Where is the Real Mr. Reformed?

C Mc — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 13:18:31 +0000

Someone, please help me! Did someone high-jacked Mr. Reformed's CD account? Is he one person or two people? What happened to Mr. Reformed of 2019? He started a thread of his own free will in February 2019, https://www.christiandiscourse.net/discussion/617/name-calling#latest. Where is this man who said...

"I wish to apologize. I have been talking with some members privately. While, I thought I had only used name-calling with situations of false teachers as Christ did, it was pointed out that I routinely do this as well for partisan political issues.

For that, I apologize to @Bill_Coley @Wolfgang and @C_M_

I also apologize to @Jan for contributing to a toxic environment and to anyone else who has been put off or offended.

I will refrain from this behavior with regard to politics in the future. Please accept my apology".

Was Reformed forced and under duress at the time of post? Regardless, Jan Posts: 277 February 2019:

"Thank you @reformed for apologizing publicly. This kind of behaviour is what Christ expects from us, contributes positively, and hopefully sets an example for future incidents".

And then later Bill_Coley Posts: 1,898 February 2019, said:

"I appreciate and applaud your candor, reformed. Thank you for that and for the apology".

Even the reserved and reflective Mitchell Posts: 536 February 2019, said:

"I appreciate your attitude Reformed! Thank you for posting your thoughts and setting a good Christian example! -- Grace and Peace"

One of the Mr. Reformed responded to Mitchell, saying...

"Thanks. For a matter of accountability, I hope there has been a noticeable difference in my postings the last couple of weeks.

Mitchell followed up with...

I think there has been a very noticeable difference. Also, I appreciate that you are a Christian of conviction and passion. I hope that never changes nor fades away.

To our chagrin, the "noticeable difference" has changed and faded away like a frozen stick of butter and a rose in the hot desert sun. I am not a mental hygienist, authorized to diagnose him, or recommend any treatment; so, I would limit myself to ask questions ("run in my lane"):

Can Mr. Reformed help himself to refrain from name-calling?
Was trolling everyone at the beginning of the new year of 2019, a tactic?
Was he sincere or playing a game with CD Posters?
Is this someone else, or was it then?
Is Mr. Reformed, pulling a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (a gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886).
Is he ill?
Is this a cyclical-behavior this time each new year (2020)?
Is someone impersonating Mr. Reformed?

Will the real Mr. Reformed speak to the CD Community? We like to know which of the person are you? If we can't help, at least we can pray with the understanding. CM

PS. This is not an attack. It's an inquiry to improve civility in these forums. CM

What's In A Name?

C Mc — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:15:20 +0000

“A name is a means of confirming someone’s social identity. A name is not a mere label of identification but an expression of its bearer's nature. The full expression of God's character is given in Jesus Christ, who has manifested God's name (John 17:6, 26, KJV).

Whatever is called by Yahweh's name is His possession and comes under His authority and protection. God wanted His character to be embedded in Jerusalem, in the temple, and in His people. A new name is necessary for those who develop a new character. This is a renewal of the promise of Revelation 2:17. When Jacob’s character was changed the Lord changed his name, for the purpose of a name is to describe the character.

A name is the “locus of qualities” or the “locus around which characterization actually takes place.” A name may also be a means of revealing character. See a for deeper study:

-- Brian C. Small, “The Use of Rhetorical Topoi in the Characterization of Jesus in the Book of Hebrews,” Small, Brian C. “The Use of Rhetorical Topoi in the Characterization of Jesus in the Book of Hebrews.” **Perspectives in Religious Studies 37 (2010):37
-- Chatman, Seymour. Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1978.

Names carry the past and the future also includes the present (e.g. "Marah"-- due to the fact that it has bitter waters, therefore the element of present appears). In another place, the Lord changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of many nations,” because He had “made [him] a father of a multitude of nations” (Gen 17:6). The new name expressed the promise that the Lord would manifest in Abraham’s future. Hence we see that names in the Bible could contain a sense of past, present and/or future. [See-- “What’s in a Name: Yahweh in Exodus 3 and the Wider Biblical Context,” Interpretation 33 (1979): 228].

As I said to Dave earlier in this thread-- ["The way people treat you is a statement about who they are as a human being. It is not a statement about you."]-- The Bible affirms that names often reveal the character of the giver, rather than the bearer of the name (for example, Leah naming her children in Gen 29:31–30:19). See, Meir Sternberg, The Poetics of Biblical Narrative: Ideological Literature and the Drama of Reading (Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 1985), 330–31.

When Jesus called some a name it was not to insult, shame or to put a person down: e.g.
"serpent", "vipers", "full of dead men bones" "liars", "blind guides", etc. It was a reflection of their heart and character. Jesus knew their inner being. Since many of us, don't know this of each, none of us should be calling anyone, anything, other than the name we have given here in these forums. This the same reason why we're not to judge one another (Matt 7:1-5). Let's remember, "... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7 ).

Let's call on the name, Jesus, and one another, brother. Peace and love... CM

Name-calling — Christian Debate

Where is the Real Mr. Reformed?

What's In A Name?