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The definition of Christianity...

Discussion in 'Free-For-All Archives' started by tragic_pizza, Feb 14, 2005.

  1. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    I want to make an important point, so please comment when you answer this poll:

    Is the following statement of faith consistent with your interpretation of an orthodox Christian faith?

     
  2. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    Yes (provided 'hell' = sheol). That's basic Christian orthodoxy and has been propounded for c1800 years, so no further comment from me. What's your point?

    Yours in Christ

    Matt
     
  3. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    I'll let you know soon.
     
  4. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    Who is the heretic who voted no?

    Yours in Christ

    Matt
     
  5. MEE

    MEE <img src=/me3.jpg>

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    Sure is! [​IMG]

    MEE [​IMG]
     
  6. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    I'd like to know who voted "no" as well, and why. Eight votes as of this post, one mine (since I had to vote to see results) and only three commenters.

    How about DHK, av1611jim, and joseph botonwick? What say you?

    MEE shared. What say other Pentecostals? Any Roman Catholics want to weigh in?
     
  7. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    </font>[/QUOTE]__________________________________________________

    I could not agree with this for two reasons.

    1st; It is poisoned by the inclusion of "See Calvin". Calvin is not a reliable exspositor of Christian Truth in my opinion. Orthodox Christian faith was re-written by Calvin, IMO.

    2nd; The wording of "holy catholic church" is suspect, IMO. Had it been worded thus; "The church is the Body of Christ and is visible in the local congregation throughout the world"; I could also agree with that. As it is, there is too much room for they of the RCC persuasion to be lumped into Orthodox christian faith, which I reject. The RCC has never been Orthodox, IMO.

    I find the epithet, "heretic" to be knee jerk and therefore ridiculous. LOL

    The rest of the statements as they appear, I can agree with.

    In HIS service;
    Jim
     
  8. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    If there had been copywrites in the 1st century, then the Jerusalem Church would have owned the name, "Christian," and anyone who wanted to use it would have to have permission of the Jerusalem Church.

    Lacking copywrites, the Ecumenical Orthodox Catholic Christian Church created the Ecumenical Confessions. Anyone who conforms to the confessions is nominally "Christian." Only God can seperate the sheep from the goats.
     
  9. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    </font>[/QUOTE]__________________________________________________

    I could not agree with this for two reasons.

    1st; It is poisoned by the inclusion of "See Calvin". Calvin is not a reliable exspositor of Christian Truth in my opinion. Orthodox Christian faith was re-written by Calvin, IMO.

    2nd; The wording of "holy catholic church" is suspect, IMO. Had it been worded thus; "The church is the Body of Christ and is visible in the local congregation throughout the world"; I could also agree with that. As it is, there is too much room for they of the RCC persuasion to be lumped into Orthodox christian faith, which I reject. The RCC has never been Orthodox, IMO.

    I find the epithet, "heretic" to be knee jerk and therefore ridiculous. LOL

    The rest of the statements as they appear, I can agree with.

    In HIS service;
    Jim
    </font>[/QUOTE]Jim, this confession, the "Apostle's Creed," was the earliest known baptismal creed, and predates Calvin by about 1,400 years. It precedes even the Nicean Creed, and is thus free of Calvinistic or Roman Catholic influences.

    As to the use of the word "catholic," please note the lower-case "c," and again refer to the dating of the creed. In this usage, "catholic" indeed refers to the worldwide body of believers.

    That aside, would you or would you not agree that someone who agrees in general with the Apostle's Creed is a Christian?
     
  10. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    I am unsure of what you mean by this statement.
     
  11. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    Twelve votes, and five people have posted a comment in re their response.

    What are the rest of you afraid of?
     
  12. Pete

    Pete New Member

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    No.

    Without wishing to take anything away from the Apostles' Creed, if it said it all we would not have the Nicene, Athanasian, Chalcedonian, etc etc.

    It's a great start, but to quote the bloke that used to compare Sale Of The Century "More information?" [​IMG]

    God gave the Holy Bible, not the Holy Pamphlet ;)

    Probably a few extended statements of various quality here: http://snipurl.com/crxo :D
     
  13. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    Sure, Pete, it doesn't say it all. I know that. We can have nuances until the cows come home, but surely professing a belief in the Christian God, Jesus as His Son, and in the Holy Spirit qualifies one to be accepted as Christian in at least the most general sense, doesn't it?
     
