common ground

[David Conklin]

From a blog a Christian wrote:

"At a White House ordained national interfaith conference, Evangelical Left icon Jim Wallis spoke to college students about bringing faiths together to find common ground."

Where have we heard similar thinking before?

 

[reddogs]

From a blog a Christian wrote:

"At a White House ordained national interfaith conference, Evangelical Left icon Jim Wallis spoke to college students about bringing faiths together to find common ground."

Where have we heard similar thinking before?

The thing is, they always want those who hold beliefs contrary to the 'mother church' to give them up, even Anglicans, or Eastern Orthodox or Reformation. How come its never the other way around?

 

[BobRyan]

Those who found "common ground" in the 1800's and banded to together in the women's temperance movement - were doing a good thing.

To the extent that Christians banded together to oppose slavery -- again, a good thing.

To the extent that they band together to protect the sanctity of life or to protect the sanctity of Marriage -- they do a good thing.

But when they band together to threaten freedom to worship God as the Bible dictates - then they go too far.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[christseeker45]

The thing is, they always want those who hold beliefs contrary to the 'mother church' to give them up, even Anglicans, or Eastern Orthodox or Reformation. How come its never the other way around?

Exactly, they don't want to give anything up but want the other party to give up everything

 

[JohnMarsten]

Exactly, they don't want to give anything up but want the other party to give up everything

but isnt that what each and every church wants? esp. the sda...

 

[reddogs]

but isnt that what each and every church wants? esp. the sda...

No, Christ gave the early church the truths they must follow, they fell into apostasy led by the bishop of Rome. The Reformation tried to bring the people back to Gods truth but they fell into creeds and are drifting. God has now again raised up a church for the end time. Those who truly believe has always been Gods church, but the institution always seems to falter........the truth has never changed....

 

[JohnMarsten]

No, Christ gave the early church the truths they must follow, they fell into apostasy led by the bishop of Rome. The Reformation tried to bring the people back to Gods truth but they fell into creeds and are drifting. God has now again raised up a church for the end time. Those who truly believe has always been Gods church, but the institution always seems to falter........the truth has never changed....

You didnt get me...

every church has some specic packages that they want their member to adhere to... and of course leave everything behind that does not comply with it...

so the truth has never changed? What does that mean?

Does that mean that Jesus never changes? or do the church truth never change? If you mean the latter, then I am confused cause it changes all the time...

The SDA fathers were anti trinitarian in nature, right? but now the SDA has accepted the trinity? which one is it now?
Only one thing can be true... logically if we believe in the trinity now we must assume that the anti trinitarian movement of the church fathers was wrong in essence. Truth may indeed never change, but our understanding of truth can!!!

 

[christseeker45]

but isnt that what each and every church wants? esp. the sda...

Most all Churches are like that; They all think their truth is the only truth around and al others are bad.

 

[christseeker45]

No, Christ gave the early church the truths they must follow, they fell into apostasy led by the bishop of Rome. The Reformation tried to bring the people back to Gods truth but they fell into creeds and are drifting. God has now again raised up a church for the end time. Those who truly believe has always been Gods church, but the institution always seems to falter........the truth has never changed....

Interesting. Everyone says the Church that Christ founded went awry but when exactly they never say. Really creeds are not bad, they tell others what a group thinks and all branches of Christendom have creeds even the SDA, most just don't call them creeds

 

[ricker]

Most all Churches are like that; They all think their truth is the only truth around and al others are bad.

I think you are misrepresenting a lot of churches. For example I am a Lutheran, and I have heard we say we are comfortable with our doctrine and way of worship, but the Body of Christ consists of all Christians who confess Jesus as their Saviour. (And we don't actively proselytize). My understanding is lots of denominations feel this way. (Cults don't).

 

[ricker]

Interesting. Everyone says the Church that Christ founded went awry but when exactly they never say. Really creeds are not bad, they tell others what a group thinks and all branches of Christendom have creeds even the SDA, most just don't call them creeds

I think they call them fundamental beliefs or something like that.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

I think you are misrepresenting a lot of churches. For example I am a Lutheran, and I have heard we say we are comfortable with our doctrine and way of worship, but the Body of Christ consists of all Christians who confess Jesus as their Saviour. (And we don't actively proselytize). My understanding is lots of denominations feel this way. (Cults don't).

So anyone that claims to be God's remnant people, is a cult? I suppose you would've considered the Israelites a cult in their day...

 

[ricker]

So anyone that claims to be God's remnant people, is a cult? I suppose you would've considered the Israelites a cult in their day...

I didn't say every church who believed they had the exclusive truth was a cult, did I?

Did the Hittites (for example) recognize the one true God as such?

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

I didn't say every church who believed they had the exclusive truth was a cult, did I?

Did the Hittites (for example) recognize the one true God as such?

Then what was the purpose of throwing the 'cults don't' comment at the end of your post after differentiating between denoms that don't feel unique and proselytize (yours) and those that do (SDA)

 

[ricker]

Then what was the purpose of throwing the 'cults don't' comment at the end of your post after differentiating between denoms that don't feel unique and proselytize (yours) and those that do (SDA)

Cults do indeed think they are the only way to heaven. I merely pointed that out. That of course doesn't mean that every church that thinks they are the only true church are cults. That would make Roman Catholicism a cult.

 

[reddogs]

Interesting. Everyone says the Church that Christ founded went awry but when exactly they never say. Really creeds are not bad, they tell others what a group thinks and all branches of Christendom have creeds even the SDA, most just don't call them creeds

I have a whole thread just on that subject...

http://www.christianforums.com/t7624283/

and some which touch on it...

http://www.christianforums.com/t7648519/

http://www.christianforums.com/t4844573/

 

[Stryder06]

I think you are misrepresenting a lot of churches. For example I am a Lutheran, and I have heard we say we are comfortable with our doctrine and way of worship, but the Body of Christ consists of all Christians who confess Jesus as their Saviour. (And we don't actively proselytize). My understanding is lots of denominations feel this way. (Cults don't).

It is true that the body of Christ is made up of all believers. However, not everyone who confesses to be, is a believer. God looks upon the heart, and according to what one knows/could know, are they judged. God is merciful and gracious, so even though the body is made up of various individuals who believe different things, this does not mean that God wishes it to be this way. Doesn't Paul say that we should all be on one accord speaking the same thing?

 

[ricker]

It is true that the body of Christ is made up of all believers. However, not everyone who confesses to be, is a believer. God looks upon the heart, and according to what one knows/could know, are they judged. God is merciful and gracious, so even though the body is made up of various individuals who believe different things, this does not mean that God wishes it to be this way. Doesn't Paul say that we should all be on one accord speaking the same thing?

Are the members of the Adventist church of one accord and speak the same thing?

I'm curious, does the Bible say Christians are judged for salvation according to our heart?

 

[reddogs]

Are the members of the Adventist church of one accord and speak the same thing?

I'm curious, does the Bible say Christians are judged for salvation according to our heart?

What do you think these verses are saying...

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 13:3
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.


Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.

Romans 8:27
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Hebrews 3:12
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

 

[Stryder06]

Are the members of the Adventist church of one accord and speak the same thing?

In matters of doctrine? Yes. Secondary issues...not so much

I'm curious, does the Bible say Christians are judged for salvation according to our heart?

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


Matt 25: 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matt 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.