Subject: Thoughts on moderating discussion lists
From: "James Robertson" <[email-masked]>
To: "James @ Prophetic Network" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 14:27:35 +0200

Hi

As I have been preparing to establish our discussion list on divorce, I have been pondering the issues surrounding moderation of lists.

Please will you let me have your comments.

Please feel free to make use of this as you see fit.

Shalom

James Robertson

BODY OF MESSAGE

SUGGESTED CRITERIA FOR MODERATING DISCUSSION ON A CHRISTIAN INTERNET DISCUSSION LIST

by James Robertson

DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION

1. INTRODUCTION

Recently, in participating in a number of discussion lists, it has been apparent that it is very easy for discussion to become contentious and unfruitful resulting in dramatically increased volumes of postings many of which are not necessarily moving discussion forward.

As a consequence, it can reach a point where people may lose interest in the list and where newcomers find the list to be contentious and unfruitful and therefore do not actively participate or leave after a short period.

As we will, God willing, shortly be instituting a list specifically relating to the scriptural issues associated with reducing the epidemic level of divorce in the church, I have been praying for guidance on how this should be handled.

On the one hand, a list which is not moderated can result in items being posted in error or in unpleasant or inappropriate messages being posted. On the other hand, a moderated list can lead to the moderator being called to judge the suitability of postings which, in turn, can lead to the moderator becoming proud or imposing any bias that he, himself, may have, on the list. This can become particularly problematic where a list is intended for discussion of matters relating to scripture and faith and where the moderator finds a thread evolving in a direction which is contrary to his understanding but does not allow for the possibility that his understanding is in error with the result that the list becomes biased to his error over time.

This has repeatedly exercised my attention as I have participated in various lists over the past few years and has, in fact, been one of the factors that has caused me from hold back on starting up the divorce list. It IS important to avoid interfering unnecessarily in the discussion on the list BUT the list owner and his ministry will be judged if unGodly material, lies, abuse, etc are published on the list.

After considering this subject for some time, the following are the conclusions reached as a basis for discussion. In presenting this analysis, it should be stated that I have concluded that it is necessary to moderate a list for the following reasons:

2. MAIL SENT IN ERROR

People do from time to time inadvertantly select a wrong email address and may therefore send completely irrelevant items to the list.

In some cases these items may be of a confidential or personal nature which the person sending the mail really would not like distributed to dozens or hundreds of people.

By the same token, such mail could contain content which people on the list could find really inappropriate or offensive.

By moderating the list, such mail can be screened out.

3. DELIBERATELY OFFENSIVE MAIL

There does appear to be a legitimate concern that certain individuals might send mail to an unmoderated list with the specific objective of posting something which is highly objectionable or offensive.

There does appear to be an onus of responsibility on the person responsible for a list not to permit the list to be used in such a fashion. By moderating the list, such mail, if ever received, can be avoided.

4. OFF TOPIC MAIL

It has become increasingly apparent to me that it is necessary for a list to have a clear definition of what it's focus is. The moderator should then seek to restrict discussion to that topic. If the list is a general discussion list, then no moderation will be required. However, if it is a list concentrating on, for example, divorce and how to prevent divorce, mail regarding the healing of marriage is appropriate but mail regarding whether the rapture will take place before the tribulation is not relevant and should be avoided, unless as a headline notice to advise members of another list which is discussing such issues.

At the same time, the moderator should be willing to consider motivation from a person submitting a mail that is initially rejected, as to why the mail IS germaine to the topic of the list.

For this reason, it is necessary for the moderator to give a reason for rejecting any mail that is not listed and afford the person submitting the opportunity to amend the mail and resubmit OR to motivate why the mail should be posted.

5. UNPLEASANT AND ARGUMENTATIVE MAIL

There is a tendency for certain people to take anything said that contradicts their opinion as an insult and to start making use of judgmental and abusive terms. Words like "idiot", etc are not appropriate on a list that seeks to be Christian and can inflame the list and cause people to leave. Jesus said in Matthew 5:22:

22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. (NKJ)

Proverbs 26:21 states:

21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (NKJ)

The more we argue for the sake of arguing, the worse the situation becomes!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 provides a definition of LOVE which can be readily applied to moderating this type of mail:

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (NKJ)

There is therefore a need to restrict mail that meets these criteria. Again, the moderator should briefly respond, possibly quoting the above scriptures and request that the other party adjust the wording to remove accusatory, judgmental and insulting language.

