The Divine Nature of Christ.

Is Christ Divine?

  • Yes

  • No


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pilgrimgal

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Would this be considered a mandatory belief among the Anglican/Episcopal Church? Is there a middle path to take with something this crucial?
Belief in the Divinity of Christ is an essential...no middle path in that..one is either on the path or not. e.g. Nicene Creed.
 
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JasonV

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In the middle of a discussion with JasonV, when it appeared he was implying that Christ was not divine, I asked him directly...twice if he believed in the divinity of Christ, and no answer was ever given.

Combine this with the "No" vote given 'for variety', and perhaps its not as big of a surprise as it might originally seem.

ChessCastle want's to play the defender of the faith and expose me as a heretic. I've not given him enough ammo to shoot me with yet, but I suppose a few more sticks and he can light me on fire for heresy.
 
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ChessCastle

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ChessCastle want's to play the defender of the faith and expose me as a heretic. I've not given him enough ammo to shoot me with yet, but I suppose a few more sticks and he can light me on fire for heresy.


For the record, I have no desire to expose anyone or anything. Nor do I have any desire to burn anyone. Asking for clarification of someone's belief, if that belief seems to be contrary to Christianity, is a logical step, since STR is located in the 'Christians Only Section'.
 
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JasonV

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For the record, I have no desire to expose anyone or anything. Nor do I have any desire to burn anyone. Asking for clarification of someone's belief, if that belief seems to be contrary to Christianity, is a logical step, since STR is located in the 'Christians Only Section'.

Look bro. Before I acquired my non-denom icon and later my shiney new Anglican Icon, I had the "other religion" icon. I was a neo-gnostic. Enough said.

I read a couple of Bishop John Shelby Spong's texts, and some Thomas Merton, and decided I could call myself a Christian after all.
And here I am.
 
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No Swansong

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For the purposes of this forum "Christian" is defined as belief in the Trinity and acceptance of the complete Nicene Creed within the allowable addendum. While we may discuss any doctrine this is a reminder that it is not up to us to call upon anyone to prove their beliefs if they have already assented to these basic tenets of the faith. To have a Christian icon one has indeed made this affirmation. With that said also please keep in mind that rule 1.3 forbids misrepresentation of beliefs in order to obtain a Christian Icon. It is my hope that we can continue discussion of this issue without it degrading. Let us remember above all things charity.
 
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pilgrimgal

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I would agree completely, do you feel there are any other 'essential' beliefs?

Chess (love your user name cause Chess is my favorite board game). :thumbsup:

I was mainly interested in replying to the original question regarding the Divinity of Christ...but may I suggest you check out the BCP (Book of Common Prayer) and the information starting with page 845 (An Outline of the Faith)

and (Historical Documents of the Church) which follows. on page 864.

As others have probably shared here...I think unity of worship is an essential. And Anglicans surely have that!!!

When I first began to look into the Anglican faith a few years ago I found the following book informative:

Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship by Christopher L. Webber

This book stresses that the worship of God is the most important thing that can be said about Anglicans and that worship is the source of all Anglican community, committment to justice, and evangelistic outreach.

In Christ,

pilgrimgal :)
 
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No Swansong

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Ummm, if you deny the divinity of Christ you are not only not within right thinking for Anglicanism but Christianity.
Agreed, no middle way on this one. Divinity of Christ is absolutely essential.
 
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ChessCastle

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Chess (love your user name cause Chess is my favorite board game). :thumbsup:

I was mainly interested in replying to the original question regarding the Divinity of Christ...but may I suggest you check out the BCP (Book of Common Prayer) and the information starting with page 845 (An Outline of the Faith)

and (Historical Documents of the Church) which follows. on page 864.

As others have probably shared here...I think unity of worship is an essential. And Anglicans surely have that!!!

When I first began to look into the Anglican faith a few years ago I found the following book informative:

Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship by Christopher L. Webber

This book stresses that the worship of God is the most important thing that can be said about Anglicans and that worship is the source of all Anglican community, committment to justice, and evangelistic outreach.

