ATTENTION all Christians......

[EchoPneuma]

We all know that there are many things that divide us as Christians into different denominations and differents "sects"....mostly these things have to do with differing interpretations of things in the bible.

But I want to do an experiment and find out what unites us. I want to know what kind of a "creed" we could come up with if we only put things in it that we could ALL agree upon were true. I want to include all Christians in this.....everyone who claims the name of Christ is included.....universalists, Mormons, JW's, preterists etc. I will start the list.....if there is ANYTHING on this list that you disagree with, then say so....you don't even have to give a reason for the disagreement....just say "I don't believe that is true" and we will strike it from the list.

If you want to add something to the list...then we will, and see if everyone will agree with it.

I want to see just how many things truly unite us in our beliefs and what beliefs are really UNIVERSAL among all believers....

Here's my list (add to it or disagree with it as you will)

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth

This list will be changed and updated as the thread continues....I will try to post an updated list on each page of the thread so it's not hard to find a current one to either agree or disagee with....please look at the latest update before you comment because the list may have changed. Thanks......

 

[Henaynei]

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13. God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth

These represent ideals that almost all religions hold true especially the monotheistic ones

These represent ideals distinct ot Christianity

In *very* broad strokes I'd have to say I agree with all of these - but there are significant divergence as to what several of them actually means!!

good thread!

 

[PETE_]

you can probably cross them all off since I have seen all of these brought under question by some who claim to be "christian"

 

[BarryK]

How about this...


JESUS IS LORD!!!!

 

[EchoPneuma]

you can probably cross them all off since I have seen all of these brought under question by some who claim to be "christian"

Well those people aren't here now are they?

How about YOU? Do you agree with them?

 

[EchoPneuma]

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13. God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth

These represent ideals that almost all religions hold true especially the monotheistic ones

These represent ideals distinct ot Christianity

Yes, I know. That is why I said everyone who claims the name of Christ is included....

In *very* broad strokes I'd have to say I agree with all of these - but there are significant divergence as to what several of them actually means!!

good thread!

Understood. I know there would be some variations in how different people understood terms like "repentance".."love"...etc....but we won't go into that.

So far we have agreement.

 

[EchoPneuma]

How about this...


JESUS IS LORD!!!!

OK, we will add that to the list....updated list following:

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth
23 Jesus is Lord

 

[Havahope]

OK, we will add that to the list....updated list following:

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth
23 Jesus is Lord

I agree with all of these things. The only other thing that I can think of that might be added is that God wants us to "do unto others, as we would have them do unto us." Of course that might be included in # 8.

 

[urbanlemur2005]

I go along with these...good list.

 

[EchoPneuma]

I agree with all of these things. The only other thing that I can think of that might be added is that God wants us to "do unto others, as we would have them do unto us." Of course that might be included in # 8.

Good...ok I will add that caveat to #8

Updated list following:

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others- (do unto others as you would have them do to you)
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth
23 Jesus is Lord

 

[scraparcs]

20 You reap what you sow....

#20 might be contentious, as mercy seems to run counter to it. In fact, I think that statement would seem to contradict mercy.

That's the sum of my dissension.

 

[EchoPneuma]

#20 might be contentious, as mercy seems to run counter to it. In fact, I think that statement would seem to contradict mercy.

That's the sum of my dissension.

Very well...we will strike that one. Thanks for replying

Updated list following:

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others- (do unto others as you would have them do to you)
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 We should obey the 10 commandments
21. Jesus taught and lived the truth
22 Jesus is Lord

 

[Pneuma3]

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Jesus is the Christ

Jesus is the light of the world

 

[EchoPneuma]

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Jesus is the Christ

Jesus is the light of the world

Ok, we will add those to the list and see if anyone disagrees with them....Thanks
Updated list following:

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others- (do unto others as you would have them do to you)
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 We should obey the 10 commandments
21. Jesus taught and lived the truth
22 Jesus is Lord
23 Jesus is the resurrection and the life
24 Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world
25 Jesus is the Christ
26 Jesus is the light of the world

 

[Voegelin]

#20 might be contentious, as mercy seems to run counter to it . . .

Very good. Shows the difference between swamp Yankee Protestants, like me, and Catholics. We would immediately think of the Book of Job, then take comfort in Ecclesiastes

 

[BarryK]

We all know that there are many things that divide us as Christians into different denominations and differents "sects"....mostly these things have to do with differing interpretations of things in the bible.

But I want to do an experiment and find out what unites us. I want to know what kind of a "creed" we could come up with if we only put things in it that we could ALL agree upon were true. I want to include all Christians in this.....everyone who claims the name of Christ is included.....universalists, Mormons, JW's, preterists etc. I will start the list.....if there is ANYTHING on this list that you disagree with, then say so....you don't even have to give a reason for the disagreement....just say "I don't believe that is true" and we will strike it from the list.

If you want to add something to the list...then we will, and see if everyone will agree with it.

I want to see just how many things truly unite us in our beliefs and what beliefs are really UNIVERSAL among all believers....

Here's my list (add to it or disagree with it as you will)

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 You reap what you sow....
21 We should obey the 10 commandments
22. Jesus taught and lived the truth

Rather than being patheticly watered down with #22, "Jesus taught and lived the truth" why dont you take a clue from His own words
John 14:6(KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus IS the truth

 

[EchoPneuma]

Rather than being patheticly watered down with #22, "Jesus taught and lived the truth" why dont you take a clue from His own words
John 14:6(KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus IS the truth

Why don't you take a clue from the OP and see what the intent of the thread is? It wasn't to quote scripture, it was to put forth beliefs that we can all agree on. I wasn't pathetically (you mispelled it) watering down anything. I happen to know that some factions of believers don't agree that Jesus is THE truth because truth is an abstract concept and they say that Jesus can't be an abstract CONCEPT...like 2+2=4 is truth and Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo is truth....so does that mean that Jesus is a math formula or a historical fact? They see it differently.....so I left that out. I have on the list "Jesus is the way to the Father" (the way)...and "Jesus is the resurrection and the life" (the life)....then I put "Jesus taught and lived the truth" because of the problem with the abstract meaning of "Jesus is the truth".

Now, do you have something constructive to add to the list? or do you disagree with something? or are you just here to make snide remarks?

 

[debi b]

Some folks say 2 + 2 = chair and call it truth

kewl thread, like the list too

 

[buddy mack]

Ok, we will add those to the list and see if anyone disagrees with them....Thanks
Updated list following:

1There is a life beyond this physical existence.
2 God created man.
3 Man was created for a purpose.
4 God has a special attachment to his children. [who these children are would certianly be a point of contention]
5 Jesus is the way to the Father
6 God is sovereign
7 Jesus is the saviour
8 We are to love God foremost, one another and others- (do unto others as you would have them do to you)
9 God wants obedience from His followers
10 Sin displeases God
11 God wants us to repent, turn away from sin and live a holy life.
12. Unrepented sin will be punished
13 . God is just
14 We are to live by faith
15. God wants a relationship with us
16 God is love
17 Love is the supreme virtue
18 God wants us to know His will
19 God will guide us, if we will let Him
20 We should obey the 10 commandments
21. Jesus taught and lived the truth
22 Jesus is Lord
23 Jesus is the resurrection and the life
24 Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world
25 Jesus is the Christ
26 Jesus is the light of the world

I can't make it through #11 then i fall off to sleep again.

 

[debi b]

that is too bad.....