Originally posted by rogue06
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Discussion on matters of general mainstream evangelical Christian theology that do not fit within Theology 201. Have some spiritual gifts ceased today? Is the KJV the only viable translation for the church today? In what sense are the books of the bible inspired and what are those books? Church government? Modern day prophets and apostles?
This forum is primarily for Christians to discuss matters of Christian doctrine, and is not the area for debate between atheists (or those opposing orthodox Christianity) and Christians. Inquiring atheists (or sincere seekers/doubters/unorthodox) seeking only Christian participation and having demonstrated a manner that does not seek to undermine the orthodox Christian faith of others are also welcome, but must seek Moderator permission first. When defining "Christian" or "orthodox" for purposes of this section, we mean persons holding to the core essentials of the historic Christian faith such as the Trinity, the Creatorship of God, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection of Christ, the atonement, the future bodily return of Christ, the future bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, and the final judgment. Persons not holding to these core doctrines are welcome to participate in the Comparative Religions section without restriction, in Theology 201 as regards to the nature of God and salvation with limited restrictions, and in Christology for issues surrounding the person of Christ and the Trinity. Atheists are welcome to discuss and debate these issues in the Apologetics 301 forum without such restrictions.
Additionally and rarely, there may be some topics or lines of discussion that within the Moderator's discretion fall so outside the bounds of mainstream orthodox doctrine (in general Christian circles or in the TheologyWeb community) or that deny certain core values that are the Christian convictions of forum leadership that may be more appropriately placed within Unorthodox Theology 201. NO personal offense should be taken by such discretionary decision for none is intended. While inerrancy is NOT considered a requirement for posting in this section, a general respect for the Bible text and a respect for the inerrantist position of others is requested.
The Tweb rules apply here like they do everywhere at Tweb, if you haven't read them, now would be a good time.
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Discussion on matters of general mainstream evangelical Christian theology that do not fit within Theology 201. Have some spiritual gifts ceased today? Is the KJV the only viable translation for the church today? In what sense are the books of the bible inspired and what are those books? Church government? Modern day prophets and apostles?
This forum is primarily for Christians to discuss matters of Christian doctrine, and is not the area for debate between atheists (or those opposing orthodox Christianity) and Christians. Inquiring atheists (or sincere seekers/doubters/unorthodox) seeking only Christian participation and having demonstrated a manner that does not seek to undermine the orthodox Christian faith of others are also welcome, but must seek Moderator permission first. When defining "Christian" or "orthodox" for purposes of this section, we mean persons holding to the core essentials of the historic Christian faith such as the Trinity, the Creatorship of God, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection of Christ, the atonement, the future bodily return of Christ, the future bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, and the final judgment. Persons not holding to these core doctrines are welcome to participate in the Comparative Religions section without restriction, in Theology 201 as regards to the nature of God and salvation with limited restrictions, and in Christology for issues surrounding the person of Christ and the Trinity. Atheists are welcome to discuss and debate these issues in the Apologetics 301 forum without such restrictions.
Additionally and rarely, there may be some topics or lines of discussion that within the Moderator's discretion fall so outside the bounds of mainstream orthodox doctrine (in general Christian circles or in the TheologyWeb community) or that deny certain core values that are the Christian convictions of forum leadership that may be more appropriately placed within Unorthodox Theology 201. NO personal offense should be taken by such discretionary decision for none is intended. While inerrancy is NOT considered a requirement for posting in this section, a general respect for the Bible text and a respect for the inerrantist position of others is requested.
The Tweb rules apply here like they do everywhere at Tweb, if you haven't read them, now would be a good time.
Forum Rules: Here
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The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
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Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
The Church seems to fare far better under persecution than in "good times"."For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
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This is a topic I've spent a fair amount of time thinking and reading about.
First, the general future of society in the US (I'm restricting my thoughts to the US since that's where I live; you can decide if the following applies to your country), the future is a decline in our ability to live comfortable lives. I think from roughly the 1980's to 2019, the goal of life was to be comfortable. Covid and the events thereafter have ended that myth. With the increasing rise of aggressiveness in Russia and China, it's too easy to image some form of world war or like the Cold War, more proxy wars, breaking out. Suddenly, we are going to be called to self-sacrifice. We're not ready for that change. We'll resist it and there are too many politicians that will say we don't have to self-sacrifice. As an example, look at the growing push to reduce the standard work week to 4 days from 5 days. As an article I read awhile back says it: "the US is fat oxen looking to sleep while the wolves are gathering." (That's not exact but gives the sense.)
Please note, I believe the previous regardless of which political party controls Congress and the White House both now and after the election.
Now for the church. I think too many churches have become a reflection of society with the idea of life is to be comfortable. The sermons will be easy and unoffensive. Most sermons will actually be self-esteem boasters that focus on people and not God. In these sermons, God will be mentioned but He'll be a vague and generally benevolent being, Jesus will barely get a mention, and forget hearing about the Holy Spirit. Forget any preaching on sin, repentance, and salvation. Churches with either a good entertainment or strong sense of community will survive. Most will disappear as the members find the church irrelevant to their lives.