In Christ,

pilgrimgal :)


I am going to look for the Webber book pilgrimgal, thanks for the reference.

Always nice to meet another chess lover! :thumbsup:
 
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Torah613

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The Real question here is "Is Christ a Man." Everyone would agree that yes, He was at least a man. But the only answer that fits with the teachings of the Ecumenical Councils is that He was, is, and always be both fully man and fully divine.

Joe Zollars
 
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karen freeinchristman

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I don't know if this is off-topic, but I've never been able to understand the concept of the resurrected/ascended Christ still being fully human as well as divine. The divine part I understand, but how can he still be fully human? After the resurrection, he was not the same kind of human as we are - his wounds were still visible and yet his body wasn't behaving as ours would.

I find it very difficult to think of him as still being physical. :scratch:
 
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gtsecc

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I don't know if this is off-topic, but I've never been able to understand the concept of the resurrected/ascended Christ still being fully human as well as divine. The divine part I understand, but how can he still be fully human? After the resurrection, he was not the same kind of human as we are - his wounds were still visible and yet his body wasn't behaving as ours would.

I find it very difficult to think of him as still being physical. :scratch:
Our redemption is because Christ took our full humanity and redeemed every part of life from conception onward. He then took it and defeated death. Then assended into heaven, with our humanity. Maybe if you got an icon of Christ it would help you understand his humanity and physical nature. I think the more "protestant" one gets, the more difficult it is to comprehend Christ as human. Ask any Catholic what Divinity looks like, and they will tell you a man crucified on wood. The images are so normal and commonly seen, it is easier for that tradition to understand them both. Liekwise in the Orthodox Church, almost all have Christ on the dome, and many other places.
 
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pilgrimgal

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I don't know if this is off-topic, but I've never been able to understand the concept of the resurrected/ascended Christ still being fully human as well as divine. The divine part I understand, but how can he still be fully human? After the resurrection, he was not the same kind of human as we are - his wounds were still visible and yet his body wasn't behaving as ours would.

I find it very difficult to think of him as still being physical. :scratch:

We just discussed this very thing at my bible study group. It really is a mystery, but Jesus (after the resurrection) had a glorified body...and perhaps this foreshadows that we will have one too after the resurrection of our body. I said to my friends..."Does this mean I get to be 35 again?.:D

attachment.php
 
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karen freeinchristman

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Our redemption is because Christ took our full humanity and redeemed every part of life from conception onward. He then took it and defeated death. Then assended into heaven, with our humanity. Maybe if you got an icon of Christ it would help you understand his humanity and physical nature. I think the more "protestant" one gets, the more difficult it is to comprehend Christ as human. Ask any Catholic what Divinity looks like, and they will tell you a man crucified on wood. The images are so normal and commonly seen, it is easier for that tradition to understand them both. Liekwise in the Orthodox Church, almost all have Christ on the dome, and many other places.
Thanks for replying to my question, Glen; I have no problem at all understanding his humanity prior to the resurrection. Then, between the resurrection and the ascension, I can just about still understand it. :) However, my main problem is what Jesus is like now - I have always imagined him to be spiritual after the ascension. I guess I can get my head around it if I consider that when we die, we will still be human... ??? Will we? I guess so. I think I have a problem with what defines us as human. (The body and the physical aspect of being human.) I don't think that part of being human carries on after death, although we are told we will get 'new' bodies, so... :scratch: :help:

I just really have a problem with thinking of Jesus as being fully human and fully divine now, not prior to his ascension. :sigh: Is it actually explainable?
 
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Torah613

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The way I see it, notice the traditional Eastern response to any perplexing theological question, it is a Mystery. We know that prior to the Ascension that He had a physical, corporeal body. Otherwise how could Thomas have touched his wounds.

Now, how it is after the Ascension--that is a Mystery, not to be accepted on blind faith but on the tradition of the Church. Even the Non-Chalcedonian Orthodox Christians who rehjected the fourth oecumenical council accept this tradition.

Joe Zollars
 
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