CIVIL RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION: All things Christianity

[T.Lex]

At the risk of echoing that guy that I'm accused of being the Catholic version of, I think the "biblical support" comes back to Jesus's actual teachings. I think most (hopefully all) of the denominations consider "essential" the stuff Jesus said. Where we depart are post-Gospel interpretations.

For instance, James's reference to "be doers, not just hearers" is an example of the faith/acts thing that has been so problematic.

Sincere effort to follow Christ is, to me, the basic definition of "Christian."

 

[breakingcontact]

At the risk of echoing that guy that I'm accused of being the Catholic version of, I think the "biblical support" comes back to Jesus's actual teachings. I think most (hopefully all) of the denominations consider "essential" the stuff Jesus said. Where we depart are post-Gospel interpretations.

For instance, James's reference to "be doers, not just hearers" is an example of the faith/acts thing that has been so problematic.

Sincere effort to follow Christ is, to me, the basic definition of "Christian."

Should be doing good works, but those good works don't bring salvation.

 

[JettaKnight]

Became formal members of our church this weekend.

 

[T.Lex]

 

[foszoe]

Maybe we should talk definitions...

Define the following..

Essential
Necessary
Sufficient

Apply them to an understanding of salvation.

Use the Bible to support your answer.

 

[JettaKnight]

There are now Baptists who say you don't need to be baptized to be a member of their congregation!

OK, I got to challenge this statement... show me.

 

[breakingcontact]

OK, I got to challenge this statement... show me.

A wide variety of folks claim the name "Baptist".

 

[foszoe]

OK, I got to challenge this statement... show me.

I've posted it before but I'll dig it up.

It was the largest Baptist church in Oklahoma

 

[Dead Duck]

There are now Baptists who say you don't need to be baptized to be a member of their congregation!

Is aquaphobia just a Baptist thing or do others have this fear?

 

[Dead Duck]

Oh and here...

Chinese officials burn bibles, close churches, force Christian to denounce faith amid 'escalating' crackdown | Fox News

 

[historian]

So...Evangelicals are now fighting over how involved the church should be in matters of social justice. On one side is MacArthur who is the primary mover of a tone deaf (IMHO) piece. On the other side is basically everyone else. Then Union College and Seminary gets involved and Leroy Jenkins the whole thing...

[FONT=&quot]https://twitter.com/UnionSeminary/status/1037346517936472070

[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I. ScriptureWhile divinely inspired, we deny the Bible is inerrant or infallible. It was written by men over centuries and thus reflects both God's truth and human sin & prejudice. We affirm that biblical scholarship and critical theory help us discern which messages are God's.

[/FONT]

 

[JettaKnight]

At the risk of echoing that guy that I'm accused of being the Catholic version of, I think the "biblical support" comes back to Jesus's actual teachings. I think most (hopefully all) of the denominations consider "essential" the stuff Jesus said. Where we depart are post-Gospel interpretations.

For instance, James's reference to "be doers, not just hearers" is an example of the faith/acts thing that has been so problematic.

Sincere effort to follow Christ is, to me, the basic definition of "Christian."

That's a good start, but Jesus never spoke of the Trinity, and I personally would not find myself in communion with a modalist (i.e. someone that views all three are just separate "modes" of one person).
I also view the canon as essential - i.e. something that break communion between protestants and RCC and Orthodox.
Speaking in tongues, prosperity gospel, word of faith - all things that break communion.


Things I don't view as essential:

• baptism
• gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e. "cessationist")
• sacraments
• eschatology
• soteriology (i.e. Calvinsim v. Arminianism)
• hymns v. praise songs
• pastor's attire (e.g. skinny jeans, robes)

 

[JettaKnight]

[FONT=&amp]I. ScriptureWhile divinely inspired, we deny the Bible is inerrant or infallible. It was written by men over centuries and thus reflects both God's truth and human sin & prejudice. We affirm that biblical scholarship and critical theory help us discern which messages are God's.[/FONT][FONT=&amp]
[/FONT]

Great Caesar's ghost... so, the Bible is full of sin and prejudice. Therefore, we don't have to follow the parts that we don't like, and we don't have to offend anyone.

Brilliant!

And here's another hand grenade in there:

We deny that salvation is only found through Christianity, that God's salvific grace is exclusive to any single faith or religion. Moreover, in God's eyes there is no difference in spiritual value or worth between those who are "in Christ" and those who aren't.

So... Jesus was a liar.



As to essentials, they ain't got it.

 

[historian]

Great Caesar's ghost... so, the Bible is full of sin and prejudice. Therefore, we don't have to follow the parts that we don't like, and we don't have to offend anyone.

Brilliant!

And here's another hand grenade in there:

So... Jesus was a liar.



As to essentials, they ain't got it.

Then yesterday they doubled down!

[FONT=&quot]https://twitter.com/UnionSeminary/status/1039167655159259136[/FONT]

 

[indiucky]

https://babylonbee.com/news/success...ishable-from-the-culture-hes-trying-to-reach/

 

[breakingcontact]

That's a good start, but Jesus never spoke of the Trinity, and I personally would not find myself in communion with a modalist (i.e. someone that views all three are just separate "modes" of one person).
I also view the canon as essential - i.e. something that break communion between protestants and RCC and Orthodox.
Speaking in tongues, prosperity gospel, word of faith - all things that break communion.


Things I don't view as essential:

• baptism
• gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e. "cessationist")
• sacraments
• eschatology
• soteriology (i.e. Calvinsim v. Arminianism)
• hymns v. praise songs
• pastor's attire (e.g. skinny jeans, robes)

I was with you up until skinny jeans. j/k mostly...

 

[Bartman]

I'm not gonna lie, I prefer traditional hymns - even if I don't know the words to most of them. Garage bands are tough to take no matter what the lyrics are. But then I was subjected to a lot of bluegrass music in the church I grew up in, so consider the source.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

'Deeply Religious' Chelsea Clinton Says 'It's Unchristian' To End Legal Abortion

 

[historian]

http://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/o...llection/sectioncollection/opinion-columnists

Post Christian Conservatism

 

[foszoe]

Questions about the dead come up often here. At the link below, go to about the 43rd minute. There is a very good outline of how the Orthodox think about death.

http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/orthodoxylive/guest_co_host_fr._john_strickland