Protestants seem to be aware of the problems surrounding doctrinal differences. However lately their response has been to more or less declare doctrine unimportant as some man-made thing and emphasize oneness in Christ. It's a strange thing to see in a historical context and can only be a product of modern indifference. Hence why non-denominationalism has become so popular.
Catholics are not immune from this ecumenist sentiment just because they have hierarchal authority. The pope has done quite a bit to liberalize the Church. The mass frequently resembles a Protestant service more than a liturgy.
My prayer and commitment is to raising up men who will engage this culture and bring the light of Jesus into this world. Catholics separated from the Church in Constantinople and I could really care less about church separations., having seen church fights. My only interest is to work for what will be when I stand before the King of Glory, John 6:27. One day I will see my Jesus face to face in all his glory with the Father. Oh what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace. Oh that will be glory be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me, when by his grace I shall look on his face. That will be glory by glory for me. Oh the joy when I shall stand be for my Jesus. Words cannot express the wonderous anticipation.
I'm not sure what you're trying to say. The comments section is for dialog back and forth, not preaching or rhetoric. If you have a comment or an objection to what I wrote, please list it here.
I'm responding. No preaching. One day I shall see my Jesus and I want to give my life for those things that will be part of spending eternity with Jesus. I want men who are passionate about following Jesus.
Daniel, I don’t know how to condense this. There is so much more information but books have been written on this subject. The attempt to be brief and concise will leave out critical material.
Definition: Sound doctrine is that which is supported by the entirety of Scripture.
Brief history: However, even in Paul’s day, he was correcting doctrine. Those first few centuries, groups rose up thinking they had the correct doctrine. The western church and the eastern church struggled to agree on doctrine until the groups separated. Then various groups separated from the Catholic Church. At one time America had about 100 Baptist Denominations. Reform Theology started after WW2 and now there are five different groups. Each individual has to decide which group they will align with and each individual must decide why they align with that group. Each individual has to decide on the evidence that indicates which group probably has the most correct, sound doctrine.
The Problem: However, the problem, again, is that one’s culture, generation and the home life of the first 12 years have a huge impact on how we understand life and what we call truth. It is not that truth is relative. It is that we cannot determine true, truth because of our culture, generation and our original home life. How do we get beyond these things?? Well, we have to investigate our culture, generational thinking and the influence of parents, uncles, siblings, friends, neighbors, etc. that were part of our early days. It is an amazing journey but well worth the time and effort. It is the same journey for determining historical truth and it is a very normal journey for anyone who is seeking true, truth in history. This journey of understanding our influences is the gateway to understanding our relationship with the King of Glory and our relationship with him.
Current: Basing truth upon Scripture without that journey into who and what influenced us just naturally leads to taking verses from the Bible and creating doctrine that we enjoy. Research from the late 1960’s into the 1970’s has shown that we have like gate in our brains that automatically reject information not previous believed. The 1980’s and beyond has shown the filters through which we receive information. This can be shown when Jesus said in Matt. 7 that those who cast our demons and performed mighty miracles were workers of iniquity or lawlessness (depending on the translation) and thus we have people in hell who were, apparently, leaders of Christian ministries. Paul said to make sure of our salvation and relationship with Jesus. But, then again, just how do we know that we know that we are truly saved????? All of us will define this question and that definition will be influenced by our filters and the gateways in our brains. This is a huge question and one that each of use should answer for our eternity is in the balance.
You have four distinct topics that can be the next conversation. Love Always in and because of Christ, Randy
Yes, we love our separations. However, American is going to Hell in a hand basket so where are the men and women who will engage this culture with a Biblical worldview??
Interesting that at age 12 I knew without a doubt that I was saved. Interesting. Randy
Protestants "love" division, Christianity condemns it. The "Biblical worldview" is a serious problem and the path through which Relativism (we're all right), Agnosticism (No one is right, but me), and Fundamentalism (Everyone is wrong, but me) came through.
Christianity is not defined by a couple of men with their Bibles. Christian doctrine is not defined by private interpretations. It is defined by authorities. If it weren't, then there would be no such thing as a Biblical Worldview because there would be no Bible.
After all Catholics just follow the western half of the first major church split. Catholics have spent the last 16 centuries proclaiming that they alone have the true truth and all others are wrong, even to the point of raising armies to force others to agree with their definition of correct doctrine. Protestants are just following the example set my the western church in splitting and declaring that they alone have the correct doctrine and so the Protestants split and split and on it goes with each new split declaring that they alone have the true doctrine. What a mess we have created. At least Protestants and Catholics no long raise armies to force their beliefs on others. One small step forward. After which split will we select the authority we will follow?? Will it be one who thinks all Catholics are going to Hell or will it be one who thinks all Protestants are going to Hell?? How do we select our authority?? It has become the question of the ages. What a mess.
Yes, this is a crucial question. If doctrine is unknown, then our salvation is unknown. We cannot know Christ without grace to know. This happened to all followers of Christ, but people came along claiming they had authority when they had none. Individuals will always have opinions, but the difference between a dogma and and a private interpretation is authority.
