IronMonk's methods

[Anna]

I've seen IronMonk given some grief over his methods at times, but I don't believe it has ever stopped him in his determination, nor dampened his conviction.

A friend who recognized this name emailed me this post from the Catholic Answers forum, and I just wanted to share it with y'all.

Max, Here's to you!!! CHEERS!
[quote]
[b]October 14, 2004, 07:54 PM 
twf 
Senior Member  Join Date: May 18, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 302
 

Re: One Mediator

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I'm so sorry you felt you had to leave Christ's Church. I'm coming the other way...as have tens of thousands before me.

I’m a former Evangelical Protestant who has been firmly convinced that the Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded…and thus am planning to convert. About two years a go or so I was spending a lot of time on a Christian message board called Mount Biblical Sense. [color=red]There, a Catholic, who went by the alias Iron_Monk, spent a lot of time defending the Catholic Faith, debating with Protestant members (the majority at that particular board) and providing a lot of Catholic apologetics material.[/color] I started looking into some of these works (reading articles at websites like Catholic Answers), and after a few months started to wonder if it was possible that the Catholic Faith was true. I continued to read online Catholic apologetics material and started to get really worried…what if it was true? What if my Evangelical faith was wrong in many key doctrines and concepts? At one point, probably during December 2002 I was really worried and concerned…I was in a heavy state of confusion. I prayed quite a bit, and in the new year I felt God had showed me the truth when I started reading some articles at a couple Evangelical apologetics sites that re-convinced me that the Catholic Church was not the true Church, and that the Evangelical Faith was most Biblically sound. So for several months during 2003 I was full-heartedly Evangelical once again. Probably in the late summer, I felt drawn back to the Catholic Answers site. I started reading a bit there again, and that started the second phase of my investigation into Catholicism. I started looking at many pieces of online Catholic apologetics material…stuff at Catholic Answers, ScriptureCatholic.com, Dave Armstrong’s mega site (http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZINDEX.HTM) and others. [color=red]I also chatted quite a bit, over MSN messenger, with the same person who went by the alias Iron_Monk at Mount Biblical Sense---the guy God used to start my journey home [/color]J. Later on, I read Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s Rome Sweet Home (their conversion story…a very good read), which helped a lot. Catholic theology and issues occupied a huge amount of my time and mind…I was praying and contemplating various arguments for and against on a regular basis. Around this time I listened to an audio recording on Sola Scriptura (which can be downloaded here: [url="http://www"]http://www[/url].[color=red]maxbrackett[/color].com/Audio01.asp) which played a crucial role in my rejection of this doctrine. By late December (of 2003) I was pretty much convinced, intellectually, that either the Orthodox faith or the Catholic faith was correct…I had mainly ruled out Protestantism by this time. I decided to order Dave Armstrong’s excellent book A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (in .doc format…you can get it for only $6...I HIGHLY recommend this book for any Protestant on this board. Dave is a former Evangelical, and provides, in my opinion, the best Biblically-based arguments I have seen explaining and defending various key doctrines of the Catholic Church. See Dave’s book page at [url="http://ic.net/~erasmus/BOOKS.HTM)"]http://ic.net/~erasmus/BOOKS.HTM)[/url]. After reading this book, intellectually I saw it as very likely that Catholicism did contain the fullness of Christian truth, but I was not yet fully convinced in my heart or mind; so I prayed, and continued to meditate on the issues and arguments. Finally, in early January of this year, I came to a point where I suddenly realized that I fully believed that the Catholic Church was the Church that Jesus founded, and that the Magisterium, guided by the Holy Spirit, faithfully teaches the true deposit of faith. [/b][/quote]
Max, you're da Bomb. :wub:
Love,
Sis <><

[dairygirl4u2c]

I think his method is good to knock some sense into people who are stubborn in general. When not facing things this is a good method to use.

I don't think he uses it well in non-religion matters such as politics. I say this because his stubborn knock some sense attitude doesn't work with politics because he can't claim to be objective about it. But yet he acts and says things to make you think he has authority to say things as final. This is just abrasive and I can show probably more bad fruit here than good.

