What, exactly, are the core tenets of Christian belief?

seebs · #1 19th May 2002, 01:01 PM

Obviously, I think I know, but I'm curious about your answers. I've been called "not a Christian" one way or another around half a dozen times since I got here. How would I investigate the truth or falsehood of these claims?

Is it necessary to accept young earth creationism?

Is it necessary to believe that every word of the Bible is literally true?

Is it necessary to believe that every thought or belief expressed by the Bible is true?

Is it okay to just think the Bible contains a true message, although it requires some study to decipher it?

Can I be a Christian if I don't accept a widely accepted teaching on whether or not a given thing is sinful? (Assume that I've seriously considered the issue, and I've prayed, and I just don't get the same conclusion other people do.)

Can I be a Christian if I don't believe the pope is infallible? How about if I do?

VOW · #2 19th May 2002, 04:34 PM

To Seebs:

I thought the Nicene Creed summed up Christianity nicely. (the "Nice Nicene"? I should be smacked, LOL!)

The little "add-ons" are what make up all our interesting differences!

Peace be with you,
~VOW

Blessed-one · #3 20th May 2002, 12:35 AM

hey seebs, your posts in other thread've made me thoroughly confused about whether or not you're a Christian.
such as your stance against a young earth creationism, but then not being equipped with that kind of knowledge i suppose i'll never understand.

anyway, the very very basic belief in Christianity is the central message brought out throughout the bible: that we're all sinners, and only through believing Jesus can we be reconciled with God and receive Eternal life.
that's not a very difficult thing to do is it? as long as you believe with your heart, and, by believing Him as our Lord, we'll automatically follow the moral codes set out in the bible.
But, many Christians do have questions regarding the teachings in the bible, now that's a road every Christian has to walk on and that's where the Holy Spirit and TIME comes in.

As to the last question, i don't believe the pope's infallible either, but i'm a Christian!

seebs · #4 20th May 2002, 02:04 AM

Originally posted by Blessed-one
hey seebs, your posts in other thread've made me thoroughly confused about whether or not you're a Christian.
such as your stance against a young earth creationism, but then not being equipped with that kind of knowledge i suppose i'll never understand.

I've been called unchristian by a number of people, so I guess your confusion is understandable.

I believe in one God, the creator of all things, who incarnated in human form in the person of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. Etcetera etcetera. Thus, I'm definitionally Christian.

I don't believe in Young Earth creationism because it is totally and utterly at odds with everything I've been able to learn about any field of science it touches. It contradicts things I learned about genetics in third grade; it contradicts things I learned about geology longer ago than that.

As you may have guessed, I was not raised a literalist; I find these beliefs simply incomprehensible. Keep in mind, I got a liberal arts education up through the B.A., so I've taken at least one college-level course in a couple of these fields. I also have a math background. So... A lot of the common arguments really fall down, and most people would have no way of seeing why.

This drives me *batty*. It's like the various "disproofs" of God that people throw around; they're so far from even using the words correctly that it's hard to even explain what's wrong, except that none of it makes any sense.

anyway, the very very basic belief in Christianity is the central message brought out throughout the bible: that we're all sinners, and only through believing Jesus can we be reconciled with God and receive Eternal life.
that's not a very difficult thing to do is it? as long as you believe with your heart, and, by believing Him as our Lord, we'll automatically follow the moral codes set out in the bible.
But, many Christians do have questions regarding the teachings in the bible, now that's a road every Christian has to walk on and that's where the Holy Spirit and TIME comes in.

As to the last question, i don't believe the pope's infallible either, but i'm a Christian!

I know, I was mostly putting that one in as a joke about the constant pro/anti Catholic threads over in what was formerly "Interfaith". Man that stuff gets brutal!

I've always been freaked out when people say the Catholics aren't Christian. Now that I'm on the receiving end of the same claim (for a variety of reasons)... I'm pretty sympathetic.

papakapp · #5 20th May 2002, 02:12 AM

Originally posted by seebs
Obviously, I think I know, but I'm curious about your answers. I've been called "not a Christian" one way or another around half a dozen times since I got here. How would I investigate the truth or falsehood of these claims?