Protestants seem to be aware of the problems surrounding doctrinal differences. However lately their response has been to more or less declare doctrine unimportant as some man-made thing and emphasize oneness in Christ. It's a strange thing to see in a historical context and can only be a product of modern indifference. Hence why non-denominationalism has become so popular.
Catholics are not immune from this ecumenist sentiment just because they have hierarchal authority. The pope has done quite a bit to liberalize the Church. The mass frequently resembles a Protestant service more than a liturgy.
My prayer and commitment is to raising up men who will engage this culture and bring the light of Jesus into this world. Catholics separated from the Church in Constantinople and I could really care less about church separations., having seen church fights. My only interest is to work for what will be when I stand before the King of Glory, John 6:27. One day I will see my Jesus face to face in all his glory with the Father. Oh what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace. Oh that will be glory be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me, when by his grace I shall look on his face. That will be glory by glory for me. Oh the joy when I shall stand be for my Jesus. Words cannot express the wonderous anticipation.
I'm not sure what you're trying to say. The comments section is for dialog back and forth, not preaching or rhetoric. If you have a comment or an objection to what I wrote, please list it here.
I'm responding. No preaching. One day I shall see my Jesus and I want to give my life for those things that will be part of spending eternity with Jesus. I want men who are passionate about following Jesus.
What is sound doctrine?
Daniel, I don’t know how to condense this. There is so much more information but books have been written on this subject. The attempt to be brief and concise will leave out critical material.
Definition: Sound doctrine is that which is supported by the entirety of Scripture.
Brief history: However, even in Paul’s day, he was correcting doctrine. Those first few centuries, groups rose up thinking they had the correct doctrine. The western church and the eastern church struggled to agree on doctrine until the groups separated. Then various groups separated from the Catholic Church. At one time America had about 100 Baptist Denominations. Reform Theology started after WW2 and now there are five different groups. Each individual has to decide which group they will align with and each individual must decide why they align with that group. Each individual has to decide on the evidence that indicates which group probably has the most correct, sound doctrine.
The Problem: However, the problem, again, is that one’s culture, generation and the home life of the first 12 years have a huge impact on how we understand life and what we call truth. It is not that truth is relative. It is that we cannot determine true, truth because of our culture, generation and our original home life. How do we get beyond these things?? Well, we have to investigate our culture, generational thinking and the influence of parents, uncles, siblings, friends, neighbors, etc. that were part of our early days. It is an amazing journey but well worth the time and effort. It is the same journey for determining historical truth and it is a very normal journey for anyone who is seeking true, truth in history. This journey of understanding our influences is the gateway to understanding our relationship with the King of Glory and our relationship with him.
Current: Basing truth upon Scripture without that journey into who and what influenced us just naturally leads to taking verses from the Bible and creating doctrine that we enjoy. Research from the late 1960’s into the 1970’s has shown that we have like gate in our brains that automatically reject information not previous believed. The 1980’s and beyond has shown the filters through which we receive information. This can be shown when Jesus said in Matt. 7 that those who cast our demons and performed mighty miracles were workers of iniquity or lawlessness (depending on the translation) and thus we have people in hell who were, apparently, leaders of Christian ministries. Paul said to make sure of our salvation and relationship with Jesus. But, then again, just how do we know that we know that we are truly saved????? All of us will define this question and that definition will be influenced by our filters and the gateways in our brains. This is a huge question and one that each of use should answer for our eternity is in the balance.
You have four distinct topics that can be the next conversation. Love Always in and because of Christ, Randy
Where in the 66 books of the Bible does it say there are only 66 books? What Bible verse can you point to that says James’ letter is God breathed?
We both know the answer. So, why the question????
Yes, we love our separations. However, American is going to Hell in a hand basket so where are the men and women who will engage this culture with a Biblical worldview??
Interesting that at age 12 I knew without a doubt that I was saved. Interesting. Randy
Protestants "love" division, Christianity condemns it. The "Biblical worldview" is a serious problem and the path through which Relativism (we're all right), Agnosticism (No one is right, but me), and Fundamentalism (Everyone is wrong, but me) came through.
Christianity is not defined by a couple of men with their Bibles. Christian doctrine is not defined by private interpretations. It is defined by authorities. If it weren't, then there would be no such thing as a Biblical Worldview because there would be no Bible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YOjaOgtQ0U
After all Catholics just follow the western half of the first major church split. Catholics have spent the last 16 centuries proclaiming that they alone have the true truth and all others are wrong, even to the point of raising armies to force others to agree with their definition of correct doctrine. Protestants are just following the example set my the western church in splitting and declaring that they alone have the correct doctrine and so the Protestants split and split and on it goes with each new split declaring that they alone have the true doctrine. What a mess we have created. At least Protestants and Catholics no long raise armies to force their beliefs on others. One small step forward. After which split will we select the authority we will follow?? Will it be one who thinks all Catholics are going to Hell or will it be one who thinks all Protestants are going to Hell?? How do we select our authority?? It has become the question of the ages. What a mess.
Yes, this is a crucial question. If doctrine is unknown, then our salvation is unknown. We cannot know Christ without grace to know. This happened to all followers of Christ, but people came along claiming they had authority when they had none. Individuals will always have opinions, but the difference between a dogma and and a private interpretation is authority.