresh air.

His objectivity and equanimity are awesome--truly Spirit-led and humble. Yes, I know he has his own sensibilities and biases--but that he is so able so consistently ALL THE TIME to lead so overwhelmingly in such a Christ-like fashion in such an evan-handed way is a sure testimony of what God has done in his life and by graciousness--through his model of leading and his repeatedly patient exhortations--what God may be achieving more and more in OUR lives. What a miracle that is.