Is it necessary to accept young earth creationism?

No. -- Romans10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heartthat God Raised hin from the dead, you will be saved.

It doesn't say"and believe the earth is only 5000 years old" anywhere in there.

However, belief in an old earth raises many theological questions and requires some mental gymnastics to make the rest of the bible jive with this world view

Is it necessary to believe that every word of the Bible is literally true?

No. Revelation and Daniel have a lot of imagery. Many other books have imagery to a lesser extent.

Is it necessary to believe that every thought or belief expressed by the Bible is true?

Nesecary? I don't know, I'm not the judge. but I do know the frist verse you would have to throw out in order to believe that not every thought and belief is true. 1 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Is it okay to just think the Bible contains a true message, although it requires some study to decipher it?

of course it requires study.
Jerimiah 15:16 When I heard your words I ate them. They were my joy and my hearts delight, for I bear your name. O Lorg God Almighty

Can I be a Christian if I don't accept a widely accepted teaching on whether or not a given thing is sinful? (Assume that I've seriously considered the issue, and I've prayed, and I just don't get the same conclusion other people do.)

Yes! In fact, all teachings should be analyzed to make sure they jive with the bible. But be careful of the other side of the coin.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Can I be a Christian if I don't believe the pope is infallible? How about if I do?

Yes! Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

seebs · #6 20th May 2002, 02:21 AM

Originally posted by papakapp

However, belief in an old earth raises many theological questions and requires some mental gymnastics to make the rest of the bible jive with this world view

I think it works okay to interpret it as allegory, metaphor, and/or myth - but with the understanding that many people believed it literally before we had any tools with which to study.

Nesecary? I don't know, I'm not the judge. but I do know the frist verse you would have to throw out in order to believe that not every thought and belief is true. 1 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Not all things that are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness must be literally true - and if all you need is the *message*, I can summarize Genesis as "God made everything, and we're special." without *too* much loss.

Neo · #7 20th May 2002, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by papakapp

No. -- Romans10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heartthat God Raised hin from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who calls me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [/b]

1 John 4:7 Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Chris†opher Paul · #8 20th May 2002, 10:19 AM

Hey seebs-

I know you have a problem with homosexuality being considered a sin, from some of your other posts that I have read. I also read that you think its bad that some Christian's treat homosexuals badly, so we should accept them and not discriminate against them.

This may seem a no-brainer, but consider this point, which may help you. Christians hate the sin, love the sinner, and we shouldn't treat anyone badly, because it is God's will...not because its politically correct to be "nice" to homosexuals.

It's hard to express what I mean, but do you understand what I am saying? Don't question whether its a sin based on how you have seen some Christians act towards homosexuals. In other words, even the term "homosexuals" is misleading, because it imply's that people with homosxual tendencies are made homosexuals...that they are homosexuals...not that they are just God's children that have given into their tendency to sin.

Does that make sense? The point of this whole post being that you don't have to worry about which sins are literally wrong or not.

Neo · #9 20th May 2002, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by s0uljah
Hey seebs-

I know you have a problem with homosexuality being considered a sin, from some of your other posts that I have read. I also read that you think its bad that some Christian's treat homosexuals badly, so we should accept them and not discriminate against them.

This may seem a no-brainer, but consider this point, which may help you. Christians hate the sin, love the sinner, and we shouldn't treat anyone badly, because it is God's will...not because its politically correct to be "nice" to homosexuals.

It's hard to express what I mean, but do you understand what I am saying? Don't question whether its a sin based on how you have seen some Christians act towards homosexuals. In other words, even the term "homosexuals" is misleading, because it imply's that people with homosxual tendencies are made homosexuals...that they are homosexuals...not that they are just God's children that have given into their tendency to sin.

Does that make sense?

Are you going to turn this into another thread about homosexuality? :rolleyes:

Chris†opher Paul · #10 20th May 2002, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by Neo

Are you going to turn this into another thread about homosexuality? :rolleyes:

Hadn't planned on it, but something he posted in this thread triggered the thought, so I posted the reply here.

What, exactly, *are* the core tenets of Christian belief?

What, exactly, are the core tenets of Christian belief?