6. JOKES, ETC

Most jokes involve a partial or complete untruth and often contains an implied or stated insult towards another person or group. The criteria of 1 Corinthians 13 provide a solid basis for dealing with this.

Proverbs 26:18-19 states:

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, "I was only joking!" (NKJ)

Furthermore, Revelation 21:8 states:

8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (NKJ)

Virtually all jokes, quips, etc contain an element of untruth and many are outright lies. Since Revelation 21:8 makes it quite clear that ALL (not some) liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, moderators have a responsibility to point this out to the person submitting and not to permit lies to be published on the list which will, in turn, bring judgment on the list and the list owner for publishing such information.

On a Christian discussion list which has presented itself as a serious forum for discussion of particular topics, it seems that there should be little or no basis for posting "jokes".

7. TALEBEARING

It is very easy on a list to get involved in discussing individuals and ministries, thereby touching "The Lord's Anointed". Proverbs 26:22 states:

22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body. (NKJ)

Talebearing is seductive and attractive to our carnal nature BUT we MUST avoid the temptation!

Psalm 105:15 states:

15 .... "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm." (NKJ)

In 1 Samuel 24:5-7 we read:

5 Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe.

6 And he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."

7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. (NKJ)

Here we see David, already anointed to be King over Israel but pursued as a criminal by Saul. Saul had already been rejected by Yahweh and was holding on to the kingdom contrary to the Word of God through Samuel. Saul was effectively pursuing David BECAUSE God had said He would give the kingdom to David and Saul wanted to prevent it. If David's heart should trouble him after he has cut off a "corner of Saul's robe" because Saul had ONCE been anointed of God, then surely, no person should touch Yahweh's anointed! Telling tales and speaking against other men and women of God IS SIN! It should not take place privately and CERTAINLY not on a discussion list or web site!

It is vital for a moderator to prevent this type of discussion. If there are general scriptural principles germaine to the subject of the list, then it is possible that such discussion may be permissible, but it should not take a form that identifies a man or a ministry.

Note also that all rulers in the world are appointed with God's permission. So it is not wise to even speak against them by name!

Proverbs 26:20 states:

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. (NKJ)

It is important that discussion lists should not become places where fires of denominational or other dissention within the Body of Christ are fanned and propagated.

Proverbs 10:12 states:

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. (NKJ)

If we hear of sin on the part of another brother or sister in Christ which is NOT DIRECTLY AGAINST US PERSONALLY, it is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS and we have NO BUSINESS PUBLISHING such information! Love COVERS SIN. We are told to restore such a one in Galatians 6:1-5:

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For each one shall bear his own load. (NKJ)

We should bear his burden and restore him. We are also told to examine OUR work. This relates also to not examining the speck in another's eye. Matthew 7:1-5:

1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?

5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye. (NKJ)

Accordingly, if there is sin or error in another person, group or denomination, it is not for us to broadcast that information. If we do, we will be judged and the list and list owner will be judged.

If Yahweh shows error or sin to one of His prophet's, it is the responsibility of that prophet to intercede for the person or ministry sinning and to go privately, on behalf of Yahweh to the leader of that ministry with whatever message is given to him by Yahweh. That prophet has NO BUSINESS discussing that word with ANYONE else, except in certain instances with another prophet where Yahweh EXPRESSLY permits such disclosure.

If a brother or sister in Christ sins against US PERSONALLY, we are to go to them privately, Matthew 18:15-17:

15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (NKJ)

If they do not listen to the aggrieved person or to that person together with one or two others, THEN TAKE IT TO THE CHURCH. The implication of this is that IF the relationship between the aggrieved party and the sinning party exists PRIMARILY ON THE SPECIFIC LIST, then that list constitutes the "church" for those two parties.

In other words, if the sin takes place ON THE LIST or in an OFF LIST discussion, then the list moderator and perhaps one other should be approached to communicate with the sinning brother or sister and ask them to repent. If they DO NOT, then this sin should be told to the church which is represented by the list on which the parties met. It should NOT be reported on other lists unless there are a network of lists which are closely associated and which, collectively, form a "church" on a particular subject.

Remember also Titus 3:9-11:

9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (NKJ)

Clearly we should not get embroiled in disputes, contentions and strivings about Torah or scripture. Unfortunately, today, there is great lack of clarity on the truths of scripture, but that does not mean that we should get embroiled in disputes. The next section contains a proposed approach to resolving disputes on a Christian discussion list.