One item that has come into focus for me is a purpose of life is to build character to prepare me to fellowship with God for eternity. As I think about character, I realize it's hard to build it without suffering or self-discipline. We will need to have these traits to survive. I think churches that get back to preaching sin-repentance-salvation followed by practicing discipleship will become what people will look for as society and the government fail to respond. To preach and practice those right, you need a strong focus on God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. They need to start now to do this. As the car warranty commercials put it, "buy the warranty before the car breaks down." When the change hits, I think it will be faster than you think and there won't be time to prepare at that point.
I also agree with an article on one of my feeds that says the church needs to develop a theology of suffering.
Not sure this is coming out as I intend, mainly because I'm still thinking through. What do you think?"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
Comment
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Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View PostThis is a topic I've spent a fair amount of time thinking and reading about.
First, the general future of society in the US (I'm restricting my thoughts to the US since that's where I live; you can decide if the following applies to your country), the future is a decline in our ability to live comfortable lives. I think from roughly the 1980's to 2019, the goal of life was to be comfortable. Covid and the events thereafter have ended that myth. With the increasing rise of aggressiveness in Russia and China, it's too easy to image some form of world war or like the Cold War, more proxy wars, breaking out. Suddenly, we are going to be called to self-sacrifice. We're not ready for that change. We'll resist it and there are too many politicians that will say we don't have to self-sacrifice. As an example, look at the growing push to reduce the standard work week to 4 days from 5 days. As an article I read awhile back says it: "the US is fat oxen looking to sleep while the wolves are gathering." (That's not exact but gives the sense.)
Please note, I believe the previous regardless of which political party controls Congress and the White House both now and after the election.
Now for the church. I think too many churches have become a reflection of society with the idea of life is to be comfortable. The sermons will be easy and unoffensive. Most sermons will actually be self-esteem boasters that focus on people and not God. In these sermons, God will be mentioned but He'll be a vague and generally benevolent being, Jesus will barely get a mention, and forget hearing about the Holy Spirit. Forget any preaching on sin, repentance, and salvation. Churches with either a good entertainment or strong sense of community will survive. Most will disappear as the members find the church irrelevant to their lives.
One item that has come into focus for me is a purpose of life is to build character to prepare me to fellowship with God for eternity. As I think about character, I realize it's hard to build it without suffering or self-discipline. We will need to have these traits to survive. I think churches that get back to preaching sin-repentance-salvation followed by practicing discipleship will become what people will look for as society and the government fail to respond. To preach and practice those right, you need a strong focus on God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. They need to start now to do this. As the car warranty commercials put it, "buy the warranty before the car breaks down." When the change hits, I think it will be faster than you think and there won't be time to prepare at that point.
I also agree with an article on one of my feeds that says the church needs to develop a theology of suffering.
Not sure this is coming out as I intend, mainly because I'm still thinking through. What do you think?The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
Comment
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Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
As I stated when I testified at a Texas Senate hearing some time back, a young gay man approached me and told me he was going to be voting FOR the religious liberty bill that was coming up. He said he had been in meetings that week where his GLBQ associates were plotting to try to join local churches and/or schedule weddings so they could be denied, and then follow up with lawsuits. He said that was just wrong, and he was going to speak against it - in favor of the bill.
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Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
The Church seems to fare far better under persecution than in "good times".
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Originally posted by Sparko View PostWhy do they need a religious liberty law when we already have the 1st Amendment?
And stuff like this.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
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Originally posted by seanD View Post
I don't see that happening when churches in America are giving in to leftism culture and embracing things like LGBTQ and abortion. My sister tells me her church has completely embraced this aberrant culture. I look at people like oxmixmudd and think that if he represents American churches, then all hope is lost when it comes to faith in America. The remnant of Christians that don't fall away entirely will just be given over to religious and cultural falsehoods.The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
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Originally posted by seanD View Post
I don't see that happening when churches in America are giving in to leftism culture and embracing things like LGBTQ and abortion. My sister tells me her church has completely embraced this aberrant culture. I look at people like oxmixmudd and think that if he represents American churches, then all hope is lost when it comes to faith in America. The remnant of Christians that don't fall away entirely will just be given over to religious and cultural falsehoods."For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
- 1 like
Comment
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Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
A Lutheran friend of mine said it best --- in the end, there will be just two kinds of Churches in America -- those that believe the Bible is the Word of God, and those that do not."For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
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Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View Post
I think that has been a true statement since there was an America. You don't have to wait until the end.
I'm always still in trouble again
"You're by far the worst poster on TWeb" and "TWeb's biggest liar" --starlight (the guy who says Stalin was a right-winger)
"Overall I would rate the withdrawal from Afghanistan as by far the best thing Biden's done" --Starlight
"Of course, human life begins at fertilization that’s not the argument." --Tassman
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