As far as religion. I think he means well most of the time. I think like all of us he's out on an agenda to say, hey I got this, now let's see if you can prove me wrong. He's got that proposal even to non's about proof if you remember. You'll say I'm misinterpreting but I think we're all inclied to that a bit, and I couldn't believe it if I'm theonly one that reads that in his messages. Anyway people who are don't know anything religious then come across someone like Ironmonk or an evangelical are prone to be easily frustrated. Then they'll mull over the issue and can't find answers just to releive the stress they convert and say it was because of God. Works both ways. That's my theory. And the abrasive attitude I'm sure has sown some bad fruit. Not willing to say relatively how much.

And frankly I'm afraid to talk to Ironmonk in polictics or religion sometime because I don't want to be yelled at or talked to expressly. He'll say he's just makng a point and that we've had this discussion before (though we never agreed to disagree etc) blah blah. I don't think it's the best method. At least with me it doesn't seem like I can have a discussion with him. He'll just say something expressly or copy and paste and then just leave when he doesn't like how I respond.

The best is to have a open honest discussion. His method is to say "here it is" then get mad when people disagree. Maybe he's right all along, but he should at least make the effort to finish a discussion and have the parties agree to what they disagree about exactly instead of just leaving or getting angry or whatever word you want to use.

His personality is unique because of his fortitude. I think it just goes to show his personality. It's not necessarily the best. Sorry I don't mean to jump on the iron! I do admire his fortitude and faith.

[littleflower+JMJ]

wow that is AWESOME Anna!! how wonderful to read that!! Praise God!!!!

[Quietfire]

Say what you want, but Max has been a guiding force for me in finding my way home.

He was the first to respond to me when I asked for help. He gave me alot of hope and strength, wise words, patience and a good knock if needed.

Whenever I start to doubt my decisions in defending Catholicism and the Church, I always think of Max and say a prayer for him and his family.

Thanks Max.

Peace.

[XIX]

Sure.

I know lots of people who are spiritual goldmines, even though their attitudes aren't what I would quite want. Who knows, maybe they are right in that area, too.

[jasJis]

God makes us all unique. Ironmonk is Ironmonk. His particular personality was created to deal with other's particualar personalities. Once certainly cannot say that Ironmonk alienates everyone, nor is it his job or role to be "nice" to everyone. God bless you Max! I've always respected you and the above is affirmation that you've earned respect.

[Winchester]

There's time for many different methods. the trick is to know when to use the fist, when to use the open hand.

[IcePrincessKRS]

Its great to know that all the effort Max (and others) puts out there is helping to bring people Home! Keep up the good work!

[Anna]

[quote name='Winchester' date='Oct 22 2004, 04:27 PM'] There's time for many different methods. the trick is to know when to use the fist, when to use the open hand. [/quote]
Winchester, I nominate you PhatMass Philosopher!

[MC Just]

I SAY...........................




























IRONMONK FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!

[Brother Adam]

There were times as a Protestant I wanted to pulverize Max (though now that I've seen his picture I realize I would have been the one being pulverized), but overall he's a good guy. He knows his stuff.

[cmotherofpirl]

One style does not fit all!

[Carrie]

When I was going through a crisis of faith, IronMonk sent me many sites and quotes to read. They really helped me to fight the crisis I was going through.

[thessalonian]

Monk and I go back about 5 years to a site called Mount Biblical Sense where we did tag team apologetics. Monk is bold and passionite about his faith. We all of course say things from time to time that we shouldn't. I perhaps am the worst at this. But over the years with Monk I have seen several people that he has helped bring in to the fold. If each of us brings just one in over the next ten years there would be twice as many Catholics in America. Max has filled more than his share of the quota. People don't like someone who is sure of what he believes. Nevertheless if God gives them the grace they will hear his voice in the words of those who have this certainty of faith. He's faithful to the magesterium, the Eucharist, and our blessed Mother. Those three things tell you a Catholic is rooted in truth. Max he da man! God bless MONK!

Thessalonian

[Paladin D]

Ironmonk was one of several people who helped me to [b]revert[/b] back to my Catholic faith. Thanks Max.