8. ENDLESS DEBATE

Something that I have observed on most lists is a tendency at times to get locked into endless debate. The topic goes round and round with neither party being willing to let the other have the final say. The process becomes time consuming and tedious for all concerned and quite frequently seems to degenerate into insults, etc.

At the same time, there has to be a distinction between throwing the same information around in different fashions as compared to progressively seeking greater understanding in order to make an informed decision.

This may well be the area where moderation is most important, but moderation with wisdom is essential. Some time ago, it occured to me that the process followed in court would be a useful guide in dealing with situations like this. In other words, when a moderator realizes that a debate is becoming circuitous, abusive, etc. He could declare an end to the debate by applying certain principles based on court procedure.

a. THE APPROACH USED IN COURT

For the sake of communicating this point, let me summarize the court procedure as I have experienced it in South Africa.

i. The plaintiff is called to the witness box and is led by their advocate in presenting their plea and case. All relevant facts concerning the matter in dispute must be presented. The plaintiff MAY NOT raise new issues after the initial pleading.

ii. The plaintiff is cross examined by the advocate for the defense. This takes as long as the defense advocate requires and the defense advocate must obtain clarification on all points of difference with his client's testimony and defense and take all necessary measures to identify anomalies in the defendants evidence and pleading with a view to demonstrating to the judge that the plaintiffs case is unfounded and that the defense is in right standing before the law.

iii. The plaintiff is then re-examined by the defense BUT ONLY FOR CLARIFICATION. The witness is NOT ALLOWED TO CONSULT with their legal representatives during the period of cross examination or prior to re-examination. The objective of the re-examination is to afford the defense the opportunity to clarify any point which may not have been clear which may have caused confusion during cross examination. The plaintiff may NOT raise any new issues apart from responding to new issues raised by the defense. The objective is to obtain CLARITY on the plaintiff's pleading and position.

iv. Defense witnesses are called and examined first by the plaintiff's advocate and then they are cross examined by the defense. They are then re-examined by the plaintiff's advocate, as for the plaintiff. Again, neither party can recall a witness except at the request of the presiding judge and then, ONLY for clarification NOT to raise a new issue.

v. The plaintiff's advocate then sums up his case and finalizes the pleading, the defense advocate responds with his defense and pleading as to why the case should be dismissed and the plaintiff's advocate then has a final right of reply.

vi. The judge then deliberates and makes his judgment, sometimes days or weeks later, generally in writing.

vii. This is the end of the process unless one of the parties goes to appeal. Appeal follows essentially the same process.

b. SUGGESTED APPROACH TO BE USED BY LIST MODERATORS

Based on this approach, it is suggested that once a moderator becomes aware that a debate is not progressing to conclusion, the moderator could apply roughly the following procedure. This procedure assumes that there have been several rounds of email and that there is therefore no need to invite an initial presentation of the case. This process assumes that at the point it is initiated, the issues have been debated in detail.

i. Declare a decision to close the debate.

ii. Invite the person who posted the mail (the protagonist) that triggered the debate to sum up concisely, summarizing their key points, scriptures, arguments and conclusion. There should be a clear cut conclusion.

iii. Invite any others in favour of the case to submit one last email in support of the position BUT ONLY if it adds materially to the summing up presented by the original protagonist.

iv. Invite the person who has been at the forefront of the debate against (it seems to me that most times there is only one or two) to sum up their case against.

v. Invite any others who are against the proposition to submit one last email against the proposition BUT ONLY if it adds materially to the summing up presented by the original opponent.

vi. Afford the protagonist the opportunity to clarify and points raised where there was lack of clarity.

vii. Advise all parties that the discussion is closed and do not permit any mails to be posted on that topic for a period of, say, three months. Advise all readers of the list to reach their own conclusions.

viii. Given that the list owner has a particular objective and standpoint in establishing the list, it seems appropriate that, provided the list owner was not one of the key parties in the debate, they should have the prerogative to provide a concise summing up and finding of the outcome, as they see it. Note that if the list owner is one of the key parties to the debate, it might be appropriate for him to request another member of the list to moderate the above process.

9. KEY CONSIDERATIONS

While the preceeding points provide guidelines for moderators, it is important to recognize that the key reason for a list is to share ideas, answer questions and assist others to gain new knowledge that will be profitable for them in their Christian walk.

