Originally posted by rogue06
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What constitutes a Christian denomination?
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Originally posted by rwatts View PostIndeed. There is a correct interpretation. And maybe no one has it.
Originally posted by rwatts View PostNevertheless, at day's end, people use the Bible to define and defend their own ideas as to what a Christian actually is. And the all seem to think they have the correct/best interpretation. Each could use your - "there really exists a correct interpretation of the Bible, and that all other interpretations are incorrect. And it isn't inconceivable at all to imagine that some people really have found the correct interpretation, while others are simply wrong about what they believe the Bible teaches" - argument as supporting their own Christianity.
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostBecause I was referring to when you wrote:
"They got all of their arguments about Methodists, Baptists etc. being heretics and on their way to hell, from the Bible. I got all my arguments about them being the heretic and on their way to hell, from the Bible."
I think elsewhere I had written that we each saw the other as on their way to hell and ourselves as on our way to heaven.
Originally posted by ChAs I already said, that's quite obvious. My counter-point is simply that there really exists a correct interpretation of the Bible, and that all other interpretations are incorrect. And it isn't inconceivable at all to imagine that some people really have found the correct interpretation, while others are simply wrong about what they believe the Bible teaches.
Nevertheless, at day's end, people use the Bible to define and defend their own ideas as to what a Christian actually is. And the all seem to think they have the correct/best interpretation. Each could use your - "there really exists a correct interpretation of the Bible, and that all other interpretations are incorrect. And it isn't inconceivable at all to imagine that some people really have found the correct interpretation, while others are simply wrong about what they believe the Bible teaches" - argument as supporting their own Christianity.Last edited by rwatts; 02-22-2015, 02:58 PM.
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Originally posted by rwatts View PostWhy only hell? Why not heaven?
"They got all of their arguments about Methodists, Baptists etc. being heretics and on their way to hell, from the Bible. I got all my arguments about them being the heretic and on their way to hell, from the Bible."
I don't see how you could both have been correct about thinking the other was on their way to hell, while simultaneously being on their way to heaven. That would be quite the contradiction.
Originally posted by rwatts View PostIs Fred interpreting the Bible correctly is something that can be asked of all denominations, sects and individuals.
Originally posted by rwatts View PostAt days end, I fail to see how any denomination, sect or individual could survive, thinking "We believe this even though we don't think it's Biblically based".
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostWell, I guess you could both have been correct, and you were both going to hell, but that was not really my point.
Originally posted by ChMy point is that the Bible really does have something to say about whether or not someone is damned, and how to get out of that state of damnation, and that there really is a correct interpretation of the relevant parts of the Bible. So when someone points out that group X thinks group Y is going to hell based on something they read in the bible, while group Y thinks the same of group X my initial reaction would be to ask, "are any of these groups interpretations of the Bible correct?", it would not be to throw my hands up in desperation and conclude that it's impossible to tell one way or the other.
At days end, I fail to see how any denomination, sect or individual could survive, thinking "We are Christian because believe this even though we don't think it's Biblically based".
Sure my experience is very limited, but I've yet to meet a person claiming to be a Christian who does not see the Bible as an authority, defining her/his Christianity.Last edited by rwatts; 02-22-2015, 02:43 PM.
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Originally posted by rwatts View PostWhy were one or both of us wrong on that issue, given that you were not there?
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View Post
And either one, or both of you were simply wrong on this issue, it really isn't much more complicated than that.
And I think it is a point, given that so many folk use the Bible to define who is, and who is not a Christian.Last edited by rwatts; 02-22-2015, 02:29 PM.
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Originally posted by rwatts View PostThat is my point. AFAICT, everyone who claims to be Christian, including those you reject as being Christian, claims to follow the Bible. It was my experience on meeting the Christadelphians.
Originally posted by rwatts View PostThey got all of their arguments about Methodists, Baptists etc. being heretics and on their way to hell, from the Bible. I got all my arguments about them being the heretic and on their way to hell, from the Bible.
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostI don't think you're telling us anything particularly surprising or revealing there.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...l=1#post163986
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View Post
I'm quite confident in my belief that the Bible says nothing of the sort, but if it did l would have to rethink my position on what defines a Christian.
They got all of their arguments about Methodists, Baptists etc. being heretics and on their way to hell, from the Bible. I got all my arguments about them being the heretic and on their way to hell, from the Bible.
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Originally posted by rwatts View PostI have a problem with that. Isn't that what this argument is largely about?
Originally posted by rwatts View PostPeople are asserting that group X cannot be Christian because its members don't follow a Y, where Y is "my version of Christianity" or Y is "anyone who doesn't follow a vegetarian lifestyle is in a state of damnation"?
Originally posted by rwatts View PostWhat if, according to the Bible, anyone who does not follow a vegetarian lifestyle is in a state of damnation?
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Originally posted by Chrawnus View PostSo if a sect maintained that God calls us to be vegetarians I would not necessarily say that they aren't Christian, unless they insisted that anyone who doesn't follow a vegetarian lifestyle is in a state of damnation.
People are asserting that group X cannot be Christian because its members don't follow a Y, where Y is "my version of Christianity" or Y is "anyone who doesn't follow a vegetarian lifestyle is in a state of damnation"?
What if, according to the Bible, anyone who does not follow a vegetarian lifestyle is in a state of damnation?
ETA
And they way I see it, everyone who claims to be Christian also claims to follow the Bible.Last edited by rwatts; 02-22-2015, 02:03 PM.
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