  14. terriloo

    terriloo New Member

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    Your question is whether or not these statements are consistently orthodox Christian professions of faith. While some may say that they don't include everything they think SHOULD be included, it seems to me that these ARE the basics of Christian belief, and they're definitely consistent with orthodox Christian tenets.

    I am learning from this BB, however, that there is a huge, huge, HUGE disagreement--even among Baptists--about all the "details", though. I am interested to see what point you intend to make when you get enough comments and poll results.

    Terri
     
  15. Doubting Thomas

    Doubting Thomas Active Member

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    I voted "yes", but like Pete suggested it doesn't go far enough. I would submit that the Nicene Creed and the Chalcedonian Definition are more specific "boundary markers" for orthodox Christian belief.
     
  16. terriloo

    terriloo New Member

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    [​IMG] Oops, tragic-pizza, we must have posted at the same time. That must have BEEN your point.

    I was brought up in a Baptist church literally from the time I was in my mother's womb, saved at age 9, was in church every moment the doors were open. "Fell away" from the church (but NOT my savior) for many years after I turned 20 (due to a horrible situation in a church that left me badly disillusioned at a key juncture in my life.)

    Long story short, after many years, I'm getting BACK to trying to find a home church....and I found this BB in the process of my searching. I have been literally STUNNED at the level/decibel of disagreement, argumentation, and accusations of heresy and lack of salvation when someone disagrees with another's viewpoint. And THAT's among the avowed BAPTISTS. I honestly had no idea that there were so many disagreements in the body. It has been hard to "sort out" much that I have read herein.

    And this reminds me that I wanted to start a thread with questions on the ecumenical movement!

    Thanks for your posts--they're always intellectually and spiritually stimulating and challenging. [​IMG]

    Terri
     
  17. Pete

    Pete New Member

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    TP, it's hard mate because as I said I really don't want to take anything away from the Apostles Creed...

    If I do have to give an example though:


    From Apostle's Creed: and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord

    Matthew 16:16
    In answer Simon Peter said: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

    Acts 28:31
    preaching the kingdom of God to them and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with the greatest freeness of speech, without hindrance.


    From Creed: I believe in the Holy Spirit

    Hebrews 3:7
    For this reason, just as the holy spirit says: "Today if YOU people listen to his own voice...


    Verses taken from New World Translation
     
  18. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    I would agree with Pete and DT. While a good start, this confession does not go far enough for today's christendom.
    The problem AISI is this. Too much of what passes for Orthodoxy is not Orthodox. This "creed" does not go far enough and is accepted by many who are NOT Orthodox in light of the Scriptures as we have them today. For example, there is no statement as to the inspiration of Scripture and its authority in all matters of faith and practice. The omission of which leaves room for "advanced revelation" or "traditionalism" to rear its ugly head. While it is a general creed which many DO agree and affirm, it simply is not sufficient. IMO

    TP; I fully understood the dating of this creed and recognized it as such. What I did not find in the original creed is your use of "see Calvin". LOL [​IMG]

    I did notice the small "c" in catholic, but will remain steadfast in my objection that it leaves room for the RCC to "prove" their assertion that they are THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH.

    In HIS service;
    Jim
     
  19. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    ;)

    Sadly, that's not nearly as rare an experience as it should be. I am thankful you've arrived at the point where you're coming back to church.

    We can communicate via PM if you'd like, but I wonder if you're set on being a Baptist, or if you're looking at other denominations. Even within the Baptist church, there are some interesting nuances and worship styles -- everything from the old standard to "Willow Creek" style seeker-friendly worship services.
    Imagine how difficult it must be for someone who has no background at all in the Christian faith. Even a passing glance at some of these threads would, in my opinion, have them closing the browser and going to look at Buddhism or Scientology.

    Wow, that ought to open a can of worms!

    Thanks, Terri. Compliments are few and far between in these here parts, and I really appreciate your words.
     
  20. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

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    OH! I see. I missed that "see Calvin" when I posted the Creed -- I copied-and-pasted it, being too lazy to type it out myself. I can't correct that, as the time for editing has expired.

    And I will accept your reservations in re the RCC, as it applies directly to what I am trying to demonstrate. You're basically saying that if someone is Roman Catholic, they by definition cannot be Christian. I don't agree with you, and I think it's kind of sad, but we will leave it as is.
     
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