For this reason, many well meaning participants who are firmly persuaded of the rightness of their case feel that they must keep debating until the other person sees the truth that seems so obvious to them. They seem to feel that they have a responsibility towards others to ensure that they agree with them. Since we are all human and none of us see all the picture, this can result in pride creeping in or simply in debate that goes nowhere. The procedure advocated above will go a long way towards constructively ending such a debate without any party feeling aggrieved, however, it seems that there should be some guidelines that will assist list participants from getting trapped in this situation in the first place.

The first point to recognize is that Ezekial 33:7-9 provides a clear basis as to how we should deal with such a situation:

7 "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.

8 "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.

9 "Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. (NKJ)

Clearly, if we have been given a message or a truth by God, we are responsible for sharing it with others. If, however, that person does not receive the message, that is between them and Yahweh. We have no further accountability, PROVIDED we delivered the message accurately AND IN LOVE.

Consider also Matthew 4:1-11:

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "

7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. (NKJ)

There are some lessons to be learnt from Jesus' response.

Often on a list, the temptation is to prove ourselves right or to prove the other wrong OR even to prove to the other party that they are in error in order that they may come to repentance. None of these motives, although they sound fine, have any scriptural basis. God's love is about giving people free choice and leaving them to make their choice. So, as the passage from Ezekial indicates, we should simply give the message and leave it at that. If we do anything further, we should simply intercede.

The bottom line is that it is for each person to discern the true meaning of the Word of God and the truth in any word that is spoken, ostensibly given by God through a person who claims to be a prophet.

If the person IS a prophet and we reject him, we reject the one who sent him, Luke 10:16 states:

16 "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." (NKJ)

By the same token, if the person IS a prophet and we RECEIVE him, Matthew 10:41 states:

41 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. (NKJ)

Thus, there is a strong scriptural incentive for each of us to correctly discern the truth, for, after all, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 states:

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. (NKJ)

We MUST ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ and we should know the terror of The Lord. We should also seek to persuade men of the truth of the judgment and should be concerned about their welfare.

1 Corinthians 3:11-21 states that work which is NOT OF CHRIST will be burned on the day of judgment:

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";

20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: (NKJ)

Jude 1:20-23 confirms this and enjoins us to have compassion on some and to pull others from the fire:

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;

23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (NKJ)

Accordingly, we find a number of challenges. We SHOULD seek to share knowledge to turn others from sin to life and we SHOULD seek to pull those in deception into truth. HOWEVER, we saw earlier, if they will not listen after the first and second admonition or after they have been approached by several people and the church, they should be shunned. In some cases they can be handed over to Satan for disciplining. 1 Corinthians 5:5-7 provides the basis for this:

5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (NKJ)

This is a simple act of prayer to the Father in the name of the Son and it not the harsh action that most Christians believe. It is an act of Mercy. Human beings are not able to correct one another with regard to spiritual matters. The Father will correct us and we should leave it at that.

At the same time, we must be willing for the Father to judge US when we ask Him to judge another. In fact, we should ask for His judgment BEFORE we consider asking Him to judge another. If we are NOT prepared to accept HIS JUDGMENT IN OUR OWN LIVES, we should not judge others or ask Him to judge them.

10. GUIDELINE TO LIST MEMBERS REGARDING PARTICIPATION

While the above provides proposals for use by list moderators in moderating a list, it is apparent that it would be helpful to provide list members with a concise guideline. The following is proposed:

In seeking to contribute:

a. Are you seeking to share knowledge which you truly believe God has given to you.

OR

b. Are you seeking to gain clarification and greater understanding regarding what has been posted by another.

If your motivation is not one of the above you should probably not post.

Unless a person is honestly seeking information to assist them in their walk with God or to share that which they honestly believe God has given them, discussion is time consuming and fruitless and should be avoided.

It is suggested that this test should be applied by every person contributing to a list and should be considered by any list moderator when in doubt as to whether to accept a posting or not.

Note that there is no reason why individual parties should not continue with their discussion off the list. However, they should apply the same considerations.

11. CONCLUSION

A scriptural basis for an approach to moderating Christian Internet Discussion Lists is presented.

It is hoped that this will assist others in formulating an approach to moderating their own lists.

May Yahweh (The Lord) bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, King of Kings and Lord of Lords and saviour of the world.

James Robertson

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